1st Chinese VR theme park aims to revitalize local economy
Oriental Science Fiction Valley expected to open in February 2018
Taste of things to come
On the outskirts of Guiyang, the capital of one of China's poorest provinces, the giant robots and futuristic cyberpunk castles at Oriental Science Fiction Valley rise out of the lush surrounding mountainscape. The theme park is a vision of what could be driving local economic growth in years to come.
Demand for VR booming
Oriental Science Fiction Valley is China's first virtual reality (VR) theme park. It's looking to ride a boom in demand for virtual entertainment and a domestic VR market that is set to hit several billion dollars by 2020. Here, staff members wearing VR goggles sit in a motorized cart while performing an inspection of the Fly Over Guizhou attraction.
Variety of attractions
The theme park will have 35 different VR attractions, including shoot-em-up games, virtual roller-coasters, and experiential tours of the province's most scenic spots.
Park will change tourism, CEO says
"I believe that after our attraction opens, it will change the entire tourism structure of Guizhou province as well as China's southwest," said chief executive Chen Jianli, who added that the park's novelty factor will be a major draw.
Bungee jump off a robot
The Guiyang park will have a huge Transformer-like robot, which tourists can bungee jump from, while most rides will use VR goggles and motion simulators to thrill their audience.
Inside the experience
The park manager says when it comes to virtual reality, Oriental Science Fiction Valley needs to make the audience feel like they're inside the experience.
Economic benefits touted
The park is expected to bring major economic benefits to the local community when the rides start running in February 2018.
Construction impacting locals
Villagers living nearby also had to face the harsh reality of how construction of the 330-acre park was impacting their daily lives. One farmer told Reuters that there are some projects that are polluting the environment and they hope to eventually get rid of the pollution.
Big unknown for locals
Virtual battles and alien invasions remain a big unknown to most locals. Some say they don't really understand it.
