Disney brings roller coaster of challenges
By Hu Min |
April 30, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE recent groundbreaking at the site for Shanghai Disneyland has local businesses abuzz.
Some, like Minhang's Jinjiang Amusement Park, are gearing up to become more competitive. Others, like Shanghai Liangxiang Intelligent Engineering Co, see a profit windfall from work on the Disney site across town in Pudong.
Jinjiang Amusement Park has started working on a strategy to counter what will be a formidable rival in the theme park entertainment sector. The first Disneyland on the Chinese mainland is due to open in 2015, so Jinjiang has plenty of time to formulate and execute its counter-attack.
"We have stepped up efforts in introducing a raft of new amusement facilities in recent years to attract visitors," said Zhu Weimin, general manager assistant of the Jinjiang Amusement Park.
These facilities include a newly opened 4D cinema, the Crazy Flywheel and the Motorized Roller Coaster rides.
The park recently invested 80 million yuan (US$11 million) to introduce the Giant Inverted Boomerang from Vekoma Rides Manufacturing BV, a Dutch roller-coaster design company. The 60-meter-high Giant Inverted Boomerang, scheduled to begin operation at the park in August, provides a thrill ride with completely vertical spikes. There are only four Giant Inverted Boomerangs in the world - three in the United States and one in Spain.
Jinjiang, located on Hongmei Road and serviced by Metro Line 1 and various bus routes, opened in 1985. It was the first large amusement park of its kind in Shanghai and the first to offer foreign ride attractions.
Over the three-day Qingming Festival in early April, an average of 10,000 people went through the turnstiles every day. Attendance to the park has climbed to 1 million a year.
"The city has room for more than one amusement park, and each one can be distinctive and appeal to different audiences," said Zhu.
The park, a popular old brand in Shanghai, has weathered the entry of competitors in the past, like the Happy Valley Amusement Park. Some theme park competitors, like the Universal Park, went belly-up due to financial problems.
Jinjiang remains a favorite among locals, such as Zhu Wei, who accompanied his son to the park recently.
"My parents brought me to the park when I was a child, and I feel strong nostalgia when I visit it again," said Zhu, 40, as he stood in front of the landmark Giant Ferris Wheel, the first of its kind in China back then.
Zhang Qing, a young Shanghai woman, said the park means a fun outing for her.
"I have visited here several times," she said, adding that she will probably visit Disneyland when it opens but she still thinks it will be hard to beat Jinjiang.
While Jinjiang reinvents itself as a Disney competitor, other Minhang businesses are sniffing out the opportunities that the new Disneyland presents.
Chen Xiaoqun, board chairman of the Liangxiang Intelligent Engineering, said his staff of 300 specializes in providing video surveillance systems, weak current systems and LED devices.
"We hope to get a share of the big cake by providing intelligent systems to Disney," Chen said. "We provided intelligent security systems, laser night vision devices and weak current systems to the 2010 World Expo."
He said innovation has been the company's hallmark since it was established in 1993. The firm is building an advanced research and development center, which will engage the services of senior engineers and academics to keep ahead of the curve on new technologies.
"It's just a matter of identifying and capturing the opportunities," Chen said.
Disneyland is being hailed as a godsend for Shanghai's tourism industry. The Shanghai Xinan Technical School, a vocational facility in Minhang, sees a niche for itself.
The school will market its courses in tourism and related service fields to young people interested in careers in the industry, said Ni Xiaolun, president of the school.
"We are aligning our curriculum with the blueprint of the city's future development," he said.
He said the school will also offer courses in architectural design, interior decorating, logistics and property management - fields that stand to benefit from the construction and operation of Disneyland.
Some, like Minhang's Jinjiang Amusement Park, are gearing up to become more competitive. Others, like Shanghai Liangxiang Intelligent Engineering Co, see a profit windfall from work on the Disney site across town in Pudong.
Jinjiang Amusement Park has started working on a strategy to counter what will be a formidable rival in the theme park entertainment sector. The first Disneyland on the Chinese mainland is due to open in 2015, so Jinjiang has plenty of time to formulate and execute its counter-attack.
"We have stepped up efforts in introducing a raft of new amusement facilities in recent years to attract visitors," said Zhu Weimin, general manager assistant of the Jinjiang Amusement Park.
These facilities include a newly opened 4D cinema, the Crazy Flywheel and the Motorized Roller Coaster rides.
The park recently invested 80 million yuan (US$11 million) to introduce the Giant Inverted Boomerang from Vekoma Rides Manufacturing BV, a Dutch roller-coaster design company. The 60-meter-high Giant Inverted Boomerang, scheduled to begin operation at the park in August, provides a thrill ride with completely vertical spikes. There are only four Giant Inverted Boomerangs in the world - three in the United States and one in Spain.
Jinjiang, located on Hongmei Road and serviced by Metro Line 1 and various bus routes, opened in 1985. It was the first large amusement park of its kind in Shanghai and the first to offer foreign ride attractions.
Over the three-day Qingming Festival in early April, an average of 10,000 people went through the turnstiles every day. Attendance to the park has climbed to 1 million a year.
"The city has room for more than one amusement park, and each one can be distinctive and appeal to different audiences," said Zhu.
The park, a popular old brand in Shanghai, has weathered the entry of competitors in the past, like the Happy Valley Amusement Park. Some theme park competitors, like the Universal Park, went belly-up due to financial problems.
Jinjiang remains a favorite among locals, such as Zhu Wei, who accompanied his son to the park recently.
"My parents brought me to the park when I was a child, and I feel strong nostalgia when I visit it again," said Zhu, 40, as he stood in front of the landmark Giant Ferris Wheel, the first of its kind in China back then.
Zhang Qing, a young Shanghai woman, said the park means a fun outing for her.
"I have visited here several times," she said, adding that she will probably visit Disneyland when it opens but she still thinks it will be hard to beat Jinjiang.
While Jinjiang reinvents itself as a Disney competitor, other Minhang businesses are sniffing out the opportunities that the new Disneyland presents.
Chen Xiaoqun, board chairman of the Liangxiang Intelligent Engineering, said his staff of 300 specializes in providing video surveillance systems, weak current systems and LED devices.
"We hope to get a share of the big cake by providing intelligent systems to Disney," Chen said. "We provided intelligent security systems, laser night vision devices and weak current systems to the 2010 World Expo."
He said innovation has been the company's hallmark since it was established in 1993. The firm is building an advanced research and development center, which will engage the services of senior engineers and academics to keep ahead of the curve on new technologies.
"It's just a matter of identifying and capturing the opportunities," Chen said.
Disneyland is being hailed as a godsend for Shanghai's tourism industry. The Shanghai Xinan Technical School, a vocational facility in Minhang, sees a niche for itself.
The school will market its courses in tourism and related service fields to young people interested in careers in the industry, said Ni Xiaolun, president of the school.
"We are aligning our curriculum with the blueprint of the city's future development," he said.
He said the school will also offer courses in architectural design, interior decorating, logistics and property management - fields that stand to benefit from the construction and operation of Disneyland.
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