$500 million China theme park in Australia, NSW

[mattcrombie]

Just read this interesting article. Full-size Forbidden City gates replica planned for NSW theme park Wyong Shire Council has signed a deal to sell land for a proposed theme park that would include a full-size replica of China's Forbidden City gates. Photo: AFPA China theme park in Australia featuring a full-size replica of gates to the Forbidden City and a nine-storey temple could rival the Sydney Opera House as a tourist drawcard, officials said on Monday.The planned $500 million attraction moved a step closer after Wyong Shire Council in New South Wales signed a deal on Sunday to sell 15.7 hectares of land to the company behind the proposal.Construction of the seven-sectioned theme park 80 kilometres north of Sydney is set to begin in 2015 and be finished by 2020.On completion it is expected to employ more than 1000 people.Advertisement"What this proposal will do is turn the Wyong Shire into a tourist mecca and bring millions of dollars worth of tourism into the area -- which will have a flow on effect to the entire region's economy," Mayor Doug Eaton said."Outside the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, this has the potential to be among the biggest tourist attractions in the state."The first stage of the theme park to be built is likely to be the replica of an entrance to the Forbidden City, Beijing's Imperial Palace, complete with red walls and golden roof.There will also be a section constructed in the architectural style of the Tang and Song dynasties, with small courtyards typical of a Chinese neighbourhood, and another in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties.Other areas will include the temple, a theatre, a royal villa, and a children's section devoted to pandas, though not including any live animals."It is going to be a unique $500 million tourist attraction, employing more than a thousand people and bringing economic prosperity to Wyong Shire," said Bruce Zhong, chairman of Australian Chinese Theme Park, the private company behind the project.The park will tap in to the growing number of tourists from China visiting Australia.China is Australia's fastest growing and most valuable international tourism market, worth more than $3.8 billion in 2011, with more than 400,000 Chinese visitors coming to New South Wales state each year.Read more: http://www.smh.com.a...l#ixzz2E2HpmisG Features include: * China City Gate Life size replica of the 8m entry to the Beijing Imperial Palace, with a two-story pavilion built on top featuring a tea house and restaurant downstairs and hotel upstairs. Will also house a five story parking lot inside. * Tang and Song Academy: Architecture inspired by Tang and Song dynasties to showcase the "Four Treasures'' of study (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper) and Chinese art, antiques, painting and calligraphy. Small sized courtyards will replicate a typical Chinese neighbourhood. * Water Towns in South China: Reflecting the Ming and Qing dynasties it will be built over a canal with the first two stories for restaurants and bars with hotels upstairs. It will incorporate eight Chinese cuisine styles and be available for weddings and functions. * Panda Paradise: With no actual pandas, this section will be billed as a kid's paradise and include a 4D cinema, waxworks museum and pond similar to domestic theme parks in China. * Wyong Theatre: This part of the park will be known as ''the city than never sleeps'' and will feature a 1000-seat theatre and water fountain similar to one on the Yangtze River. With weekly shows featuring Chinese and international acts it aims to rival the Opera House. * Royal villa: The best of modern and corporate China it will house the Yiyuan Club and the Royal Villa resort, which will also invite China's provincial and municipal tourism bureaux to be located there along with and other Chinese businesses. * Thanksgiving Temple: The first of its kind located outside China, the main pagoda structure will be nine storeys high and built in the tradition of Shanghai's Jing'an Temple housing a giant Buddha statue.

Edited December 3, 2012 by mattcrombie

[alex_1]

Though this will be an interesting attraction that should attract Chinese tourists, it kind of pisses me off that a $500 million dollar rideless "theme park" can be built yet we can't get a coaster over $10 million or so to be built at any of our parks.

[Gazza]

This proposal makes me.....

[alex_1]

Okay RWC, we know Communism is bad. No need to convince anyone here.

[Brad2912]

Fire up!

[Gazza]

Exclusive images guys! Turns out the park will have a 3:30 pm parade like Movie World:

[joz]

Including historical re-enactments with movie tie ins:

[jjuttp]

I read this and thought, "Darling Harbour's getting a rollercoaster?". theres a 95% chance that this WILL become a home away from home....

[Gazza]

^When I read the topic, I was admittedly hopeful a Chimelong/Happy Valley/OCT owned park was opening here.

[westical]

Why are Chinese tourists going to travel halfway around the world to see a replica of their own palace? It's like building an Opera House replica in Beijing and expecting Australians to flock to it. And nothing like a special Pandaland with no actual pandas. I'll believe it when I see it.

[alex_1]

Hey guys I heard they're actually building a Mack Watercoaster with 6 trains at this park.

[Gazza]

The REAL founder of Modern China(Not that communist usurper B*****d): The REAL flag of the REAL non-communist Republic Of China(Not that communist pretender's sham "flag"):

RWC, why do you have to be so weird all the time? Serious question.

[Gazza]

What I mean is, do you really have to go on these bizzare, yet uber detailed tangents on stupid stuff like Mao posters or the "real chinese flag" on buildings or coney island theming on rides?

Edited December 4, 2012 by Gazza

[westical]

Lol, you can go and see it right now.... A place you might have heard of, it's called "Kung Fu Panda: Land of Awesomeness" at Dreamworld!!!

There's a slight difference between a land themed after an animated movie character (who does appear in the park) and a "serious" panda education attraction.

[Lukes.life]

I don't get how this would attract Chinese visitors to Australia. It would be like me going overseas and going to a replica opera house. Could somebody explain this?

[JacobSibbald]

sounds crappy, and I definitely expect asians to visit. Once it has the words "tourist attraction" next to it, you bet they'll be there!

[westical]

I don't get how this would attract Chinese visitors to Australia. It would be like me going overseas and going to a replica opera house. Could somebody explain this?

It's like an echo.

[Bussy]

BIZARRE!!!! I just don't get it.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Holy Crap! Bussy - where have you been?

[CruiseSF]

It will not be as successful as they are saying. The area that is being used it lacking infrastructural as it is. Sure its built right off the F3 but the F3 is already suffering from too much traffic, plus at the Toukley exit (almost right across from the proposed area) is one of the narrowest locations on the freeway with only 2 lines in each direction. Not to mention the huge delays caused by even minor crashes. Another major issues is the lack of anything surrounding it. Every thing near it is homes, woolworthes distribution centre, blue tongue brewery and lots of forests. With many of the side roads being some of the worst in the country. There are no hotels (that you would actually want to stay in) anywhere near the area so they would need to travel long distances. for people living away from the area. the total cost to make the area suitable for the park would be more expensive then the park would cost to build. Wyong Council can not even afford to look after the infrastructure it already has and the state government is reluctant to give them more money due to the low income in much of the area. As well as the area requiring huge cost for roads due to heavy drainage requirements due to being located in a swamp. With a 500m stretch of road costing over $15m when the same work carried out in another area would cost less then $8m. Although there may be some chance since the local airport (currently only allowing private non-jet aircraft to land) is one of the six airports listed on the states governments list of possible locations for a second major airport for Sydney. With this park possible raising the possibility of the state government taking the bill to fix up the area. With the park being located less then a km from the airport, and maybe even located next door to the airport. It could do good things for the area which really needs work. But I need to hope they don't cause too big of backup with traffic since I need to go right through the area to go to uni.

[AllegroCrab]

I can't see this taking off. It could "rival the Sydney Opera House." This is more of a business opportunity than a place with actual historical significance. I can't imagine people coming overseas just to see this. They come to Australia to see the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. They won't go home and show their friends and family this amazing theme park they went to, they'll show them pictures of themselves at the opera house, not at some replica of something in their own country. And why can business tycoons spend $500M on this when we have parks that are already successful, who don't spend $10M - $20M on new rides and coasters that are far more likely to succeed. But if this does work out, it will have to be one of the strangest business moves I've ever heard of. Good luck whoever is building this, and chuck in a couple of coasters will you!

Edited December 16, 2012 by AllegroCrab

[MacPark]

This will never happen and its a stupid idea. It will become another "new attraction/park" stpry that never resurfaces again.

[CruiseSF]

This will never happen and its a stupid idea. It will become another "new attraction/park" stpry that never resurfaces again.

This has been in planning for years, its not going away due to the large amounts of money people have already spent and the relationship between the company and our council is strong.

[Gazza]

What makes this any more special than the other proposals that have come and gone?

[CruiseSF]

What makes this any more special than the other proposals that have come and gone?

It has complete support from the government and council, who will basically let them do what ever they want, unlike other places where parks get restricted by the council. As well as the things that have been happening in the area to accommodate it has been ongoing for over a year now.