It's like Uber for Willy Wonka boat rides.
November 29, 2015 10:22 AM   Subscribe

WikiTravel calls The Shanghai Sightseeing Tunnel "A slow-moving tram, through a comically low-tech tunnel of antiquated 80's era rope lights, lasers and car dealership ilk inflatables." YMMV. [SLYT, lots of blinking lights]
posted by Room 641-A (29 comments total) 9 users marked this as a favorite
 
(Willy Wonka boat ride)
posted by Room 641-A at 10:23 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


It's kind of lovable. I may be biased because my happiest memory of Disneyland, at age five, is of walking through a tunnel of neon lights that was not nearly as animated as this one. Even so it was amazing, for a kid.
posted by Countess Elena at 10:51 AM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]


Ah man, for some reason I never ended up doing this, even though I spent about 15 weeks in Shanghai (working, alas) this year and last. I did go to the nearby underground shopping center which has an historical exhibit of "old Shanghai" which is similarly goofy and charming.
posted by Doleful Creature at 10:55 AM on November 29, 2015


Yep, being a kid at Disneyland is exactly what it reminded me of too. And I think those experiences may have primed me for other stuff too. Like some late-period Husker Du really is the Main Street Electrical Parade of punk.
posted by benito.strauss at 10:57 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


The original title was "It's like the Monsanto ride on acid." I love this so hard.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:01 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Carrousel of Progress. I remember it well.
posted by humboldt32 at 11:03 AM on November 29, 2015


It's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day.


(Remember it? It's burned into my DNA.)
posted by benito.strauss at 11:09 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Thanks for posting this. I missed it when I was in Shanghai in 2013, heard it wasn't worth it. However, I love these things, here's a couple more -- moving walkways, however, instead of riding little people-mover cars. Multiverse by Leo Villareal connects the newer East Wing of the National Gallery of Art with the original building, in Washington DC; and The Sky's the Limit by Michael Haydenconnects Concourses B and C in Terminal 1 at Chicago's ORD.

Yes, the Carousel of Progress is great, but bringing it up here is a derail IMO.

posted by Rash at 11:12 AM on November 29, 2015


The Sky's the Limit yt by Michael Hayden connects Concourses B and C in Terminal 1 at Chicago's ORD.

I have this memory that when that installation was first put in place, it had an accompanying soundtrack by Eno. Now, even if it was still being played, the constant crowd din would drown anything that subtle out.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 11:22 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


It's in United territory so its faint, tinkly background music is based on Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" instead of Eno.
posted by Rash at 11:42 AM on November 29, 2015


I have this memory that when that installation was first put in place, it had an accompanying soundtrack by Eno.

A common misperception. The music was by a Chicago composer named William Kraft.
posted by mykescipark at 11:42 AM on November 29, 2015


We had only time to either ride on the Shanghai Sightseeing Tunnel or take a lap on the 431 km/h Maglev. We chose the latter.
posted by fairmettle at 11:44 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


This is beautiful & I would do it repeatedly if I could. I think that low-budget retro effects are charming and awesome, much like strobe lights or pinwheels. Very Logan's Run.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 11:48 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Peoplemover!
posted by ctmf at 12:26 PM on November 29, 2015


Love the bored attendant (staring at her cell phone?) at the end.
posted by ctmf at 12:29 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Very Logan's Run.

Other rejected title: I think she's saying, "Welcome to Carrousel."

I love MetaFilter. My people are here.

Love the bored attendant (staring at her cell phone?) at the end.

Yes! "Oh, do you not have a trippy psychedelic tunnel where you live?"
posted by Room 641-A at 12:33 PM on November 29, 2015 [3 favorites]


Wasn't there a moving walkway like this at Chicago O'Hare international airport?

Or was I just jet lagged?
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:11 PM on November 29, 2015


Was that a lightsaber I heard?

Also...nascent magma....lol....
posted by nzero at 2:51 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Oh agreed the Maglev is totally rad and fun to take. So fast!
posted by Doleful Creature at 2:52 PM on November 29, 2015


Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man!
posted by nzero at 2:53 PM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]


I am now deeply uncertain if I should have spent the $10 this tunnel cost when I had a chance.

I was in the bunker-like complex this is located in by accident a couple weeks ago. A floor underneath it is a poor knockoff museum of an anytown-USA Ripleys which, if memory serves me correctly, had a Crypt-keeper like skeleton holding an American flag. The entrance to this is flanked by booths selling tchotchke lined with maneki-neko.
posted by EsotericAlgorithm at 5:20 PM on November 29, 2015


You should see the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk caveman train ride. It's like someone tried to make a Disneyland ride on a budget of $5.
posted by w0mbat at 7:42 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


It's what the light show in 2001: A Space Odyssey would look like if done by the special effects folks from early Doctor Who.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:30 PM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]


This is like Russian Ark mp4 compressed and recompressed 1,000 times.
posted by lagomorphius at 9:22 PM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


mccarty.tim - Chicago O'Hare international airport = Chicago ORD The Sky's the lImit is where you were.
posted by Rash at 10:54 PM on November 29, 2015


The moving walkway is now ending. Please look down.
posted by mattdidthat at 8:22 on November 30


I still have memories of visiting Chicago as a kid and my family all mishearing that as "the movey-walky thing is now ending"
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:13 AM on December 1, 2015


I did this in person a few years ago and the experience was incredibly underwhelming. I was with a group and really didn't know what to expect.

Somehow though, it's actually kind of interesting watching it in YouTube form
posted by timelord at 8:25 AM on December 2, 2015


Sounds like Bedrock City, Arizona
posted by Room 641-A at 10:36 AM on December 2, 2015


Good Lord I think we stopped off there during our cross-country tour as kids.

1) Disneyland gives you unrealistically high expectations.
2) My mother was a saint.
posted by benito.strauss at 12:44 PM on December 2, 2015


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