China’s Abandoned Wonderland

One of the most famous abandoned theme parks has to be China’s Abandoned Wonderland

“Wonderland” was supposed to be the Chinese version of Disneyworld. The ruins of what would be the biggest theme park in Asia are situated just 45 minutes outside the center of Beijing, on a 100-acre plot of land. Construction begun in 1998 by the Reignwood Group (a Thai-owned property developer) but it stopped around the year 2000 after disagreements with the local government and farmers over property prices.

Developers briefly tried to restart construction in 2008, but without success. Property prices in China have risen 140% since 1998. Reuters photographer David Grey says ‘Wonderland’ is “another sad example of property development in China involving wasted money, wasted resources and the uprooting of farmers and their families.”

China's Abandoned Wonderland

China's Abandoned Wonderland

China's Abandoned Wonderland

China's Abandoned Wonderland

China's Abandoned Wonderland

China's Abandoned Wonderland

China's Abandoned Wonderland

China's Abandoned Wonderland