Wanda's newly opened entertainment complex, located at south-eastern city Nanchang, promotes Chinese culture in its attractions. Image: bbc
Dozens of amusement and theme parks in various styles and motifs are springing up in China, giving rise to fears of an impending bubble in the property sector.
Nanchang theme park, part of the first outdoor entertainment complex by Dalian Wanda Group, China's largest private property developer, has opened to public on May 28. It is the first of 15 planned complexes with theme parks that are set to open up across China over the next five years.
China is building parks faster than any other country in the world. Last year, 21 theme parks opened in China, with another 20 parks under construction. There are reportedly nearly 300 theme parks across the country in operating. Carnival Group International, another tourism property developer, said it plans to have more than 10 theme parks in next five years across China’s first- and second- tier cities. Haichang Ocean Park, the largest marine theme park operator in China, targets to open four more parks by 2020 with 8 parks already opened.
Due to China's determination to boost domestic consumption, some analysts and industry experts believe that there is a huge room for the further development of theme parks, while others feel that only the tough will survive.
Distribution of the primary theme parks in China. Image: kchance.com
The Nanchang entertainment complex is positioning as a distinctly homegrown rival to Disney and its $5.5 billion Shanghai theme park opening next month.
Wanda Group has indicated that it wants to fend off Disney in the Chinese market and become a global entertainment brand.
