Airbnb, a global home-sharing company, cancelled its offer to spend a special night on the Great Wall Of China just before its submission deadline August 11, as the company received a mixed feedback on its concept. 

In a new statement by Airbnb, the company stated that "We were excited to promote the Great Wall and Chinese cultural heritage with our Night At The Great Wall and while there was an agreement in place that was the basis for the announcement of this event, we deeply respect the feedback we have received."

"We have made the decision to not move forward with this event and instead we are working on a range of other experiences and initiatives that showcase China as a destination and highlight how people-to-people travel can drive human connections."

However, according to another announcement by the Cultural Department that manages the great wall’s badaling section, where airbnb plans to hold the event, they "hadn’t received an application for or approved a ‘residential lodging event."

On the other hand, other claims about the cancellation of proposal that Airbnb's event can damage the great wall, and "an event like this would not be possible, however, it did not mentioned airbnb," stated the organization.

"One of the goals of our Night At The Great Wall was to highlight how everyone can play a part in honoring and preserving this incredible piece of world history. We partnered with experts to help educate people about the Wall’s heritage and raise awareness of protection and preservation efforts," added Airbnb.

The company said they will continue on new collaborations to "highlight the culture and history of China".

"We remain committed to that goal and in the weeks and months ahead, we will be working closely with our hosts and guests in China as well as community leaders to highlight the culture and history that make China one of the most dynamic destinations in the world. China is one of our most important markets, where we have built a number of partnerships with local leaders and organizations to promote sustainable, local and authentic travel to China."

"Promoting unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences while preserving historic destinations has long been one of our top priorities. In recent years, we have held similar events at unique or historic sites around the world that were produced in cooperation with more than 70 well-known tourist destinations. We look forward to continuing this important work in China and around the world."

"If you entered the contest, we’re very sorry for any disappointment caused and we will be in touch in the future about other ways you can explore and discover amazing experiences in China," concluded the company.

All images courtesy of Airbnb

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