21 bizarre photos of Orlando's abandoned theme park Splendid China
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In 1993, a new theme park in the Orlando area opened called Splendid China. It featured miniature replicas of some of the great wonders and sights of China. Such as the Tengwang Tower (pictured).
It also had a miniature version of the Great Wall of China.
There was also the Forbidden City.
And a replica of the Lijang River.
The park was owned, in part, by the government of China. This is a miniature of the Mountains of Dazu.
It was modeled on another park that existed in Shenzhen China, also called Splendid China. This is a replica of 1,000 hands, 1,000 eyes that used to be on display at Florida's Splendid China.
Florida's Splendid China, which was located very close to Walt Disney World, wasn't all that popular. People thought it was propaganda from the Chinese government, which was trying to put a pleasant face on a country that was known worldwide for human rights abuses. This is the Yungang Grotto.
Chinese artists, dancers and musicians would often perform at the park.
But in 2003, just 10 years after it was built, Splendid China closed its doors. Via Rhys Asplundh, on Flickr.com
A year later, many of the items on display were auctioned off. All that was left of the park were its structures and statuary, which stood on site for another 10 years. Via Rhys Asplundh, on Flickr.com
The buildings were left vacant and urban explorers and others documented the decay of the park. Via Rhys Asplundh, on Flickr.com
Via Rhys Asplundh, on Flickr.com
Some of the buildings were defaced by grafitti. Via Rhys Asplundh, on Flickr.com
Via Rhys Asplundh, on Flickr.com
Look, a Beware of Dog sign. Via Rhys Asplundh, on Flickr.com
Weeds took over. Via Rhys Asplundh, on Flickr.com
The insides of the structures were ransacked.
The Buddha statue stayed in pretty good shape.
Despite the message scrawled on this wall, nobody is here anymore. Splendid China was demolished in May of this year to make way for condos. Via Rhys Asplundh, on Flickr.com
Goodbye, Splendid China. We're glad we have all of these great photos to remember you by.