Chinese official forced to apologise for misleading tourists after hiker finds waterpipe feeding country's largest waterfall

Chinese bosses have apologised after a hiker found a secret waterpipe which fuels the country’s tallest waterfall.

A video shows a water main attached to the top of Yuntai Mountain Waterfall - China's tallest uninterrupted waterfall.

Following the discovery, chiefs at Yuntai Mountain Geopark made a strange social media post impersonating the waterfall.

The post read: “I didn't expect to meet everyone this way.

Yuntai Mountain

“As a seasonal scenery, I can't guarantee that I will be in my most beautiful form every time you come to see me.

“I made a small enhancement during the dry season only so I would look my best to meet my friends.”

According to park bosses, the pipe uses spring water which they claim does not damage the waterfall.

However, following the release of the video on TikTok’s sister app Douyin on Sunday, users criticised the decision.

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“It's not respecting the natural order, and not respecting the tourists,” one Weibo user wrote.

Another added: “How could it be called the No.1 waterfall anymore.”

It is not the first time China has used artificial measures to enhance waterfalls.

The Huangguoshu Waterfall in the Guizhou province has been assisted by water diverted from a nearby dam that was built in 2004.

The water assist is used to maintain a consistent flow during China's dry season.

At the time, the dam was praised.

Officials said that their decision "put an end to the history of Huangguoshu Waterfall drying up".