Home » Metro » Entertainment and Culture
Grand Carnival opens despite closure of rides, lack of shade
By Lu Feiran and Abulimit Mubarak |
July 29, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THOUSANDS of people attending the opening of the Shanghai Grand Carnival yesterday found a key ingredient missing - most of the rides were closed, not yet ready for public use.
The event is supposed to feature roller coasters and other rides, competitive games and live shows. The event, being held at the World Expo site in the Pudong New Area, originally was planned to kick off last Saturday. But organizers postponed the opening date because many rides were not yet ready and certified.
The carnival opened to the public at 1pm yesterday. But because many of the top rides, including the largest roller coaster, still were not ready, long queues formed in front of the available rides, angering customers.
"It's so not fun," said visitor Song Lan. "The venue is not as big as I presumed, and the rides I wanted to have a try most were not available. It's boring."
Meanwhile, people sought places to escape the burning sun as temperatures exceeded 36 degrees Celsius. The carnival did not provide enough sunshades, visitors complained.
"The heat was killing, and the ice cream and drinking water sold in the venue are much more expensive than outside it," said visitor Bo Yiwen.
Some people demanded their money back but were refused. Witnesses said they saw numerous arguments between visitors and organizers about refunds.
Organizers said the prepaid cards for the rides and games were rechargeable; thus people can go again with the money they charged yesterday, but they would have to buy admission again.
"For those who are from outside Shanghai and are not willing to come again, we will give refunds to them," said Wu Liangyu, an official with the carnival's organizing committee.
Wu said some of the rides are still awaiting certificates from the nation's quality authorities. "We are not allowed to start the rides before getting the permission from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine," he said.
All the rides will be put into operation as soon as possible, Wu said.
The carnival, co-organized by the United Arab Emirates-based Freij Entertaining Co Ltd, is returning to Shanghai after a six-year absence. In 2005, during its most recent run, an Indian electrician was killed by a roller coaster when he mysteriously appeared on the track as the roller coaster was operating.
The carnival is set to run through October 30, organizers said.
The event is supposed to feature roller coasters and other rides, competitive games and live shows. The event, being held at the World Expo site in the Pudong New Area, originally was planned to kick off last Saturday. But organizers postponed the opening date because many rides were not yet ready and certified.
The carnival opened to the public at 1pm yesterday. But because many of the top rides, including the largest roller coaster, still were not ready, long queues formed in front of the available rides, angering customers.
"It's so not fun," said visitor Song Lan. "The venue is not as big as I presumed, and the rides I wanted to have a try most were not available. It's boring."
Meanwhile, people sought places to escape the burning sun as temperatures exceeded 36 degrees Celsius. The carnival did not provide enough sunshades, visitors complained.
"The heat was killing, and the ice cream and drinking water sold in the venue are much more expensive than outside it," said visitor Bo Yiwen.
Some people demanded their money back but were refused. Witnesses said they saw numerous arguments between visitors and organizers about refunds.
Organizers said the prepaid cards for the rides and games were rechargeable; thus people can go again with the money they charged yesterday, but they would have to buy admission again.
"For those who are from outside Shanghai and are not willing to come again, we will give refunds to them," said Wu Liangyu, an official with the carnival's organizing committee.
Wu said some of the rides are still awaiting certificates from the nation's quality authorities. "We are not allowed to start the rides before getting the permission from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine," he said.
All the rides will be put into operation as soon as possible, Wu said.
The carnival, co-organized by the United Arab Emirates-based Freij Entertaining Co Ltd, is returning to Shanghai after a six-year absence. In 2005, during its most recent run, an Indian electrician was killed by a roller coaster when he mysteriously appeared on the track as the roller coaster was operating.
The carnival is set to run through October 30, organizers said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
