On paper, a visit to Beijing World Park might not sound particularly enticing. The premise – to recreate all of the world’s major landmarks in a single theme park – is undoubtedly an odd one. But if you’re the sort of person that relishes the bizarre and your kids are looking for a fun day out, then there is more to enjoy here than you might imagine.
The theme park is divided into continents, with scale models of the most famous sights in each. Everything you would expect to be present has been recreated, including the Taj Mahal, the Acropolis, and the White House. Many of the models are impressively large, with Sydney Harbour Bridge and London’s Tower Bridge (pictured above) both spanning the waters that run between the landmarks.
I should begin by admitting that some of the replicas are pretty woeful. The mini-island representing Manhattan has, to put it nicely, some rather unfaithful imitations. And that’s before you even consider the fact that the Twin Towers still stand aloft here. If your kids are hoping to show up at school with photo evidence of a weekend trip to New York, then they may be disappointed.
But there are also some accurate recreations that children with a curiosity about the world will genuinely enjoy. Moscow’s Kremlin and the astonishingly tall Eiffel Tower for instance, have been recreated in painstaking detail. There is also plenty for your kids to learn about, thanks to the inclusion of landmarks such as Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
And while it’s great fun to walk around and read up on the wonders of the world, what your kids might enjoy the most is the potential for novelty photos. There are plenty, so pack a camera!
Consider for example, the amount of fun one can have creating a perspective picture as you seemingly rest your hand on the Leaning Tower of Pisa. And then imagine that you have almost every world landmark at your disposal. The park has also capitalized on the novelty factor and your kids can pose with a real camel by the pyramids or a yak in the Africa section (although I am reliably informed that there are no yaks in Africa).
As well as recreated landmarks, there are some additional activities including a roller coaster and log flume. There are also regular stage performances and an animal show featuring circus-trained elephants and a man who inserts his head into the open jaws of a crocodile.
Depending on how brave your little ones are, one of the elephants will be waiting outside to lift them up on its trunk for a photo.
Of course, seeing replicas of multiple landmarks will never be as good as seeing a single real one. But then how many of those can you find within reach of the Beijing subway? There is plenty of fun to be had for kids and those parents with a certain sense of humor at Beijing World Park.
Please note that although beijingkids cannot verify the conditions that the animals are kept in, some may find the animal show upsetting.
Closest subway station: Dabaotai (Fangshan Line)
Photos by Oscar Holland