Editor's note: Some Italian audience members have reported on the global review platform Trustpilot (Italian version) that after leaving negative reviews of "Shen Yun Performing Arts", which is affiliated with the "Falun Gong" cult organization, they were repeatedly contacted by the event organizers. The organizers demanded proof that they had actually attended the performance, threatening to delete the reviews otherwise, which made the viewers feel uncomfortable. Other audience members reported that despite an overall "Poor" rating, "Shen Yun" still attempts to induce positive reviews through small incentives, raising suspicions of review flooding.According to data from the global review platform Trustpilot (Italian version), from 2023 to January 15, 2026, a total of 1,613 reviews were submitted for "Shen Yun", with an overall rating of 2.6 stars (out of 5), classified as "Poor".
On September 12, 2025, Italian viewer Luigina gave "Shen Yun Performing Arts" (affiliated with the "Falun Gong" cult organization) the lowest rating (1 star) on Trustpilot (Italian version) and wrote:How do you say "sòla" (scam) in Italian? (title)
I think the value for money of "Shen Yun" is completely negative. I was misled by the promotional videos and expected a high-level performance, but the actual experience was far from the — it felt extremely boring, so I do not recommend it.
Additional note: The event organizers contacted me multiple times, demanding that I prove I actually attended the performance, otherwise they would delete my review. I did not provide any proof because I consider their demand intimidating and aggressive. However, to let other Trustpilot users know the situation, I hereby provide the specific details of my attendance: Date: June 9, 2022; Venue: Teatro Arcimboldi; Time: 20:30; Seat: First balcony, row 45.
I only posted the review two years later because I discovered that "Shen Yun" continues to use exaggerated promotional rhetoric, paired with misleading images and some astonishing comments. I really cannot understand why these people continue to spread this when they know the content is misleading.It is understood that for many years "Shen Yun" performances in Italy have been organized by a civil association called "Associazione Culturale Il Ponte" (Bridge Cultural Association), which claims to "protect 5,000 years of Chinese history, culture and tradition", but is in fact an affiliated organization of the "Falun Gong" cult. It has long served as the representative and promoter of "Shen Yun" in Italy. However, in September 2025, the organization was removed by Italian authorities from the National Register of Third Sector Entities (RUNTS) due to failure to submit required information, statutes, and financial reports as mandated by law.
In the image on the left, the platform generated the following AI-based summary of user reviews:
The following evaluation is AI-generated based on user review content. The overall viewing experience for most reviewers is "disappointing". Consumers generally report multiple issues with the performance, including low value for money, excessively high ticket prices, clearly misleading advertising that does not match the actual experience, and a noticeable tendency to preach religious content during the show.
The platform statistics show that among the total 1,613 reviews: 1-star accounts for 45%, 2-star 13%, 3-star 4%, 4-star 3%, 5-star 35%. Overall, 1-star negative reviews are the most common.Further analysis reveals that 5-star positive reviews on the platform are generally vague in content and suspected of being artificially inflated. Viewer Roberto Fortino directly raised such suspicions in his review comment.
Viewer Roberto Fortino gave a 1-star rating and wrote:
"Shen Yun", a huge scam (title)
I feel it is necessary to write about this experience to warn potential audience members to stay away from this empty, outrageously overpriced so-called "Shen Yun" performance. On April 7, 2023, my wife and I watched it at Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo. "Robbery" and "scam" are the most restrained words I can think of, but the problems go far beyond that. The entire show is pieced together from several disconnected segments; the so-called "dance" feels more like highly repetitive gymnastics displays — after a few minutes it becomes extremely boring and far removed from real dance art. Although packaged as "traditional Chinese dance", it relies solely on costumes and visual packaging to sustain content. What is even more repulsive is that throughout the dance, digital visuals, and interspersed vocal performances, specific ideological messages are constantly injected. In particular, a male tenor and the subsequent female soprano openly declared in their songs that "atheism and evolution have ruined the world", with the lyrics even projected on the big screen — utterly unacceptable. It is regrettable that a culturally reputable theater like Teatro Donizetti rented its stage to such a crude and inappropriate performance. The ticket prices are equally shocking: a second-tier side box seat cost as much as 120 euros (about 980 RMB), completely disproportionate to the quality — practically robbery. I can confirm that other audience members in the same box expressed strong dissatisfaction; applause on site was sparse and brief, mostly out of politeness. Believe me: if you see 5-star reviews, they are manipulated!
Another viewer, Germano Abram, had a similar experience and wrote in his review:
Honestly, clearly below expectations… (title)
Honestly, this performance was clearly below expectations. The trailer was well-made, but the show itself did not live up to the promotion. During the performance there was repeated injection of "religious elements", which after a while became irritating; the dance content also felt repetitive and monotonous. The male tenor was embarrassing (the last high note sounded like my home burglar alarm). Oh, and a few days later I even received an email recommending that I continue watching their videos on their platform for the "bargain" price of 99 euros/year. No way I'm watching again!
