Social media’s most dazzling travel and luxury posts may not be what they seem, as Chinese e-commerce platforms openly sell ready-made “live photo” packs for as little as 1 RMB ($0.15). Vendors offer bundles via cloud links covering overseas travel, fine dining, golf, and skiing. One buyer told CCTV they purchased travel photos to compensate for bad weather, only to discover watermarks from the original creator. Beyond low-cost bundles, some vendors offer 3,999 RMB ($583) packages featuring two-day shoots with yachts, helicopters, sports cars, and luxury pools, including guidance on strategic social media posting.

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