Counterfeit Fun

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY PATRICK TSAI

After the media frenzy last summer about Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park’s blatant and badly done Disney World rip-offs, the majority of the attractions were summarily demolished. Besides the wannabe Epcot Center and Cinderella’s Castle, everything resembling Disney has been torn down and thrown in the trash. No more counterfeit Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, or “Chinese” Snow White walking around greeting visitors. Hello Kitty and Doraemon with fingers (which freaked out the entire nation of Japan anyway) also had to go.

To make up for losses, Shijingshan has been building a new section on the northeast end of the park, which is only a few months away from being complete. Surprisingly, the construction zone is open to the public. The park has again unintentionally and unknowingly created an out-of-this-world experience, which will sadly be gone when the construction is complete. Walking through the rubble with the strange half-done sculptures and the many, many safety hazards feels a bit like taking a stroll through Bartertown on your way to the Thunderdome.

After the big Disney scandal, now is probably the best time to go and see this shit before someone else threatens a lawsuit and it all has to come down again.

Photos from the upcoming “Kingdom” project by My Little Dead Dick (mylittledeaddick.com).