Chiang Mai, Thailand — A Chinese family went viral recently after consuming 5.5 kilograms of durian outside Chiang Mai International Airport because airlines refused to allow the pungent fruit aboard. The incident, which took place on September 16, 2025, sparked widespread media and social media attention across Asia.

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The Problem: Durian and Airline Restrictions

Durian is notorious for its strong smell. In many Southeast Asian airports, hotels, public transit systems, and airlines, carrying durian is either restricted or banned altogether due to its overpowering odor.

On the day in question, the family had purchased several boxes of fresh durian earlier that morning. Their plan was to return to China after a holiday in northern Thailand. But after eating other meals during the day, they still had more than 5 kg of durian in their possession by the time they reached the airport.

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The Unusual Solution: Eat It All

Faced with the prospect of discarding the fruit or being denied boarding if they brought it on, the family chose neither — they decided to eat the durian on the spot. What followed was a rush to finish the entire 5.5 kg of fruit within about 30 minutes.

Video footage shared by one of the family members on Douyin captured the event: father opening durian boxes, family members eating the fruit — some struggling with the smell, gagging at times, others trying to keep up while visibly uncomfortable. One family member, Li, later remarked that he had “never want[ed] to see durian again” after that experience.

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Reactions and Aftereffects

After finishing the durian, the family apparently boarded their flight smelling heavily of durian. They apologized to fellow passengers. Some comments online expressed amusement over the family’s strong will; others sympathized, saying they would have done the same thing to avoid wasting fresh fruit bought at high cost.

The video also drew lots of attention: within a few days, it had accumulated over 186,000 likes on social media.

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Cultural & Practical Implications

This story underlines a tension many travelers face: when local customs and local goods (especially food items with strong local identity like durian) clash with rules set by airlines, airports, or countries that come from different norms (odor control, luggage rules, etc.). There’s also a cost dimension — durian is relatively expensive in many of the places it’s sold, and throwing it away feels wasteful.

Furthermore, the incident highlights how social media amplifies such moments. Something that started as a family’s logistical dilemma becomes a viral story — people respond not only to the humor (eating a lot of durian quickly, gagging, etc.) but also to the relatable discomfort and resourcefulness.

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Conclusion

What might have been just another food-related travel anecdote turned into a viral episode, as a family tried (and succeeded) to consume 5.5 kg of durian in half an hour rather than discard it or be penalized for carrying it on a flight. The story became popular not only because of the absurdity of eating so much durian so fast, but because it touches on universal themes: waste, cost, customs, familial determination, and how we adapt when rules force choices we never expected.