splendid china

[1996Coaster]

Isn't this place opposite Formosa Gardens

[joshsedillo2007]

We went in last nite! It was creepy as hell at night! Be careful if u go in but its definitely a fun adventure!! We kept hearing all these creepy noises and stuff!

[jrrtknight]

I used to work there from '95 to '98. It was the most peaceful place to work, even with the tourists.

It breaks my heart to see all that artwork, all the dioramas, the beautiful views - gone.

Thank you just the same, Nathan - I have memories of FSC that are wonderful.

[disfigurehead]

I went back today with permission. I took a butt load of pics.

The strange thing was that I actually stayed on the sidewalks. Later I thought WFT. I left a few dollars out of respect to the place.

[Devilina07]

@disfigurehead who can you ask permission from in order to have a look around?

[delise720]

@Devilina07 I live not far far from Kissimmee and I'd love to go and get some shots!

[disfigurehead]

I went today. The place is still amazing. The skateboarding f**ktards have trashed a lot of it.

[disfigurehead]

Which way did you go in? The front parking lot or the back gate?

[disfigurehead]

I was there yesterday but only on the outside. I don't have the nerve to go in yet.

[nathanexplosion666]

it is definitely worth the trip.

[EvilDoomMuffin]

I made it to the Buddha and then we had to run. It was pretty awesome. Its scary as shit at night. ^_^

[id1o1f]

Great music, what is it from?

[nathanexplosion666]

kung fu hustle soundtrack

[LordLeverette]

man i have to go chill here soon

[midflfilms]

i love this place so much. absolutley the best place to chill and just walk around

[musicwhiz1]

I am deeply saddened by what has beacome of this once lovely park with wonderful shows  and displays that i visited in the late 1990's.What a contrasting surreal image this represents from the once wonderful park i remember.I am truly sorry.

[npyskater]

My friends skate there all the time.

[dearyme57]

How sad to see such a beautiful place destroyed,I went to see a show here a few years ago and thought it one of the best I had ever seen.Now to see it abandoned is such a shame.

[BLOODRAIN1]

I just went there, the place its protected by a guy in a white car that drives into the park about 3 times a week. Its SUPER easy to get in the park, you can just drive and park in the parking lot. The park is a total wreck. Homeless people live there, all the buildings are still there but the place is SCARY by the office area.

[nathanexplosion666]

yeah we found some interesting stuff while there... and it was scary... the auditorium towards the front was terrifying...

[douchebottle]

Wonder if theres still any wonton soup and egg rolls there? u think?

[FramerCid]

that is so sad that all that work put in that park is ruined

[Guntahkela]

Can people still visit whatever is left? Like, jumping over the fence or something?

I can't make-out the text at the end of the movie. Looks too pixely. Nathan, can you post it as a reply?

[zacke123]

I visited the park in 1995 as a tourist from Germany. When I saw this shocking video and the sad end of a wonderful attraction, I remember my own video taken during holidays in Fla. What a difference - a nightmare what happened to it.

For those who had not the opportunity to visit it and all others who look back on happy hours at SC, I will upload some scenes from 1995 soon.

[Swaptrick]

Many of the protests surprisingly, didn't come from Americans, but from Buddhist monks. Keep in mind that the Communist government has been trying very hard to systematically eliminate religion from the country. As a symbolic slap in the face, one of the main exhibits included a miniature shrine, in which a handful of miniature Buddhist monks would unroll a decorative rug on the side of a hill, when someone put a quarter into a small slot box next to the exhibit.

[Swaptrick]

. If one were to listen to the information given at Splendid China, especially children, would have believed that not only is China a strongly unified country, but that the Republic government has existed for as long as anyone can remember. Chinas stance on this is that the Communist regime is eternal, and has always existed there. The main focus for Splendid China was to attract American children and uneducated adults, (many of us are guilty of being that) to dilute the truth about China.

[Swaptrick]

Even as an adult, I would walk through the park and read the signs about the history of several former countries or kingdoms, now part of China, that were said to have existed since the B.C. era under the rule of the Chinese dynasty, when in reality they were countries that were conquered relatively recently, and many regions are still full of resistance fighters, national anti-Chinese protests and movements, similar to the relationship between Russia and Chechnya.

[Swaptrick]

You can find a lot of history, including interviews with the park's Chinese/American founders. The Chinese Government really hassled them all throughout the construction, urging them to buy equipment from China that could be found in America for a hundredth of the cost. The Chinese government simply bought out the founders and began to run the park. I went several times to the park on field trips as a child in 1993-95, and again in 2002.

[s9a1]

I visited this park in 2001, admission was $12.50 and included park admission, variety show admission and a free meal! The park was protested against because it was a Chinese govt owned business. Best entertainment value in Florida while it lasted.

[nathanexplosion666]

yeah... i know about the protests against it as a "propaghanda machine" for china.

[s9a1]

I visited in 2001, admission was $12.50 which included park admission, variety show admission and a free meal! It was protested against because it was a Chinese govt owned business. Best entertainment value while it lasted.

[MzUnd3rSt0oD]

It makes me real sad to know this attraction is no longer running...and for their reason on closing it: not enough visitors! *WTF* I can't believe this! I am outraged. What's worse is that I've been to this area 6 times and I haven't even heard about it until now (4 years after its closing)!!! I hate myself for that. Ugh! Oh my God!!! Wasted all that time on Disney World...HAHAHA =(

[Guntahkela]

It's just sad how it all got trashed and left abandoned. Some of these pieces can be found at Ebay. I regret never taking the time to visit this park when it was still opened.

[TommyK1974]

Why was it protested against?

[dethklok24]

"Splendid! Splendid CHI-nah!" (sung to Armor Hot Dogs theme)

[dethklok24]

My Fave part starts at 3:45.

[AtomicPower]

I'm glad I didn't give up on this after the first two minutes.