Abandoned Disneyland in Beijing

December 13, 2011 7:39 AM

As you leave Beijing traveling north on the road to visit the Great Wall of China you pass by this (map). It's unguarded, and various people have explored it, reporting back. There are two theories of its demise, local farmers, or Disney.
posted by stbalbach (12 comments total)

8 (more) Abandoned Theme Parks Abroad “Open” for Exploration.
posted by stbalbach at 7:39 AM on December 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

Oh please..if history has taught us anything it's that when in doubt, assume it's a mall. I'd bet dollars to donuts it's a mall.
posted by spicynuts at 7:51 AM on December 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

I've seen this movie.... Don't eat the food.
posted by schmod at 7:52 AM on December 13, 2011 [7 favorites]

Ha, we were totally wondering about that ourselves on the way out and back in from Badaling.

And actually reading the articles, I'm pretty sure the Disney link is talking about something different. Shijingshan is still open, I think.
posted by kmz at 7:53 AM on December 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

Yeah, the Shijingshan Amusement Park is pretty much inside Beijing. Hell, it's got its own subway stop. Ain't nothing serving the abandoned thing on the way to Badaling.

The farmers link looks right though.
posted by kmz at 7:57 AM on December 13, 2011

Sorry got that confused.
posted by stbalbach at 8:01 AM on December 13, 2011

I've seen this movie.... Don't eat the food.

Troll 2?
posted by FatherDagon at 8:04 AM on December 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

I've seen this movie.... Don't eat the food.

*Troll 2?

Spirited Away.
posted by Scattercat at 8:10 AM on December 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

I asked about this five years ago.
posted by josher71 at 8:34 AM on December 13, 2011

Disneyland-style theme parks abound in Asia. Just look at the Lotte World logo. The company doesn't have any legal control over the "amusement park full of castles and stuff" idea, so as long as actual Disney charachters aren't being used.
posted by Winnemac at 8:41 AM on December 13, 2011

In Focus just posted a nice series of pictures: China's Abandoned Wonderland.
posted by pb at 9:15 AM on December 13, 2011 [6 favorites]

Anecdotally, I've heard plenty of reports of other amusement parks in Beijing -- still-functioning ones -- hosting "Miqi Mouse" and friends, so the "Disney" theory doesn't sound like it holds a lot of water. The "farmer" theory is an interesting one, and I do like the idea of rural farmers getting their way for once.
posted by bokane at 9:08 PM on December 13, 2011