How A Man Tricked Google Maps Into Naming A Road After Him
In 2013, Beijing artist Ge Yulu noticed an unnamed street in Chaoyang district and installed a sign reading “Ge Yu Lu” — his name, since “Lu” means “road” in Chinese. The prank fooled locals, officials, and map services. By 2015, the fake name appeared in official records and apps like Baidu Maps, Google Maps, and Apple Maps. Authorities eventually removed the sign and corrected listings by 2017. The story highlights how user contributions and convincing signage can slip past map moderation systems.
