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Thread: Chinese Theme Parks

  1. #61
    This isn't going to end well for the average guy.

  2. #62
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    Shanghai Polar Ocean World

    Polar theme park to be built in city
    By Hu Min | September 23, 2014, Tuesday | Print Edition


    An artist’s rendition of the new polar theme park.

    MORE than 500 species of polar animals and 20,000 types of fish will be the stars of the show at a new theme park to be constructed in the Pudong New Area.

    Construction of the Shanghai Polar Ocean World will start before the end of the year in Lingang New City, near Dishui Lake, local authorities said.

    They did not say when it will open to the public.

    The tourist attraction, which claims it will be the biggest of its kind in the world, will have 13 “pavilions,” four performance areas, four cinemas and other facilities, such as hotels and shops.

    The wildlife — including polar bears, emperor penguins, dolphins and beluga whales — will do their thing at the polar animal and ocean world zones, while killer whales will perform tricks for the crowds in a large water pool. Other pavilions will be home to sharks, penguins and coral.

    The Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, under the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau, is soliciting opinion on the theme park’s environmental impact.
    
    This has no appeal to me. While I certainly hope we keep our polar icecaps, it's not a theme park theme I find enticing.
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  3. #63
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    Chinese luv Santa

    Santa theme park to open in China
    Indoor SantaPark to be based on original concept in Finnish Lapland


    The icons of Chengdu and Lapland sign the deal to bring SantaLand to China

    A new Christmas-themed attraction is being developed in the Chinese city of Chengdu.

    SantaPark Ltd, which operates what is marketed as the “official home of Santa Claus” in Lapland, has teamed up with Finnish attraction specialist Lappset Group and a local Chinese developer to create a Christmas-themed attraction in the capital of Sichuan province.

    According to the terms of the agreement, the new Chinese SantaPark will be a 10,000m² indoor attraction based on the original SantaPark in northern Finland. It is expected to open June 2016 as part of Floraland Chengdu theme park.

    “There has been a lot of interest in the authentic Christmas theme park from different parts of the world, especially in Asia,” revealed SantaPark Ltd’s CEO, Ilkka Lankinen.

    “By combining our well-proven SantaPark concept together with Lappset’s solid experience of design and manufacturing of themed attractions, we have made an exceptional concept and a completely new way of thinking of the themed activity solutions.

    “Establishing a Santa’s theme park in Chengdu is an extension of our well-proven concept to the Chinese market. We will continue running our SantaPark as the official home of Santa in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland, and hope to attract even more Chinese tourists to visit the Arctic Circle,” Lankinen added.

    And the Chengdu launch could be just the start of SantaPark’s growth in China. Tero Ylinenpaa, CEO of Lappset, said that he expects to open “another five or six Christmas-themed attractions in the future in China”.

    Launched in 1997, the original SantaPark in Finnish Lapland is a full Christmas village, complete with elf’s workshop, Santa’s office, a post office and sleigh rides.
    When I was growing up, there was Santa's Village in Scott's Valley. According to the article I linked that to, it was a major national franchise back in the day. It was a weird park and I remember riding this stupid peddle rail car that fell over and off the track when riding it. That's all I really remember from it - sitting in that car sideways, waiting for the attendant to put me back on track. I guess I'm still waiting.

    The exit still bears the name Santa's Village Road.
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  4. #64
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    Slightly OT

    This is a Japanese theme park - one that I would love to visit someday.

    Travel back in time to the Sengoku Era at Sekigahara War Land
    Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi 4 hours ago



    On October 21, 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu won the famous Battle of Sekigahara which secured his way to rule the shogunate of Japan.

    Today, the battlefield where more than 200,000 people perished is but a remnant of ancient history. It is an ordinary town, and only the most maniacal of history buffs would show up to trace the roots of Sekigahara. However, in the center of that town, there is actually a ‘theme park’ where you can learn about history and the famous battle right where it took place, known as the somewhat awkwardly named “Learn! Play! The Immersive War Museum – Sekigahara War Land”.

    The battle scene recreated

    More then 200 statues of warriors are erected over a spacious area to recreate the atmosphere of the battle scene, each shown fighting with swords, bows and arrows. Even though the statues are far from life-like, the overwhelming reality of the fact that this is a real historical battle site will send chills down your spine. Special scenes such as Ootani Yo****sugu’s seppuku suicide and the final victory of Ieyasu are also recreated. For anyone who loves history or wants to learn history in a fun away, this is definitely the place to be. At the very least, you can take a selfie with Tokugawa Ieyasu!

    Don’t forget the gift shop!

    In contrast to the quiet and nearly deserted Sekigahara War Land, the gift shop next door is extremely popular and draws in throngs of tourists, so you’re sure to find something there to remember your visit by. Next time you’re in town, why not stop by Sekigahara War Land and spend a day living a part of Japanese history while being surrounded by nature at this hidden gem?

    Sekigahara War Land
    Address: 1710-6 Ooaza Sekigahara, Sekigahara City, Fuwagun, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
    Entrance Fee: 500 yen for adults (US$4.60)

    Report: Kuuron Kurosawa
    Photos © RocketNews24

    ▼ All the statues are life-size



    ▼ There is also an indoor museum



    ▼ You can walk with the soldiers



    ▼ For some reason the famous daimyo Takeda Shingen also appears!



    ▼ Charge!!!



    ▼ Ootani Yo****sugu commits suicide



    ▼ Victory shall be ours



    ▼ Real armor on display

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  5. #65
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    Shanghai Disney

    The Nanfang / Blog
    Charles Liu charlesliu@thenanfang.com
    Disney Unveils Plans for Massive Shanghai Theme Park
    Posted: 11/17/2014 1:00 pm



    Set to open next year, Shanghai Disney Resort has unveiled its plans for an enormous entertainment complex next to a manmade lake, reported Xinhua.

    Details released at the 2014 China International Tourism Trade Fair, indicated that the theme park will have two main hotels, one of which will feature a “Toy Story” theme.



    Shanghai’s Disney Resort will be the sixth in the world, and will include the largest castle to date. Of the six entertainment sectors, one will have a “Pirates of the Caribbean” theme, while another will have Chinese characteristics and be called the “12 Friends Park”.

    In other Disney developments, Hong Kong Disney World recently announced admission prices will increase from HKD $450 to $499.

    More concept photos of the new Shanghai Disney Resort are shown below:





    Photos: Xinhua, Hexun
    Was hoping for that Star Wars theme...
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  6. #66
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    Hello Kitty theme park

    It's not a cat, you know...

    Hello Kitty Park” in China is set to open on New Year’s Day!
    Krista Rogers 5 days ago



    The various Disney-operated theme parks scattered throughout the world have brought joy to children (and grown-ups!) for decades. Disney’s major character contribution is none other than Mickey Mouse, who has grown to become one of the most recognizable cultural icons on the world scene. But how about a famous cultural export from Japan? Why, that would be Hello Kitty, of course!

    Sanrio’s darling may be celebrating her 40th birthday this month, but she’s showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, her birthday celebration comes along with a recent announcement that a new “Hello Kitty Park” will open in China early next year! Along with plans for the upcoming Shanghai Disneyland, China sure seems to be on a roll these days making children’s dreams come true. More details about the park after the jump.

    A Chinese Hello Kitty theme park was first rumored to be in the works back in 2009, but after a series of misreported information, many crestfallen people put the park out of their minds completely. However, a recent press release stated that Sanrio was actually able to seal the deal with China in 2011, meaning that those rumors are no longer mere speculation. It’s not just a hoax this time around, people–China’s “Hello Kitty Park” really is supposed to open for business on January 1, 2015!

    When the park opens its doors on New Year’s Day, it will become the largest Hello Kitty Park in all of Asia, trumping even Japan’s own Sanrio Puroland. Just check out some of the awesome conceptual designs:




    ▼This promotional video gives the park’s opening as July 2014, but those plans have obviously changed.

    Hopefully, there won’t be any more embarrassing mix-ups rendering Hello Kitty’s name in English from Chinese characters.

    According to the park’s official website, the grounds will be divided into six different zones, which boast over 10 types of attractions and other forms of entertainment for visitors to enjoy. Each of the six zones will feature a famous Sanrio character “host,” including Hello Kitty (Hello Kitty’s Home/凯蒂猫小院), My Melody (Melody Village/音之村), Keroppi (Happy Harbor/欢乐港湾), Badtz-Maru (Steam Kingdom/蒸汽王国), and Monkichi (Spirit Forest/精灵森林). The sixth zone will be a comprehensive Friendship Plaza (友谊广场) where, presumably, several of the characters mingle together. You can get a sneak peak at each of the areas here.

    ▼Artwork for the layout of Melody Village, hosted by My Melody


    3Things just keep getting better and better, because the park isn’t the only highlight to look forward to–the official hotel on the premises seems to be just as, if not more, exciting! Featuring a variety of character-themed rooms, hallways, and other common areas packed with Sanrio goods, the hotel promises to immerse you even further into the world of Hello Kitty.

    ▼The hotel of dreams for diehard Hello Kitty fans. That’s a whole lotta pink…




    Perhaps the only drawback of the park is its relatively off-the-beaten path location in Anji County of Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province. While the area is well-known for its scenic beauty and for being home to over 40 species of bamboo, it takes approximately three hours by car from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to get to the park.

    Visitors using public transportation are possibly in for an even more arduous trek. The official site says that a shuttle bus will run from the Anji County Bus Terminal to the park, but even getting to the bus terminal is problematic in itself. To get there, you must first take a bus for an hour or so from Huzhou Station, the closest high-speed railway stop, or from a station in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province. In other words, those travelers who are flying in from other parts of Asia are probably looking at a minimum two-night stay in China due to logistics alone.

    ▼Anji County’s relative location within China



    Ticket prices on the website are listed as follows: adult weekday tickets are 260 yuan (US$42.35) and adult holiday tickets are 320 yuan ($52.13). Children’s tickets are 200 yuan ($32.58) and 260 yuan ($42.35) on weekdays and holidays respectively.

    It will be interesting to see if the Hello Kitty Park will become rivals in business with Shanghai’s Disneyland. While the Hello Kitty Park has the advantage of opening its doors earlier, Shanghai Disneyland will be much easier to get to, located only 30 minutes by car from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

    On a final note, even if you can’t read Chinese be sure to check out the links below, which are loaded with additional gorgeous conceptual art. Happy browsing!
    The Youku vid wouldn't embed.
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  7. #67
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    Wanda Han Show Theatre

    Wait...what's in there exactly? Is it rides or just a big fat movie theater?

    China’s Wanda Opens First Movie Theme Park in Wuhan


    Wanda Han Show Theatre in Wuhan
    Patrick Frater
    December 19, 2014 | 07:30PM PT
    Patrick Frater
    Asia Bureau Chief

    WUHAN – Dalian Wanda group, the Chinese conglomerate that controls the AMC cinema chain in North America, Saturday gave official openings to its latest entertainment industry extravaganzas.

    In the central Chinese city of Wuhan, chairman Wang Jianlin headed a ceremony to open the Wanda Movie Park, which it claims is the world’s first indoor theme park, and the specially built Han Show Theatre. Wang said that the two sites had cost a combined RMB7 billion ($1.14 billion).

    Giving a measure of the influence of the giant Chinese group, at least four foreign ambassadors to China were present Saturday morning. So too was former Ambassador Gary Locke; former AMPAS chief Hawk Koch, who is now a consultant to Wanda’s studio development in Qingdao; and leading Chinese film and events director Zhang Yimou.

    The company has plans to compete with Disney, DreamWorks and Universal, which all have theme park ambitions in China. Wanda will open a string of theme parks across the country, making use of its extensive property industry developments, political connections and local know-how.

    The company has already become China’s largest private sector cinema chain and has become a major distributor and film financier.
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  8. #68
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    Taiwan's SEX themed park

    Loveland's sloppy seconds
    Taiwan invites lovers to new ‘sex-themed’ park
    Officials in Taiwan are planning to open an erotic theme park in a bid to attract more tourists to the country


    Taiwan's "Romantic Boulevard" will be modelled after the Jeju Loveland park in South Korea (pictured) Photo: Getty Images

    By Soo Kim
    12:39PM GMT 27 Jan 2015

    Spread across a 60km coastal stretch on the southern part of the island, the “Romantic Boulevard” will feature various love-themed structures and spaces including a glass church, heart-shaped arches and a “kinky” outdoor park displaying erotic sculptures of people or animals in “various lovemaking positions”, the Wall Street Journal reports.

    The 10,000 square metre park will be modelled on South Korea’s Jeju Loveland park, a place where “art and eroticism meet”, where visitors can “appreciate the natural beauty of sexuality” and where “the imagination can run wild”. South Korea’s outdoor park has 140 sculptures, including figures of naked women in erotic poses, some of which visitors like to stage 'hillarious' posed photographs with.

    Although still in its planning stages, “Romantic Boulevard” already has a scenic area set up for wedding portraits. Officials are also hoping to open a hotel next to the park for lovers who might want to “turn their feelings into action" said Shih Chao-hui, the deputy director of Taiwan's Southwest Coast National Scenic Area Office, which promotes tourism for the counties of Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan.

    “We want people to fall in love with Taiwan as well as fall in love while in Taiwan. We hope to appeal to visitors in all stages of love. So we even plan to have a ‘Lost Paradise’ for those who are broken-hearted,” he added.


    A sculpture at Jeju Loveland, South Korea (Getty Images)


    News of the proposed theme park has been met with mixed interest, with one commentator on the local tourism office's website regarding it as “leading-edge and refreshing”, while others, including the central government's own tourism bureau - fear the park could give the wrong impression of the country to foreign visitors.

    The bureau, however, has not entirely ruled out the idea of building the erotic theme park and has asked the Southwest Coastal National Scenic Area Offiice to supply more details about the proposed plans.

    “Taiwan is a romantic place and we are always looking for creative ways to promote it,” said Chi Yi-lin, a spokesperson for the bureau.

    Mr Shih believes the new park will help boost tourism and generate interest in the area, claiming he has already received several email inquiries about its opening.


    Sculptures at Jeju Loveland, South Korea (Getty Images)

    “Look, we are in the business of tourism, not education or religion, so the question should be, will the park generate business opportunities and we believe the answer is yes,” he said.


    Jeju Loveland, South Korea (Getty Images)

    More unusual Chinese theme parks

    Hello Kitty amusement park

    The first Hello Kitty theme park outside Japan opened to tourists this month in the Anji county of the Zhejang province of east China. The park cost $325m to build and is China's first large-scale amusement park.

    Kingdom of the Little People

    The rather controversial theme park, found near Kunming, China, requires all employees to be shorter than 4 ft 3 inches and has been criticised for treating dwarfism as a humorous condition. Staff sing and dance for visitors, acting out fairy tales and ballets.



    Shijingshan Amusement Park

    The theme park hit the headlines in 2007 for making unauthorised use of Japanese and American cartoon characters. It features a castle that bears uncanny similarities to the trademark Disney one, and a building that looks like Epcot's Spaceship Earth. Its slogan even translates as: "Disney is too far to go, please come to Shijingshan".

    A simulated death game park

    The Samadhi – 4D Experience of Death uses dramatic special effects to simulate a feeling of dying, with players made to compete in a series of challenges to avoid "death". Those who are not successful are laid down on a fake crematorium conveyor belt which uses hot air and light projections to create an “authentic experience of burning”.

    Eternity Passage

    China's first "hi-tech amusement park" will be made of 15 individually-themed and uniquely-designed gaming and interactive zones that showcase the country's culture, history and heritage. The 76,000 square metre-park in Beijing will feature both indoor and outdoor areas, including walkways, bridges as well as 5D and 6D interactive theatres. The park is set about 35km from the city centre and will form part of the Beijing Outlets World complex which includes a shopping mall, a resort and conference centre.

    Jackie Chan theme park

    In 2013, a new theme park dedicated to the actor Jackie Chan was reported to be under way in Beijing, according to state media. Plans for the opening of the Jackie Chan World Park were confirmed by the Hollywood star on his official account of the Chinese micro-blogging website Weibo. Based in the Beijing suburb of Yizhuang, a former hunting ground for Chinese royalty, the park complex will feature five major themed areas and different cultural exhibition centres showcasing a variety of personal items collected by Chan over the years.

    Chinese-themed park in Australia

    Plans for a £330m Chinese-themed amusement park to be built 50 miles north of Sydney were announced in 2012. The sprawling 15-hectare park in Wyong Shire, which is said to be completed by 2020, will feature a full-sized replica of the gates to Beijing's Forbidden City, a nine-story temple housing a giant Buddha and a mini-city modelled on Chinese water towns. The park will also include a 1000-seat theatre, restaurants and function halls, a royal villa, and a children's section devoted to pandas (which will not have any live pandas).
    Can't wait for the Jackie Chan park.
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  9. #69
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    Disney Shanghai

    It just occurred to me that Mickey Mouse probably sounds really annoying in Chinese.
    Shanghai Disneyland will be 'basically' finished this year



    It looks like the folks behind Shanghai Disneyland are feeling a little less confident about that previously projected 2015 finish date. Construction of the theme park will be "basically" finished this year, Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong said yesterday, adding that the Shanghai Disney Resort's opening is still being discussed.

    Frankly, we were a bit surprised that the 2015 completion date for the Magic Kingdom-style theme park was still being pushed, considering the rather bleak state of things over at the Pudong site as of recent. But then again, this is the Middle Kingdom, where entire cities seemingly pop up overnight.



    Basically.

    A source familiar with the resort told China Daily earlier in January that there 'might be some difficulty with a 2015 opening'.

    Shanghai Construction Group Co. Ltd., one of the major contractors behind the resort, said at the beginning of December that the first phase of of the theme park would be completed by the end of January, or yesterday. Mayor Yang's remarks seem to express a bit less certainty.

    The latest milestone in the resort's development as of December 5 was the theme park's landmark "mountain", the second highest structure at Shanghai Disney Resort, getting topped-out (below).



    Upon its eventual completion, the resort will become the sixth theme park of The Walt Disney Co., joining the likes of those in LA, Orlando, Florida, the US, Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong.

    [Images via iFeng]
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  10. #70
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    Taiwan used to have the Chinese Culture and Movie Center, which was basically a Chinese period town that was used as the settings for countless Taiwan-made kung fu movies of the 1970s and 80s; for only a few commonly-known examples: Shaolin vs. Lama, The 7 Grand Masters, The Chinese Stuntman, Mystery of Chess Boxing, Along Comes the Tiger, The Ming Patriots, Kung Fu Zombie, Fearless Hyena, Thundering Mantis, Half a Loaf of Kung Fu, The Invincible Armour, Secret Rivals 2, etc. It was in the Shilin district of Taipei, not far from the National Palace Museum. It was also a tourist attraction, and visitors could freely walk the 'town' unless there was filming going on.

    I visited twice back in the mid-80s, when I lived over there. I really should have gone more and taken more pictures than I did. But I only took minimal photos, as back then I was more into experiencing than photographing or documenting. It was cool walking the paths, courtyards, etc., and going upstairs in the "inn/restaurants" and the big city gate/wall seen in so many old KF films. Unfortunately, I hear it closed around 7 years ago.
    Last edited by Jimbo; 01-30-2015 at 11:04 AM.

  11. #71
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    China had a similar movie set location/tourist area...

    ...shoot, I think we even ran an article on that somewhere but I can't remember where that was or how to search for it.

    Meanwhile, here's another news story on another Chinese theme park.

    Construction of Universal Studios in Beijing expected to start this year



    Beijing will start the construction of a Universal Studios theme park this year, it was recently announced. Approved by the authority in September 2014, the theme park is expected to be finished and open to the public in 2019.

    The newly-updated construction plan for the park in Beijing covers a construction area of 2.02 million square meters and a total investment of 50 billion RMB (7.98 billion US dollars). Located in Tongzhou, a Beijing suburb, it will be the sixth Universal Studios theme park in the world and the third in Asia.



    Alongside with the theme park, Tongzhou also announced that it will develop resorts and other entertainment facilities that match with the need of potential tourists. The park is expected to boost local tourism and help promote its international image.

    According to a Tongzhou official, the design of the new theme park will contain Chinese cultural elements as a highlight to attract foreign tourists. The chief executive of Universal Resorts, Tom Williams, has also expressed his wish to “build relationships with the Chinese people on a direct and personal level” through the park. As China Daily reported, the park in Beijing will be the first one that allows visitors to experience an action-packed entertainment and watch a behind-the-scene process of film producing.




    Aside from the Universal Studios in Beijing, China is also expecting a Disneyland Park and DreamWorks ‘Dream Center’ in Shanghai, due to be finished in 2015 and 2017 respectively. (Although Disneyland seems to be facing a little delay in its construction.)


    By Shirley Zhang
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  12. #72
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    Goodbye Kitty

    Childhoods ruined in China as Hello Kitty Park leaves visitors disappointed
    evie lund 11 hours ago



    Hopes were high when Hello Kitty Park officially opened its doors on February 4 in Zhejiang Province, China. The largest Hello Kitty theme park in the world, Hello Kitty Park was backed by Kitty-chan’s creators Sanrio and The Hettema Group, a California-based theme park design company. Unfortunately for Kitty fans, however, the park has been widely blasted online during its initial opening period for its underwhelming attractions, small size, and rumours of fake Kitty goods.

    Hype for the park was extremely high, and a lavish inauguration ceremony was held on November 28 last year to celebrate the completion of construction, which you can see a short video of below:



    However, once the park actually opened its doors, Chinese sites were awash with negative reports lambasting the overall experience. Among the complaints were:

    “Most of the attractions weren’t even working, and it only took around 10 minutes to check out everything the park has to offer.”

    “It looked like a construction site, and the stink of fresh paint was everywhere!”

    “I flew here specially from Xi’an, but it’s such a crudely made theme park that I was left disappointed.”

    “None of the attractions looked fun. And there were huge queues for the boring attractions. It just wasn’t any fun at all.”

    “There were only a few restaurants and they were in total chaos. The price for food and drinks was ludicrous.”

    “There were fake Sanrio goods being sold near the gates.”

    “The cheapest room at the hotel was 900 yuan per night (17,000 yen/US$143), which is even more expensive than Hong Kong Disneyland.”

    “The shuttle bus came so rarely that in the end we had to take an unlicensed taxi.”

    “In a word, it was shoddy.”

    Unfortunately, Kitty herself was not able to provide comment owing to the fact that she does not possess a mouth. But Japan’s ever-vocal net users had plenty to say about it!

    “Are we sure this is even actually an official theme park?”

    “Why did they choose to make it in China, though?”

    “What kind of official theme park sells fake goods?”

    “[In response to the above comment] If fake goods were being sold near the entrance, it was probably just opportunistic locals trying to make a quick buck, no?”

    “This isn’t going to do much for the Hello Kitty brand’s image. They shouldn’t have bothered.”

    Hopefully the owners of Hello Kitty Park will take the visitors’ comments to heart and get the park up to scratch before too long – otherwise we foresee a lot more disappointed kids and out-of-pocket parents in the future…

    Source: Livedoor News, Hachima Kikou
    Image: Screenshot via YouTube

    Fortunately this one wasn't high on my 'Chinese theme parks to visit' list.
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  13. #73
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    Slightly OT

    The Philippines, not China, but so awesome.

    Resort in Philippines has literally giant Gundam rip-off, plus Disney and Marvel knockoffs galore
    Casey Baseel 25 minutes ago



    Although the Philippines have plenty of seaside travel destinations, Jed’s Island Resort isn’t one of them. Being located in the landlocked municipality of Calumpit means that while Jed’s isn’t far from Manila Bay, it doesn’t have any coastline to call its own.

    That’s OK, though, because you can still relax in one of the resort’s nine advertised swimming pools. And while you may not be able to enjoy listening to the sound of the waves, you will be able to look up at Jed’s gigantic Gundam statue that’s as tall as the one in Tokyo yet far, far skinnier. Not into anime? Not a problem! Jed’s is also home to beloved characters from Disney, Marvel, and DC…or at least their disturbingly off-model, knockoff doppelgangers.


    The facility’s grounds used to be a private estate, but were opened to guests as Jed’s Island Resort in 1995. The resort’s website boasts that “During its five summers of existence, Jed’s has welcomed actors and actresses, singers, and band members from showbiz as its guest.” Ordinarily, we’d write the use of “guest” off as a typo, but considering that the reference to Jed’s five summers of existence is on a web page updated in 2014, nearly 20 years after the resort’s opening, it’s possible the management simply isn’t very good at math.

    But hey, who needs statistical accuracy when you’ve got the most iconic giant robot in the history of Japanese animation, the RX-78-2 Gundam!



    Wow…looks like Gundam needs a sandwich. Or, seeing as how he’s in the Philippines, maybe a plate of lechon, the local variety of suckling pig. The robot is looking so skinny that we’re surprised it can still stand, and also so anemic that there’s no way it could survive an attack by the bellicose Zeon forces.

    Gundam is so gaunt that at first glance it seems like the photo is the product of a weird camera lens, but the proportions of the woman standing between his feet aren’t warped at all.



    As further proof, here’s the anorexic mobile suit from a different angle that reveals more of its narrow dimensions.



    Still, this is a pretty gutsy move by Jed’s designers. Non-official wonky physique and large letter J on its crotch, that’s clearly and literally a huge Gundam rip-off. We’re sure executives at Bandai, the company which holds the licensing rights to all things Gundam, aren’t happy about it. If it’s any consolation, though, Bandai’s lawyers should bear in mind that Jed’s Island Resort isn’t just ripping off Gundam, they’re ripping off everybody!

    Well, maybe not everybody, but that only seems to be because there’s not enough space for a project of that magnitude. Still, Jed’s has done an impressive job of filling its property with as many unlicensed likenesses as it can hold. The resort isn’t shy about this, either, at least in the case of these two photos from its Facebook page, which are excitedly touted as “New attraction-One Piece at Jed’s! and Big Hero Robot Baymax!”



    Among Frozen’s many crowd-pleasing aspects, some fans were thrilled to see a Disney movie with two princesses. But apparently the special Jed’s edition of the film features no less than three royal ladies.



    Elsewhere, Jed’s gets the number of siblings just right. Can’t say the same about their facial features, though.



    ▼ Elsa must be hitting the gym regularly to have added that much muscle definition to her shoulders. She’s apparently become so addicted to the pump from lifting weights that she’s curling half a head of cabbage.



    Going from Disney’s newest hit characters to their oldest, here’s Mickey and pals Goofy, Donald, and Mickey Clones 1 through 3, plus rival Bugs Bunny, all posing in front of a brachiosaur.

    ▼ Because really, wouldn’t you want a shot of that?

    continued next post
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
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    continued from previous post

    We’re guessing some older, hand-drawn cartoon characters must look down on their nouveau rich CG counterparts. How else could you explain why the heroes of Avatar were left out of the Disney/Warner Bros. group photo?



    Of course, not all classic animated characters are so set in their ways. For example, Snow White has expanded her social circle beyond her seven stout housemates, and is seen here in the company of 1977 anime mecha Voltes V.



    ▼ Can he still wake her from her sleep with a kiss if he doesn’t have lips?



    As a matter of fact, Jed’s Island Resort seems to be all about crossovers, like this snapshot of the Sesame Street gang hanging out with Mother Goose.



    ▼ Big Bird looks both remarkably skinny and decidedly militant in this photo.



    ▼ Hey, did you steal the slice of pizza Big Bird was planning to eat for lunch, weirdly tall Elmo?



    Awesome as it is to see Superman and Captain America in the same place, it’d still be cooler if they were fighting.



    ▼ Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Wonder Woman seem to have climbed all the way to the top of the water slide tower before losing their nerve to actually go down it.



    Legalities aside, we can at least see why the management of Jed’s Island Resort would want to decorate their pools with these instantly recognizable and hugely popular characters. They may have been a little too zealous in their efforts to copy as much as possible, though. For example, can you imagine any travelers picking where to stay according to which resort has the cast of free mobile game Clash of Clans?



    But even then, Jed’s “creative” team wasn’t done scraping the bottom of the barrel, because you haven’t exhausted every option until you’ve made a knock-off based on the cover 1980’s flight disaster satire Airplane!



    If that doesn’t have kids begging their parents to come, we don’t know what will.

    Related: Jed’s Island Resort
    Source: Gogo Tsushin
    Top image: Jed’s Island Resort (1, 2, 3) (edited by RocketNews24)
    Insert images: Jed’s Island Resort Facebook (1, 2, 3, 4), Wikipedia/Before My Ken (edited by RocketNews24)
    Chinese theme parks really gotta step up their game after this...
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
    Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart

  15. #75
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    The BOOM

    When I launched this thread in 2011, I could see this trend coming. If only I had figured out how to invest in it.

    Theme park operators rush to join boom in China
    Backers of Zhejiang theme park see bright future despite poor results at similar ventures in China
    PUBLISHED : Sunday, 22 February, 2015, 8:44pm
    UPDATED : Monday, 23 February, 2015, 12:26pm
    Celine Sun in Beijing celine.sun@scmp.com


    The Hello Kitty Park in Anji county, Zhejiang province, opened on January 1. Photo: SCMP Pictures

    Billed as the cutest place on Earth, the newly opened Hello Kitty Park is the latest addition to an increasingly crowded market for amusement parks on the mainland.

    Since its soft launch last month, the park in Anji county, Zhejiang province, has been drawing swarms of tourists to a pastel wonderland, set on 60 hectares, that houses a grand castle, a themed theatre, an aqua amusement zone and a dozen rides including a skyscraping Ferris wheel.

    While the centre's shops are ringing up brisk sales of Hello Kitty dolls, along with the restaurants serving up Hello Kitty-shaped cakes, the park's backers are out to defy a number that is far from pretty: of the roughly 3,000 theme parks on the mainland, only 30 per cent are profitable, according to Yang Yanfeng, a researcher at the China Tourism Academy.

    Sanrio, the patent owner of Hello Kitty, is banking on a "bright future" for the mainland's theme park market. But a reminder of the competitive pressure is just three hours' drive away in Shanghai's Pudong district, where the first Disneyland on the mainland is under construction and is due to open at the end of the year.

    In Beijing, US media group Comcast Corp gained government approval last year to build one of the company's Hollywood-themed Universal Studios parks in the east of the capital.

    Dalian Wanda Group, controlled by one of the country's richest men, Wang Jianlin, has been making headlines for an ambitious expansion of its entertainment empire. Wanda last month opened The Han Show and Wanda Movie Park in Wuhan, Hubei province, as the mainland's largest commercial property developer shifted its focus to entertainment, culture and tourism.

    "China's theme parks market absolutely has a bright future, given the fast economic growth and robust consumer demand. This is especially true when e-commerce takes a bigger influence in China's economy, which will make 'real experience consumption', such as theme parks, more popular than ever," said Yoshifumi Kawai, the chairman of Sanrio (Shanghai) International Trading.

    Sanrio founded a joint venture with a local real estate developer to invest 1.5 billion yuan (HK$1.9 billion) to build and run the park, with first-year expectations of a million visitors. The park carries the cartoon cat's image everywhere and indulges fans with photo opportunities with costumed characters on parade floats. Many of the rides are yet to open.

    Also seeking to provide escapism for hundreds of millions of newly affluent mainland families is South Korea's Lotte Group, which operates what is billed as the world's largest indoor theme park as part of an integrated resort in Seoul. It plans to replicate the indoor complex in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

    Meanwhile, US media conglomerate 21st Century Fox is hunting for a site on the mainland for a park featuring themes from hits from the film and television world such as Ice Age, Alien and The Simpsons.

    "These foreign brands are bringing not only world-level amusement facilities but also different business patterns and ideas," Yang said.

    He said the development of theme parks on the mainland had long followed a pattern. In many cases, park developers used the idea of building a theme park to secure a block of land from local governments at a relatively low price. The opening of the theme park and the upgrading of public facilities nearby will then boost property values in the neighbourhoods and enhance profits for the developers. "As for the future of the theme park, they don't care that much," Yang said.

    The mainland's first theme park appeared in 1989 when Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Holding teamed up with China Travel Service (Hong Kong) to launch Splendid China, which features scaled-down replicas of the country's historical buildings and renowned natural scenes.

    The park's success spawned hundreds of imitators, but most closed down within years due to poor locations and a lack of innovation.

    "At one time, there were dozens of parks on the mainland, all themed with China's ancient classics like A Dream of Red Mansions or Journey to the West," Yang said. "You can guess what their fate was in the end."

    After the turn of the century, theme parks again became a favoured play for real estate developers with their bets on leveraging the projects to boost property values nearby. But the parks often struggled to make a profit, given the huge outlays in construction and maintenance.

    The most successful ventures are Guangdong's Chimelong Paradise and Shenzhen's Happy Valley. Park developers' reliance on property revenue might change soon with the increasing involvement of top foreign park operators.

    "The real business opportunities for theme parks actually lie in retailing, dining and entertainment services," said Amy Meng, an associate director of real estate consulting firm DTZ and a consultant for the planning of Beijing's Universal Studios.

    She said the company's Beijing project would have a City Walk business zone outside the main entrance. The complex would be filled with shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas and nightclubs in a concept established at the company's other properties, including Osaka and Singapore.

    "It's estimated that around 70 per cent of visitors, after leaving the park, still want to find somewhere to buy souvenirs, have dinner or watch a film. It would be a big market and an important source of revenue for the park," Meng added.


    The Ferris wheel at the Hello Kitty Park in Anji county, Zhejiang province. Photo: SCMP Pictures

    This business model is evident at Disney's theme parks, where about 50 per cent of revenue typically comes from admission tickets, with about 30 per cent generated by visitor spending on shopping and dining.

    "But in most mainland parks, you can hardly find a decent place to eat or shop. That's not a smart way to do business," Meng said.

    In the Hello Kitty Park in Anji, the shops selling the namesake dolls and themed cakes are packed most of the time.

    "We describe our park as the cutest place on Earth. There's no doubt that our shops and restaurants are an important part of it that no one would want to miss out on. They are just as popular as all the other attractions at our place," said a marketing manager at the park.
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
    Support our forum by getting your gear at MartialArtSmart

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