Per-Anders Pettersson

ON ASSIGNMENT: CHINESE THEME PARKS

Chinese people are crazy about

theme parks and there are about

2400 around the country. Many

new parks have opened in the past

few years. There's even a top 100

list. Many of the amusement and

entertainment complexes have

different themes such as modeled

on Disney themes, World

landmarks, African National Park,

safaris and all sort of roller

coasters and high-tech stunt shows

brought in from the United States.

Some are also controversial such

as the gruesome acts of feeding

live animals to tigers and other

animal shows involving Tigers and

Black Bears in degrading customs.

These shows are condemned by

animal rights activists.

New parks are opening regularly

because the competition is fierce.

Many parks also offer four or five

star hotels, golf courses and

opportunity to buy apartments on

the properties. The rapidly growing

rich middle-class has more money

to spend on leisure activities, and

the easing of restrictions of

movement in the country has

fueled this travel boom within their

country. In addition, parks, such as

Windows of The World, show

copies of many world famous

monuments so a Chinese family

doesn't have to spend money on

expensive trips to overseas

countries. Chinese tourism is the

fastest growing tourism market in

the world. It's estimated that China

will be the world's largest tourism

market by 2020. Over one billion

Chinese traveled domestically in

2006, a figure growing rapidly as

Its gets easier to travel with more

flights and airports being built

around the country. The figure has

doubled in a decade.

A Chinese businessman rides a mechanical bull at Windows Of the World Theme park in December 2008 in central Shenzhen, China.
   
Young women pose for pictures in front of a photograph of Moscow’s Red Square at Minsk World Theme Park in October 2008 outside Shenzhen, China. The Minsk, an aircraft carrier, was built in 1972 and served the Soviet Navy and the later the Russian Navy. She had been retired because of a major accident and was later sold to a Chinese company to serve as a Theme Park.
  
Chinese tourists take pictures at copies of Sphinx and Great Pyramid at Windows Of the World Theme park in September 2008 in central Shenzhen, China. The park, one of China’s most popular, gives Chinese and tourists a view of famous landmarks around the world as miniatures, without traveling around the world.
     
  
A girl uses a ski lift in an indoor ski resort at the Windows Of the World Theme park in September 2008 in central Shenzhen, China. The park, one of China’s most popular, gives Chinese and tourists a view of famous landmarks around the world as miniatures, without traveling around the world. There are copies of the Eiffel Tower, Manhattan, and Pyramids etc.
  
Performers greet children after a Disney themed show at Happy Valley Theme park in September 2008 in central Shenzhen, China. The park has various attractions such as roller coasters, water rides and Walt Disney style live shows for children.
  
A Chinese couple relaxes next to their tent on Dameisha Beach Park in October 2008 outside Shenzhen, China. Millions of Chinese took a weeklong break during the National Holiday and one of the Golden weeks during the year. This is the most popular beach outside Shenzhen, and it’s free. The park also has carnival rides and a statue park.
     
  
Chinese holidaymakers play in the sea at Dameisha Beach Park in October 2008 outside Shenzhen, China. Millions of Chinese took a weeklong break during the National Holiday and one of the Golden weeks during the year. This is the most popular beach outside Shenzhen. The park also has carnival rides and a statue park.
  
Chinese tourists dress up as Mao Tse-tung outside his house at the Zao'yuan Revolutionary Site Park in October 2008 in central Yan’an, China. The city has become a popular place for communist pilgrims, as it was the endpoint for the Long March and the center of the Chinese Communist revolution from 1935 to 1948. Chinese communists celebrate Yan’an as the birthplace of the revolution.
  
A man is being photographed next to a portrait of a young Mao Tse-tung at Zao'yuan Revolutionary Site Park in October 2008 in central Yan’an, China. The city has become a popular place for communist pilgrims, as it was the endpoint for the Long March and the center of the Chinese Communist revolution from 1935 to 1948. Chinese communists celebrate Yan’an as the birthplace of the revolution.
     
  
Chinese tourists walk past fake Egyptian pyramids and the Eiffel tower during sunset at Windows Of the World Theme park in January 2009 in central Shenzhen, China. The park, one of China’s most popular, gives Chinese and tourists a view of famous landmarks around the world as miniatures, without traveling around the world. There are copies of the Eiffel Tower, Manhattan, and Pyramids, London, Venice, Rome etc.
  
Handlers make Black Bears jump a course while performing during a bear and tiger show at Xiongsen Bear & Tiger Mountain village Theme Park in October 2008 in Guilin, China. The park has over 1500 tigers and they do research, but their main business is producing tiger bone vine and selling tiger parts for traditional medicine, a practice forbidden by the government and condemned by international governments. Visitors can see different shows such as tigers that are fed live animals such as pigs and bulls. Tigers and Bears are used in different shows where bears ride on bicycles, rides horses and tigers.
  
A young man holds a fake flower while eating with his girl friend at a street vendor outside Flora Theme Park in October 2008 in Chengdu, China. The area is known for its fauna and the park has various gardens, theme restaurants and carnival stands. Its also has an Italian street where wedding couples come to take pictures daily.
     
  
A young girl rests on a bus as she is returning home from Flora Theme Park in October 2008 in Chengdu, China. The area is known for its fauna and the park has various gardens, theme restaurants and carnival stands. Its also has an Italian street where wedding couples come to take pictures.