This article was originally published on
December 24, 2010, in the Shenzhen Daily.
The information was accurate at that time, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WBznGGzMhXpidp6j0b32WLaLf3k5dphtZ0MaZVLtOMoSCpTuviyWfnphjzCSZgF793URG2uc5T4ukuWhD-V-21yBtT0U7ubzAqKSc0Jadykmo93U62YlnMwDzCQPdHBcPDzuCLdaumLC/s1600/Splendid+China-01.jpg) |
Main Gate of Splendid China and the Folk Cultural Villages |
I have a secret: I've never been inside Windows of the World, nor have I been to Happy Valley. The one is too flashy, the other too scary.
No, when I'm in the mood for one of Shenzhen's "Big Three" theme parks, I head straight for Splendid China and the Folk Cultural Villages. I'm a big fan of Chinese culture, and this two-sided park has it all.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1VsD9IqX2JDthrQ2TVUMt4o7M48ziz155E2x8omss5Y1C5kxASU2Md6-HXjVmFsp_OocGHNC7zMKgkzmywIibCAmBIXpcQ2OnhnvpQXabDCPo-qX9MUZe-ZHl5-FP7O7JSczaFYU84Ly/s1600/PICT0171.jpg) |
The (miniature) Great Wall of (Splendid) China--a kilometer long and a meter high |
In addition to Chinese culture, I love miniatures and models as well. (I had model trains as a kid.) On the Splendid China side, you can take a mini-tour that covers all of China, from the kilometer-long Great Wall to a view of the Three Gorges that may not exist anymore. Tibet's Potala Palace (but with more oxygen); the Forbidden City; Hangzhou's West Lake; and almost every other Chinese tourist site you can name. And all in one place!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyWXfZZFpFmYOx7Lw1m93RCw1DM3-DMxJEM8tgNRjULittDiyoxCs2usKjnrUsmbLJwCo9oGKBKJD29UKPFgmu6nhi0ojhs5adxWWuKTqB2igPxTYEkHtQQpzULbBMA8ZT1-abU1QyC20/s1600/Ethnic+Types+03.jpg) |
A couple in ethnic costume in the Folk Cultural Villages |
Meanwhile, on the other side of the park, culture comes alive. The Folk Cultural Villages are just that: 22 life-sized village compounds or houses representing that many of China's 56 fascinating ethnic groups. Imagine visiting people from Xinjiang to Fujian all in an afternoon!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DUF_U84fzoUnuLF8y6-j-9B4uba7guvPo1dBk5tSLoTpXiiDDLatXvKCWFK2v89tt61Dgrky2NVLVtGqUHPDyFr0nr5DYj3VQWtBcy60mpXFaJtFi05x7EKIfxxb_HtyTpfHtTRq-gTS/s1600/PICT0334.jpg) |
Genghis Khan rides again in the horse show in the Folk Cultural Villages |
What's more, there are shows and dance performance all through the day, as well as seasonal festivals reflecting the cultures of various peoples. A perennial favorite is the "Genghis Khan" show, with "soldiers" (some of them women) doing horse-back acrobatics in a mock battle.
Admission to both sides costs 120rmb; walk east from Huaqiaocheng (OCT) Station Exit D, or west from Qiaochengdong Exit B, to reach the front gates.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfEZ9SXmNIz2Vf3L8RtgtDblgSwdogQjBIWxJw7VCT5nv4uzlsit1SUb1GhXzDOPS8mXsBSVGTLbKRv_0CRKKm5oOyaGGxxHtlK0zXE5Witzb8kCIX6HlOoLXnn7uF4a6GfqRzk4NXr5c/s1600/Splendid+China-09.jpg) |
Get yer souvenirs outside the front gates--on your way in or out, or any time |
GPS Info:
Map:
GALLERY
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvn-7GQG4tywB096MqQNgfcv9fXO6IVGRANShyphenhyphenZ6lE6_EhaOEnffnS_rxd-WBoettDOxaVcT5c5k0swLCzZ-gF9GHUeo9eWxirtPFyow9A0yxQmD2dKkuohUjEVz3ZT-uokqPd1wzgm9L/s1600/PICT0241.jpg) |
Yangzhou's Five-Pavilion Bridge in miniature |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ICHNrSMlYbXi1rA-oTED68iMYSESZ8d6E5QD_BRKZtxlOauBOiIP6LS9fVxrOzYPgqNQlBEb1DiP5Hyn76CahtRcv4q7i9wEv9-svvp-m7VCY2Bep6kUPIFgT_3OgM5BWVR-e2mGVG-C/s1600/PICT0208.jpg) |
"I want to thank the little people..." (Get it?) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9dlZC3V8tOPGs5ICnVzspXxmP2MVbCzIMBpinDjf-n9fVU7BJ2nrnuPVv-CjBmcgoORfVuy1PWhWgq5s2tQxqJ0fkhyfr9crRXtZ76xk84KSTxm9I7dE0WTzY2nsIR0AbbDC3B3NLdFq/s1600/PICT0251.jpg) |
A miniature Hakka "round house" |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7trok2Z-MAihYGcjhXkvkgjf0Q3QfEd1QFb6qAWMqJ8ZXCOj_m5dTp25VOFmsUsEgYlJ9FSswj-h75BrBzbWcXaBskizd9nbVz9JLeNy22D3lDywXLP18SWWt3QRzFTZlNxdBZnfrzypb/s1600/Wedding+Boat+2.jpg) |
Life-sized people on a wedding boat in the Folk Cultural Villages |
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