While China plans to welcome new Disneyland and Angry Birds themes parks, a local operator is in the process of taking large-scale entertainment -- Chinese-style -- out into the big, wide world.
Fantawild Holdings, based in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, has announced plans to open a Fantawild Theme Park in Iranian city Esfahan by the end of the year.
Fantawild currently operates six theme parks across China -- the largest covering some 1.25 million square meters in the city of Wuhu, in the eastern Anhui province -- and has plans to have 13 up and running by the end of 2015, according to state media.
The park in Wuhu has attracted 11 million people since opening in 2008 and Fantawild prides itself on attractions that are designed and built in China. In Wuhu this includes a 4D ride that simulates a trip into space and themed sections such as the Dino-Peninsula and the Lost Empire.
Fantawild says apart from Iran it is now also developing theme parks in Ukraine and South Africa. Disney will meanwhile open a park in Shanghai by 2014, while Rovio Entertainment -- the company behind Angry Birds -- has plans to open two parks in China this autumn.
MS
