Online shops in China are selling so-called bank soil, claiming it was dug up from outside major Chinese banks and can bring wealth and good fortune to buyers.
The price of the “bank soil” can reach as high as 888 yuan (US$120) per portion.
The trending product is claimed to have been sourced from green belts outside banks, potted plants in bank lobbies, or even dust from money counting machines.
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One online vendor offers four types of soil, and claims was collected from five major banks, Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Bank of Communications, with the cheapest portion costing just 24 yuan (US$3).
A sales representative said: “This soil is manually collected from the five major banks and is believed to enhance wealth and dissolve bad energy, though we cannot scientifically prove this.
“Bank soil is collected at night from the green belts in front of these banks, not just one specific financial outlet.”
In another shop, the product is advertised as being collected only at noon, while third vendor claims their soil has a “999.999 per cent success rate in generating wealth”.
Some online shops even posted videos of soil being dug up to prove its authenticity.
In one such video, a person at the bank entrance can be seen holding a container of soil and shouting to his client: “Boss Liu from Guangdong, your soil is ready.”
In another video, a man says: “Brother 0863 from Beijing, now I am digging your bank soil.”
He then uses a spoon to scoop the soil and places it on a small golden plate.
The video then reveals many golden plates with paper slips attached, each showing customers’ contact information.
An anonymous buyer told Red Star News that they run a business and hope the soil will help it prosper, adding that many of their friends are buying the soil.
Fu Jian, a lawyer from Zejin Law Firm, told Red Star News that if merchants are selling other types of soil while falsely claiming it comes from outside banks or claiming that soil from these areas brings good luck, this could be considered fraud.
Consumers have the right to request a refund, said Fu.
According to the Regulations on Urban Landscaping, no entity is allowed to destroy urban green spaces, including the digging of soil.
The bizarre product sparked ridicule on mainland social media.
One online observer said: “Laughing out loud, what is this bank soil? I work at a bank, and I have to bring my own soil from home to plant flowers in the office.”
While another added: “I live next to a bank, so why has my fortune not improved?”
“Bank soil might not be authentic, but the ‘intelligence tax’ is definitely real,” said a third.
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