A hotel in Shantou, Guangdong, has drawn criticism after marking up its room rates by roughly 20 times for the upcoming National Day holiday, prompting local market regulators to launch an investigation. The issue surfaced on August 25 when a netizen posted online about a standard room, typically priced at just over 200 yuan, being listed at 5,850 yuan for the holiday period.

In the comments section, some users expressed shock at the steep increase, while others speculated the listing might be a "price deterrent" set by the hotel to prevent bookings. The original poster told reporters they also believed it was a deterrent tactic, noting that some booking platforms had already stopped displaying the hotel's holiday rates. On August 26, checks by reporters showed the hotel's "Tangyue Bathtub Room" listed at 5,850 yuan for the National Day period, compared to its usual 280 yuan rate—an increase of approximately 20 times.

A staff member from the hotel explained that the property only opened this year and that holiday pricing has not yet been finalized. The 5,850 yuan tag on the platform reflects an outdated figure that hasn't been adjusted downward, and it is not the final price, they added. In a broader check, reporters also contacted other hotels and guesthouses in Shantou, finding one guesthouse listing a room at 645 yuan for the holiday, up from its usual 97 yuan, and another hotel charging 947 yuan during the break versus its standard 186 yuan rate. Front-desk staff at both establishments confirmed their holiday rates and availability are already set, with prices expected to rise during the peak season.

Officials from the Shantou market supervision department said they have noticed some hotels posting inflated prices on platforms and acknowledged that several businesses claim their final holiday rates are still pending, meaning the displayed prices may not reflect actual transaction values. The local regulatory body has now stepped in to investigate the matter.