Theme park to offer digital experience of international cities

Hope is at hand for eager travelers with too many destinations on their wish lists and not enough time to see them all.

Very soon, they will be able to view aspects of multiple destinations by simply visiting the World Tourism Cities Experience Center at the Beijing International Sculpture Park in Shijingshan district.

The center promises a virtual travel experience from around the globe, complete with landmark snapshots, local cuisines, traditional garments and surround screens that allow visitors to feel they are walking through the actual cities.

All the experiences are high-tech.

The theme park is part of efforts by the World Tourism Cities Federation and Beijing municipal authorities to promote tourism. The center hosted a preview on Thursday with entry by invitation only.

The goal is simple - to showcase a range of international cultural experiences.

Zhang Shurui, director of the Shijingshan tourism development commission, said it is hoped the center will become a permanent landmark, offering memorable experiences.

The simulated experiences start at the entrance to the park, where the Comprehensive Experience Pavilion stands. Situated near water with a Sydney Opera House look-alike (albeit minus a few shells), the three-storey building offers interactive digital attractions and is expected to take up the biggest chunk of visitors' time.

On entering the pavilion, visitors are greeted by a screen called an "Urban Waterfall", which shows cascading signs of international cities. Equipped with sensors, it reacts to visitors' gestures at individual cities by displaying representative scenes in the shape of the visitor's body.

There is also a constantly unfolding digital scroll that shows an ancient Beijing as a painting accompanied by relevant sound effects, such as horse neighing and vendors bargaining.

The pavilion also offers bird's-eye views of international travel destinations. The room is fitted with screens from floor to ceiling including the surrounding walls to give the viewer a feeling of total immersion.

On the pavilion's second floor are ample examples of East meets West. One room has as interactive architectural hybrid that combines well-known landscape features, such as the Yangzhou Five Tower Bridge and the London Tower Bridge, morphing from one to the other as the visitor moves through the room.

Another attraction, titled "Urban Faces", allows visitors to digitally try on national costumes that include an ancient Roman military uniform and the apparel of an American Indian warrior, complete with deerskin top and marten fur. The visitor's face will be projected on the individually dressed mannequins.

The pavilion also has a hall of mascots from various countries in 3D images that flicker on and off in response to visitors' movements. Nini, the swallow made famous by the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, represents China. The mascots also represent different musical instruments, such as a Chinese flute for Nini to play the song Jasmine.

Once through the pavilion, visitors can sample different cuisines in the "Taste of City" section, where they can learn to cook delicacies from around the world. The Beijing section also displays recipes for roasting duck.

The park's cinema offers a roller coaster ride, complete with physical sensations. In the "City Charms" section, 4D productions will take visitors from the highest point in Dubai to a serene Japanese countryside in the blink of an eye, with 3D views and movement.

The nearby "Inter-city Shuttle" allows visitors to appear to be in faraway foreign places, and they can take a photograph, tweak it and post it on their Weibo accounts, all while standing in a continental-themed capsule.

The park also has an information center, a plaza and a "Show Field" with flags and information about scores of international cities on display.

Travel agencies and other tourism representatives will also have booths in the park.

All the above are only the first envisioned phase for the World Tourism Cities Experience Center. With the aim to become a permanent expo for tourism in the capital, it will be tested and perfected over the coming few weeks and open permanently to the public in the near future.

sunye@chinadaily.com.cn