CHINA / Regional |
Xi'an builds China's first love theme parkBy Lu Hongyan (chinadaily.com.cn)Updated: 2007-07-12 18:22 XIAN -- The capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province is creating an amorous environment with country's first theme park of love. With an investment of 500 million yuan (US$657,890), the Qujiang Pond Ruins Park, which features the famous Humble Cave Ruins, is expected to open on April 8, 2008. Located in Wudianpo Village in Qujiang New District in Xian,the Humble Cave Ruins is well-known city landmark because it's where a popular Shaanxi Opera tells the love story between Xue Pinggui and Wang Baochuan. The story goes that a prime minister of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) had three daughters. The youngest named Wang fell in love with and married a poor man called Xue, despite her family's strong opposition. After the nuptials, the couple lived in a humble cave near Qujiang Pond. Soon afterwards, the government forced Xue to join the army on its western expedition and was away for 18 years. Wang's mother tried many times in vain to persuade her daughter to marry somebody else. Finally, the couple was reunited after Xue finally returned from the expedition. As a result, the humble cave has become a symbol of faithful love. And Qujiang New District has rebuilt a cave at the site of the legendary one with a statue of Wang, which has attracted many visitors. In addition to its historical references, Qujiang Pond Ruins Park will feature beautiful natural scenery as 45 hectares of water in the Qujiang Pond will be restored. The park is part of a 167-hectare tourist attraction which includes the 67-hectare Tang City Wall Ruins Park and 6.4-hectare Zhenguan Cultural Plaza. With an investment of nearly 1 billion yuan (US$132 million), the Zhenguan Cultural Plaza will include the Xi'an Concert Hall, Xian Theatre, Qujiang Cinema Town, Shaanxi Artists Gallery, Shaanxi Folk Art Hall, and Shaanxi Literary Hall. Upon the plaza's completion, it can accommodate 100,000 visitors at one time, said Zhao Jiping, chairman of Shaanxi Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Covering nearly 16 square kilometers, Qujiang New District is also the site of Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty. And in recent years, a number of tourist attractions have been built. In 2004, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square opened to the public. And next year, Qujiang Ocean World, which boasts more than 300 types of freshwater and seawater creatures will open, along with the Tang Hibiscus Garden, which is the country's first theme park featuring the royal garden of the Tang Dynasty, said Sun Qingyun, secretary of the Xi'an Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.. The capital of three dynasties in Chinese history, Xi'an is one of the most famous tourist destinations in China. |
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