BOON OR BANE?
The mansion visit might sound like money worship, but the parents themselves argue differently.
Ma Renwen, who took his child to the resort on Sunday, told China Youth Daily that the visit is practical.
"Money might not be everything, but it certainly means something in this realistic world," said Ma, who successfully operates more than 30 chain stores selling high-end fabric across the country.
Ma said as a businessman, it is important to teach his child the concepts of business and fortune, so that when he grows up, he can take over the family business.
"I think that such visits can motivate children's passion and conviction," he said.
Lan Xianming, who visited the resort with his 16-year-old son, agrees.
"When my older son was 10, I would take him to high-end property projects and auto shows," said Lan, who runs an office furniture business. "Now he is in charge of a factory on his own."
"That's why I took my younger son here."
But some parents and experts have expressed concern over such education methods.
Ms. Wang, a Beijing-based editor, said the parents' intention might be good, but they went about it the wrong way.
"I don't think visiting mansions can help 'build dreams' for young children," said Wang, mother of a two-year-old girl. "Instead, it will fuel a sense of vanity and make them feel that being rich is simply about living in fancy houses."
Xiong Bingqi, deputy head of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said the parents wanted to show the children their own idea of being successful, which includes owning a fabulous mansion. However, their understanding of success is quite one-sided and will have a negative impact on their children, he said.
"Money-oriented values will twist children's personality," Xiong said. "They might feel like losers if they don't become rich, and they will feel bad for letting their parents down."
"We should avoid having money-oriented values become mainstream in society."
Xiong's opinion is echoed by Hou Limin, a preschool education expert at Guangxi Normal University.
"The first thing about educating a child is to teach him or her how to be a part of society and how to get along with others," Hou said. "And more importantly, to be happy."
"Those parents put money above everything and instill the idea into their children. Children under the impact of such values only become more and more greedy for money," Hou said.
Social media users agreed.
"Happiness, rather than money, is the most important," said Weibo user "Xiangechangyou." "If you are not happy, what's the use of money anyway?"
