[The original version of this widely-cited story from the Daily Mail includes many more pictures of the new East Valley of Science and Fantasy; for more information see the project’s (English) website. –Matthew]
Spectacular pictures show China’s £1 billion virtual reality sci-fi theme park which lets tourists visit aliens, ride UFOs and fight dragons
- Virtual reality attraction is developed by the stock market listed Oriental Times Media Corp’s animation unit
- The massive park is situated in Guizhou province, China, and the first phase is set to complete in December
- A main feature is an impressive 174ft tall transformer structure constructed out of 750 tonnes of steel
By Claire Heffron
27 October 2017
Astonishing images of a ground-breaking virtual reality theme park due to complete in south-west China have been revealed.
Curious gamers will be able to travel to the future, battle with dragons, fly to space, or live alongside aliens through virtual experience.
One of the most impressive features is that the attraction will have a gigantic Transformer statue which measures 53 metres (174 feet) in height.
The Transformer statue is built by 750 tonnes of steel – the weight of two Boeing 747 planes – and cost a mega 100 million yuan (£11 million) to construct.
The theme park is called the ‘East Valley of Science and Fantasy’. Its first phase, called ‘Alien Base’, is scheduled to be complete in December.
The theme park attraction is part of a massive 1.3 square kilometres (320 acres), 10 billion yuan (£1 billion) project being developed by the Oriental Times Media Corp’s animation unit which is listed on the Shenzhen stock market.
However, the new venture will be devoted to virtual reality movie making, with a cutting-edge media research and development center.
A spokesman for the park reveled that VR helmets and other gadgets will be handed out to visitors to the theme park so they can ‘interact with the environment’.
The VR site will give players a more lifelike feeling than playing video games.
Additionally, the park will feature China’s first VR roller coaster and 13 pavilions showcasing different UFOs, which can help children explore outer space in a digitally immersive way.