By the River, a 'Sparkle'... "Saw Gold" Video of Picking Up Sparks Goes Viral on SNS, Hundreds Rush In

Rumored Gold Mining Spot After Beijing Flood
Police: "Not Gold but Brass... Male Suspect Wanted Fame"

At a riverside in Beijing, China, a spectacle unfolded as hundreds of people flocked to the area after a flood, drawn by the discovery of a substance believed to be placer gold.

On the 3rd, according to local media such as Beijing Ribao, residents of Fangshan District’s Zhoukoudian Town in Beijing spotted a sparkling substance along the riverside after the floodwaters receded. The residents judged the substance to be 'gold,' and as the news spread, a large number of people rushed to the site to collect placer gold.

Brass found by the river in Fangshan District, Zhoukoudian Town, Beijing, China.
[Photo by Weibo]

In fact, the area is known as a famous gold mining region in China, which added credibility to the rumors.

One resident reportedly found 100 pieces of 1g gold. Considering the local purchase price (100 yuan per gram), this amounts to 10,000 yuan (approximately 1,818,000 KRW).

Videos showing local residents picking up gold circulated widely on social networking services (SNS), making the area famous as a gold collecting spot. Experts cautioned that "it could be other substances such as alloys rather than real gold," but the popularity did not wane.

However, police investigations revealed that the substance found in the area was not gold but brass (a copper-zinc alloy). The police stated on their official SNS, "A 26-year-old man named Kuimo purchased brass online on the 1st and scattered it to attract attention on SNS and lure people into gold collecting." They added, "This act seriously disrupted social order, and he has been criminally charged and is currently under investigation."

Since 2021, China has been steadily pushing for legal amendments to strengthen online regulations. These regulations include harsher penalties for 'fake news,' and individuals spreading rumors online can be fined between 10,000 and 500,000 yuan (approximately 1.7 million to 85 million KRW).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.