In one of the most unexpected trends to hit online marketplaces, vendors in China are selling so-called “bank soil,” dirt claimed to be sourced from outside major banks, with promises of enhancing wealth and dissolving bad energy according to South China Morning Post‘s report.
The price of this curious product can soar to 888 yuan (US$120) per portion. Some sellers claim the soil is sourced from green belts outside banks, potted plants in bank lobbies, or even dust from money counting machines.
One vendor boasts a selection of four soil types, allegedly collected from five leading financial institutions: Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Bank of Communications. Prices start at just 24 yuan (US$3) for a “budget portion.”
“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,” one sales representative explained.
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Vendors appear to go to great lengths to assert authenticity. Some claim their soil is collected exclusively at night, while others insist it’s harvested at noon. One seller even advertises a “999.999% success rate in generating wealth.”
To back their claims, shops are posting videos of soil being dug up outside banks. In one clip, a person at a bank entrance proudly holds a container of soil and announces, “Boss Liu from Guangdong, your soil is ready.” Another video shows a man using a spoon to scoop soil onto golden plates labeled with customer contact details.
The trend has attracted curious buyers, including an anonymous business owner who told Red Star News they purchased the soil in hopes of boosting their company’s success. “Many of my friends are buying this soil,” they added.
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However, legal experts have raised concerns. Fu Jian, a lawyer from Zejin Law Firm, warned that if sellers are falsely claiming the soil’s origin or properties, this could constitute fraud. “Consumers have the right to request a refund,” Fu said. Additionally, he highlighted that digging up urban green spaces, such as those outside banks, violates China’s Regulations on Urban Landscaping.
On Chinese social media, the phenomenon has sparked widespread ridicule.
One commenter quipped, “What is this bank soil? I work at a bank and have to bring my own soil to plant flowers in the office.” Another added, “I live next to a bank, so why has my fortune not improved?”
Perhaps the sharpest jab came from a user who declared, “Bank soil might not be authentic, but the ‘intelligence tax’ is definitely real.”
