Rides to the Eccentric: 4 Strangest Chinese Theme Parks

Rides to the Eccentric: 4 Strangest Chinese Theme Parks
Aug 27, 2011 By Mark Turner , eChinacities.com

With China playing catch-up with the rest of the world in the fields of leisure and entertainment, it is perhaps unsurprising that theme parks are mushrooming up all around the country. Most interesting about these amusement parks is the wacky themes which they are based upon. For a taste of that off-kilter China entertainment magic, here are the top four strangest theme parks in China and the lowdown on some upcoming openings. 

1) World Chocolate Wonderland


Source: chinadaily.com.cn

Are you a China hand? Or perhaps you have been in China for almost a decade and the idea of visiting the Terracotta Warriors or Great Wall is just passé? Did you ever think that these fantastic cultural relics might have been more entertaining had they instead been fashioned out of confectionary rather than clay, mortar and stone? Well actually, the imaginative people at World Chocolate Wonderland are one step ahead of you, because that is exactly what they have conjured up – chocolate relics. Other attractions at the theme park include interactive chocolatier classes, a sweet shopping street and even a fashion show with all of its models wearing clothes made entirely from…. Yes, you guessed it. Chocolate!    

2) Shijingshan Theme Park

Shijingshan theme park was subject to much media heat having been ‘exposed’ by a Japanese internet site for violating Disney copyright. This may have been shocking news to people all around the world – or perhaps just those that have never visited China, or any of the other countries which the global mega conglomerates have not completely sunk their claws into – but some might feel that the label ‘replica Disney’ might be somewhat of an exaggeration. Yes, you can shake hands with Donald Duck or get a happy snap taken with your arm around Sleeping Beauty’s waist if you visit, but Shijingshan does not actually call itself a Disney theme park, it just borrows heavily. Shijingshan is somewhat long in the tooth now and rides are not up to the level of more recent amusement parks although the presence of Shrek, Hello Kitty and a slightly sketchy looking, off colour Mickey Mouse do make for a more surreal, disorienting experience – something always welcomed during an amusement park trip.  

3) World Joyland Theme Park

Less subtle in its ‘borrowing’ of intellectual property are ingeniously titled Universe of Starship and Terrain of Magic, which are Starcraft and World of Warcraft rip offs respectively. To many, the idea of a computer game themed amusement park is probably just too much. But in truth ‘just too much’ is never enough for fanatical gamers: in fact the theme park even features its own areas fitted out with computer terminals, should visitors/gamers be feeling the terrible pangs of gaming withdrawal. The park also features a 4-D cinema extravaganza, showcasing ferocious dragons along with all the usual theme park fare such as vertical drop roller-coasters and log flumes replete with fantastical sword brandishing, lazer blasting themes.      

4) Little People's Kingdom of Dwarfs

If you consider yourself a champion standard bearer for awareness of body politics, it is advised that you skip to the next section in case your blood reaches boiling point. On the other hand, if the idea of a rendition of swan lake performed by an entirely dwarf cast wearing pink tutus (both male and female) sounds interesting then you might like to read on. In comparison to the rather unmemorable ‘why bother?-ness’ of World of Chocolate Wonderland and the relatively benign intellectual property grand larceny chutzpah of the World of Warcraft theme park, Little People’s Kingdom of Dwarfs certainly is the most controversial of China’s strange theme parks. This theme park, near Kunming in China’s south, has a staff of over 100 ‘little people’, many of whom would be unlikely to find work elsewhere, so the ethics of the park are most certainly a murky issue. The park offers twice daily performances by dwarfs in fairy tale costumes in a hilltop village of little picture book houses. 

In the Pipeline

Not content with taking a slice of the Hong Kong market pie, Disney is building a theme park in mainland China. The theme park development is not without controversy as its site in the outskirts of Shanghai is also the location of a cemetery; in fact construction was recently put on hold as a result of the flouting of construction regulations. Other upcoming China theme parks include China’s first bicycle themed amusement park as well as a Hello Kitty theme park set for a 2014 opening in Zhejiang.

The One that Got Away

A final mention is deserved of by the most notable of China’s more ‘unusual’ theme parks, Love Land. With the lofty goal of promoting sexual ‘harmony’ among couples and providing visitors information on sexual technique and safe sex, the theme park featuring tasteful -no doubt- giant sculptures of genitals and a sex history photographic exhibition gained much media attention globally. This attention also led to closer inspection by local government who deemed the park to be of a ‘vulgar’ nature, ordering its demolition not long after its erection and prior, sadly, to its grand opening.
From the sublime to the ridiculous: Chinese theme parks are certainly laying down the gauntlet to others around the world in terms of interesting ideas and innovations. Whether you are purposefully seeking a weekend sojourn into the ‘bizarre side’, a connoisseur of all things kitsch, or you are just tired of cookie cutter, generic forms of entertainment in China, one of its unusual theme parks is guaranteed to offer you a welcome break from the norm. Buy that ticket and take that trip this coming autumn break. Keep it unreal!

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Keywords: strange theme parks China weird theme parks China bizarre amusement parks China

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