Wonderland - Abandoned Park in China
"Wonderland" is a huge theme park in China, which was never completed and is now abandoned. Photographer Catherine Hyland has made a video and photographs of this gigantic project with a strange atmosphere. Construction work at the park, which developers had promised would be "the largest amusement park in Asia," stopped around 1998 after disagreements with the local government and farmers over property prices. Developers briefly tried to restart construction in 2008, but without success. The Death of Amusement Parks When we think of amusements parks, we conjure up images of daredevil rides, cotton candy, and entertaining side shows. But what happens to an amusement park when the crowds stop going? There is no sendoff, no ceremony, no eulogy. Because of land disputes, cost to repair and refurbish, or just plain lack of interest, these parks have been left to die a slow death as the earth reclaims them. Oddly enough, many parks have been enjoying a strange afterlife, thanks to adventurous travellers/photographers. Abandoned amusement parks have become “must-photograph” destinations for the traveler who is looking for something out of the ordinary to see and photograph. Dilapidated buildings, derelict roller coasters and happy faced clown statues peering out through overgrown brush make for unique images and stark contrasts.
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