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Fairytale theme park to entertain and educate
By Pan Zheng and Fei Lai |
October 26, 2009, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A fairytale theme park with a social message will open in time for the World Expo 2010 in May. It will celebrate the stories of Hans Christian Andersen. Pan Zheng and Fei Lai report.
The little mermaid, the ugly duckling, the emperor and his new clothes will all be part of a Hans Christian Andersen theme park opening in Yangpu District next May to coincide with World Expo 2010.
The 8-hectare park in New Jiangwan City is said to be the world's first such Andersen-themed park and will be both entertaining and educational.
Danish author and poet Andersen (1805-75) was known for more than 150 fairytales, many of them realistic stories with a social message. They tell us that things are not always what they seem, that people change and that unlikely people can be heroes.
The six-month Expo opens on May 1, 2010.
The park, said to cost around US$12.5 million, will be a large-scale outdoor theme park for children in the city.
The opening of the park will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and Denmark.
Andersen, considered the "father of modern fairytales," wrote many novels, plays and poems but was best known for his fairytales, including "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Little Mermaid," "The Princess and the Pea" and "The Ugly Duckling."
His early tales generally expressed his positive views about human nature and society, while later works were darker and more realistic, some concerning poor or ordinary people. Not all have happy endings.
The park will have different zones, including Denmark and the Middle Ages, a Sculpture Plaza, Andersen's Castle, Odense Town (Andersen's birthplace) and the Mermaid Harbor. The park will take visitors back in time to old Denmark and the Denmark of Andersen's own 19th century.
Restaurants and bars will also be part of the scene, a welcome to weary parents.
The major investor is Shanghai Guijing Investment and Development Co Ltd.
The park will cooperate with the Haha TV, a children's channel of the Shanghai Media Group and present a program of "Family, Education and Experience."
The Haha TV will present its well-known program "Haha Castle" in the park and combine it with programs such as "Haha Tale House" and "Haha Birthday Party." These will be permanent, regular events and activities in different zones and will be updated.
The park will feature "Play and Learn," a popular science hall.
Qi Ruizhen, head of the Andersen park, says entertainment is not the main purpose.
"It's a parents-child paradise. It's about funny fairytales and the roles that every kid can play. Involvement is the highlight," Qi says. "Our park is full of interesting plots that bring children knowledge and value."
According to Qi, the park is applying to build an Andersen museum, featuring information from the fairytales about science - biology, geography and astronomy.
The little mermaid, the ugly duckling, the emperor and his new clothes will all be part of a Hans Christian Andersen theme park opening in Yangpu District next May to coincide with World Expo 2010.
The 8-hectare park in New Jiangwan City is said to be the world's first such Andersen-themed park and will be both entertaining and educational.
Danish author and poet Andersen (1805-75) was known for more than 150 fairytales, many of them realistic stories with a social message. They tell us that things are not always what they seem, that people change and that unlikely people can be heroes.
The six-month Expo opens on May 1, 2010.
The park, said to cost around US$12.5 million, will be a large-scale outdoor theme park for children in the city.
The opening of the park will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and Denmark.
Andersen, considered the "father of modern fairytales," wrote many novels, plays and poems but was best known for his fairytales, including "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Little Mermaid," "The Princess and the Pea" and "The Ugly Duckling."
His early tales generally expressed his positive views about human nature and society, while later works were darker and more realistic, some concerning poor or ordinary people. Not all have happy endings.
The park will have different zones, including Denmark and the Middle Ages, a Sculpture Plaza, Andersen's Castle, Odense Town (Andersen's birthplace) and the Mermaid Harbor. The park will take visitors back in time to old Denmark and the Denmark of Andersen's own 19th century.
Restaurants and bars will also be part of the scene, a welcome to weary parents.
The major investor is Shanghai Guijing Investment and Development Co Ltd.
The park will cooperate with the Haha TV, a children's channel of the Shanghai Media Group and present a program of "Family, Education and Experience."
The Haha TV will present its well-known program "Haha Castle" in the park and combine it with programs such as "Haha Tale House" and "Haha Birthday Party." These will be permanent, regular events and activities in different zones and will be updated.
The park will feature "Play and Learn," a popular science hall.
Qi Ruizhen, head of the Andersen park, says entertainment is not the main purpose.
"It's a parents-child paradise. It's about funny fairytales and the roles that every kid can play. Involvement is the highlight," Qi says. "Our park is full of interesting plots that bring children knowledge and value."
According to Qi, the park is applying to build an Andersen museum, featuring information from the fairytales about science - biology, geography and astronomy.
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