Wudang Taiji Theme Park

[GeneChing]

Woah. Is that a stock photo of Chen Zhenglei? For a Wudang article? Someone didn't do their research...

China to build first Tai Chi theme park
Updated on Friday, November 18, 2011, 09:05



China to build first Tai Chi theme park Beijing: China will build a theme park showcasing the traditional martial art form of Tai Chi in Wudang Mountains area, legendary home of the marital art and a Unesco World Heritage Site renowned as a centre of Taoism.

Tai Chi is a type of Chinese martial art closely connected with Taoism, a religion developed originally in ancient China which emphasises a simple and natural life. It is usually practiced for self-defense and health benefits.

According to an administrative official, the office of Wudang Mountains and US company Landmark Entertainment will cooperate to set up the Tai Chi theme park in the central Hubei province, Xinhua reported.

The administrative office of Wudang Mountains and Landmark Entertainment Group plan to ink investment agreements in early December in Beijing.

Tony Christopher, CEO of Landmark Entertainment Group, the US company, said over USD 100 million will be invested on the theme park.

Open-air performances will also be staged on waters beside the theme park, Christopher said, adding that the performances are planned to be guided by Hollywood directors.

He said the Tai Chi theme park will reflect the mountain`s strong Taoist culture.

The park is expected to ratchet up tourism in Wudang Mountains area, said Li Faping, chief of the administrative office.

[GeneChing]

And Wudangers used to dis Shaoliners for being too much like Disneyland...

There's an informative video if you follow the link.

DECEMBER 6, 2011
Martial-Arts Theme Park Planned for China
By ERICA ORDEN

A Los Angeles-based entertainment group plans to co-develop a $3.1 billion theme park and resort in China's Hubei province with a local investment firm, two people familiar with the project said.

Ikonic Entertainment Group will plan and design a martial-arts-themed park, as well as a $50 million live show, one of the people said.

The development, if it receives the necessary approvals, will be located at Wudang Mountain in Hubei, which is famous as a center of Chinese martial arts.

Ikonic is a new entity co-founded by Tony Christopher, head of Landmark Entertainment Group LLC, an entertainment production company.

Landmark has a history of creating amusement-park attractions, including "Terminator 2: 3D" for Universal Studios Florida and "Jurassic Park—The Ride" for Universal Studios Hollywood.

The China project is being developed with Hubei Wudang Taichi Lake Investment Group Co., which invests in local cultural and urban development projects, said one of the people familiar with the project.

Representatives for Ikonic and Taichi Lake couldn't be reached for comment.

Media and entertainment companies are battling for a stake in one of the world's fastest-growing markets. Earlier this year, Walt Disney Co. broke ground on Shanghai Disneyland, part of a $4.4 billion Disney resort which is planned to include hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other amenities.

The park plan, reported by at least one Chinese media outlet in recent weeks, would constitute one of the largest foreign investments ever in China.

The ambitious plan would require numerous central government approvals, including of a framework agreement that in Disney's case took more than a year to pass muster with authorities in Beijing after it was approved in Shanghai.

In addition to the Wudang Mountain project, Ikonic and Taichi Lake plan to develop an oceanfront amusement park in Qingzhou, Shandong province, and an Ikonic-produced videogame featuring tai chi kung fu legends.

The companies will also develop a traveling martial-arts show, featuring Taoist and taichi kung fu culture that is expected to tour U.S. college campuses.

[GeneChing]

Out of curiosity, who here has been to an amusement park in China?

L.A. company to help build martial arts theme park in China
Ikonic Entertainment Group is teaming up with a Chinese investment group to build the $3.1-billion theme park and resort south of the manufacturing city of Shiyan in the Wudang Mountains in central China.
By Hugo Martín, Los Angeles Times
December 7, 2011

A Los Angeles company is teaming up with a Chinese investment group to build a $3.1-billion martial arts-themed park and leisure resort in central China.

Los Angeles Major Antonio Villaraigosa, who attended a signing ceremony in Beijing as part of a 12-day mission to Asia, said the project could create hundreds of jobs in Los Angeles and may mean millions of dollars in revenue for the theme park designer, Ikonic Entertainment Group.

The project would be built south of the manufacturing city of Shiyan in the Wudang Mountains, known as the birthplace of the Chinese martial arts form known as kung fu.

The announcement of an agreement between Ikonic and the Shiyan-based Taichi Lake Group is only the first step in the development of what the two companies are calling the largest theme park and resort in China.

Ikonic was founded last year by Tony Christopher, chief executive of Burbank-based Landmark Entertainment Group, and Jack Chen, CEO of Transworld Capital Group, a Los Angeles investment firm specializing in business developments in China.

"The cooperation agreement signed today represents the future: We are combining our strengths, investing in one another, and fostering greater tourism and business between the U.S. and China," Villaraigosa said in a statement.

Under the plan, Ikonic will provide master planning, concept creation and construction oversight for the theme park, a live show and other elements of the project. No one could be reached Tuesday at the offices of Ikonic, Landmark Entertainment or Transworld Capital Group.

Founded by Christopher and attraction designer Gary Goddard in the 1980s, Landmark helped design several popular theme park attractions, including Jurassic Park: the Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood, Terminator 2: 3-D at Universal Studios Florida and the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Fla.

Home of martial arts to set up theme park
(Global Times)
09:18, December 07, 2011

A Los Angeles-based entertainment group and a domestic investment firm on Tuesday agreed to jointly establish a martial arts scenic spot in Hubei Province.

The venue, which will include a martial arts theme park and a $50 million live show, will be planned and designed by Ikonic Entertainment Group and Hubei Wudang Taichi Lake Investment Group at Wudang Mountain, a region known as the center of Chinese martial arts, according to The Wall Street Journal.

According to Tony Christopher, founder of Ikonic Entertainment Group, the park will occupy an area of more than 330,000 square meters and cost at least $100 million to build.

Water shows will be held beside the park, while stuntmen and directors from Hollywood will also be invited to participate in performances to give the venue a more international flavor, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

He added that the details of the venue's design are still under discussion.

A staff member with the company surnamed Zhou confirmed to the Global Times on Tuesday that the venue would be built in Wudang Mountain.

"Immediately after the agreement was reached, both companies started construction work on the venue, which will be completed in two years," a staff member with the publicity department of Wudang Mountain Tourism and Economic Zone surnamed Feng, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"The venue will help promote martial arts culture from China to the rest of the world," added Feng, "and the scenic spot will include both traditional martial arts and modern concepts after the cooperation with Hollywood, and therefore more people will be attracted."

In addition to the Wudang Mountain project, Ikonic and Taichi Lake will develop an oceanfront amusement park in Qingzhou, Shandong Province and an Ikonic-produced video game featuring martial arts legends.

The companies will also develop a traveling martial arts show, featuring Taoist and martial arts culture that is expected to tour college campuses in the United States, The Wall Street Journal reported.

[Hebrew Hammer]

And you thought the lines at Disneyland moved slow....

[GeneChing]

I was just at EPCOT - the China section was one of the best live performances.

Ikonic to help build kung fu theme park in China
Los Angeles Business from bizjournals
Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2011, 2:17pm PST

Los Angeles' Ikonic Entertainment Group is partnering with a Chinese investment group to build a martial arts theme park in central China.

Ikonic will be the master designer and project manager for six projects commissioned by Taichi Lake Group for the theme park and resort south of the manufacturing city of Shiyan in the Wudang Mountains. The companies said the development would become the largest theme park and resort in China.

Ikonic will provide planning, concept creation, schematic design, design development and construction oversight services in support of the project’s entertainment items, which include a Taichi kung fu-themed park, a $50 million live show, and related media production and publishing, totaling over $300 million.

Ikonic said it estimates the development will create several hundred Los Angeles-based jobs over the next three years, as well as generate “tens of millions” of dollars to Ikonic and boost business for Los Angeles-based subcontractors and service providers.

“This project is an example of the very best of L.A.’s creative industry capabilities being exported overseas on a large scale,” Tony Christopher, Ikonic co-founder and chief executive, said in a statement. “Our goal is to demonstrate Los Angeles’ truly unique ability to deliver world-class entertainment to the world.”

The deal was signed on the second day of a trade mission to Asia led by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The mayor plans to visit China, Japan and South Korea to promote Los Angeles businesses.

“As the creative capital of the United States and the world, we are uniquely positioned to export our innovative goods on a global scale," Villaraigosa said. "The two partnerships formed today will bring out the best of both cultures while generating economic prosperity for Los Angeles and China."

[Hebrew Hammer]

Is that what I've become?....Your set up man?

[GeneChing]

HH, it's the hat. It's all about the hat.

Speaking of Chinese theme parks, I would be remiss here if I didn't link this up with our Kingdom of the Little People thread.

[GeneChing]

Shanghai Disneyland showcases Chinese influence throughout park



May 16, 2016
Disney’s newest theme park will be opening in Shanghai in one month and visitors can expect to see Chinese elements in its newest park.

CCTV’s Ding Siyue reports on how The Walt Disney Co. is incorporating more Chinese elements into the park.

While Donald Duck is known around the world, few people know he’s a practitioner of the Chinese martial art of Tai Chi.

“We were thinking we could let Disney characters tell Chinese stories. I think ‘Donald Duck practicing Tai Chi’ is a wonderful combination,” Xu Chang, assistant producer for Shanghai Disney Resort said.

“I hope we could create a feeling of familiarity to the tourists through interaction between characters and tourists.”

There’s even the Garden of 12 Friends with Disney characters representing the Chinese Zodiac signs.

Chinese elements are not just in some of the storytelling or the characters, but also in a lot of the design.

The Walt Disney Grand Theater, located in a shopping and dining area and modeled after local architectural styles, will host the Chinese version of the Broadway show “The Lion King”.

I've been saying "Grasp the bird's tail" in a Donald Duck voice under my breath.

It's a good thing that there is no Year of the Duck.