Daily Mail
It was to be China’s answer to Disneyland—a magnificent theme park attracting millions of visitors a year with state-of-the art rides in a chintzy fairytale setting.
But Wonderland, on the outskirts of Beijing, is being torn down after a catastrophic history stretching over 15 years.
Video: Catherine Hyland. Photos: David Gray, Reuters
It was to be China’s answer to Disneyland—a magnificent theme park attracting millions of visitors a year with state-of-the art rides in a chintzy fairytale setting.
But Wonderland, on the outskirts of Beijing, is being torn down after a catastrophic history stretching over 15 years.
Video: Catherine Hyland. Photos: David Gray, Reuters
Construction work at the 120 acre site ground to a halt in 1998 due to a dispute between the developers and the landowners and a corruption scandal that went right to the heart of the communist party.
Back in the mid 1990s, developers Huabin foresaw a bustling theme park attracting some three million visitors and generating $1 billion a year.
Back in the mid 1990s, developers Huabin foresaw a bustling theme park attracting some three million visitors and generating $1 billion a year.
Crucially they had secured the backing Chen Xitong, then the Beijing Party Secretary who was being tipped to become the country’s next leader.
But when Chen was jailed for corruption in 1998, his successor, perhaps scared of being tarred with the same brush, refused to support the project.
But when Chen was jailed for corruption in 1998, his successor, perhaps scared of being tarred with the same brush, refused to support the project.
Now the farmers that used to own the land have returned to grow their crops once again, with the decaying building site filling the skyline.
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