Guangzhou Changlong Night Zoo, the largest night zoo in the world, would be closed after the National Day holidays, the Guangzhou Daily said Monday.

    The owner of the zoo, Changlong Group, has planned to build an amusement park within the present premises of the night zoo. It will be open to the public before the Spring Festival. The night zoo itself will be closed from Oct. 8.

    The group said the zoo would be reopened at a different location. Its circus performance, however, would become an independent entertainment attraction, hopefully open to the public in the end of the year.

    The group would invest millions of yuan in the project, the report said.

    During the National Day holidays, visitors to the night zoo would get a coupon valued at 30 yuan (US$3.7) which could be used in the new amusement park or at the coming circus.

    Chen Pi, vice director of the Changlong Group, denied the company was trying to compete with Hong Kong Disneyland. He said the group was keeping in mind the preferences of visitors.

    "We know the difference between raising a real dog and an electronic dog. We have to feed the real dog that costs us more than the electronic dog needs. It is the same question when we mention a zoo and an amusement park," Chen said.

    Liu Wei, a professor from Guangdong University of Finance, wasn't optimistic about the park. About 70 to 80 percent of the amusement parks had been closed down in the country, including the Dongfang (Oriental) Amusement Park in Guangzhou, he said. He said that it could not compete with the entertainment giant Disneyland.

    However, some experts said it might succeed because the Hong Kong Disneyland would probably bring amusement parks to the attention of visitors, and that would benefit the one in Guangzhou.

Source : Xinhua

Les organisateurs de ces deux floralies, qui coïncideront avec les fêtes du 400e anniversaire de la Ville, ont obtenu, ces derniers jours, l'accréditation de l'Association internationale des producteurs horticoles (AIPH), sans pour autant que les budgets de réalisation soient connus.

C'est le vice-président du comité exécutif de la Ville de Québec, Claude Larose, qui a laissé échapper la tenue de floralies intérieures, d'une durée d'une quinzaine de jours, au Centre de foires, au printemps 2008, lors d'une conférence de presse organisée par les promoteurs d'un parc de miniatures, à proximité du Jardin zoologique du Québec, lequel groupe ambitionne aussi de tenir une importante foire florale sur les terrain du Jardin, de mai à septembre 2008.

« Nous avons obtenu, il y a quelques jours, l'accréditation de l'AIPH pour organiser des floralies extérieures en 2008 », fait savoir André Garon, le porte-parole de Capitale internationale des grandes merveilles, l'organisme qui souhaite organiser la tenue de floralies, parallèlement à l'aménagement d'un parc de miniatures pour lequel les conseils du Groupe Grevin Développement International ont été retenus pour mener à terme le dossier.

Source : Le Soleil

Aqua Dunya, comprising one of the largest and most diverse theme park resort sin the Middle East and a residential community of 3,400 apartments, will rise from the middle of the UAE desert by early 2008 owner/developer Al Sharq Development announced today.

The world’s largest cruise ship, The Desert Pearl, inspired by an Arabian sea faring tale, serves as the centerpiece of the theme park resort, and beckons travelers from near and far to join its imaginary voyage to exotic far off lands. Anchored at its own Dubailand oasis, the ship contains a climate-controlled indoor element of the theme park and an authentic 330-stateroom luxury hotel.

At opening, the 8 million sq ft. resort and residential community, located in the heart of Dubailand, will include the Aqua Dunya theme park, the Desert Pearl Hotel, a traditional Souk and Port district, a conference centre, 170 vacation apartments, and 3,400 residential apartments offered for sale. The Aqua Dunya theme park will open with more then 36 wet and dry rides and attractions, and three exotic adventure islands, offering a one-of-a-kind family entertainment experience for residents and international visitors.

A Memo of Understanding has been signed with Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality group, to operate the Aqua Dunya theme park, the flagship hotel, the souk and port, and the vacation apartments. Jumeirah has vast experience in managing 5 star luxury hotels and resorts, both in the UAE and internationally and also owns and manages the successful Wild Wadi Water Park in Dubai.

Future development will include a second theme park, two more themed resort hotels, a golf course, and expansions to the Aqua Dunya theme park, Port district and vacation apartments.

With 1.3 million theme park visitors expected in its first year, and 3 million annually at full build-out, Aqua Dunya is expected to raise the international bar for the theme park experience, officials from Al Sharq Development said at a press conference yesterday. 

“Aqua Dunya brings something for everyone – world-class family theme parks and resorts, vacation apartments for visitors to use as a base to explore all of Dubailand and Dubai, and unique residences in a prime developing region of the new Dubai.” Said Ali Sulaiman Al Shehri, Chairman of Al Sharq Development.

The AED 7 billion Aqua Dunya development marks the first UAE mega-project for Al Sharq Development, a UAE subsidiary of the Saudi-based Al Sharq group of companies. Al Sharq Development is tasked with the development of Aqua Dunya and several other high profile real estate development concepts.

Based on the imaginary tale of a young Bedouin boy, and his fascination for the sea, the Aqua Dunya resort is a record of his adventures around the world. The historical tale explains how the young man, enthralled by the oceangoing vessels in the nearby port, stowed away on a tea schooner heading east only to return years later with treasures and tales from around the world.

Transformed by his experiences and resolute in his determination to share them with his family, the young sailor decided to build a spectacular steam and sailing vessel in his oasis town and launch it via a purpose-built canal to the sea. The Desert Pearl, one of the grandest ships of its time, traveled the world for several years before returning to anchor in the oasis where it was covered by the desert’s shifting sands, until the Aqua Dunya team discovered it deep within the UAE desert.

Restored to its former glory, the modern day Desert Pearl is 407 meters long and 95 meters from water line to top of its eight masts, and is the focal point of the Aqua Dunya theme park.

The hotel within the ship has authentic turn of the century design and interiors which will transport visitors and guests to the golden days of transatlantic cruising. The nautical discovery theme will be relived every evening, as the ship makes preparations to embark on a new voyage, its engines, smokestacks, and foghorn coming to life as fireworks light up the night sky.

The Aqua Dunya project is one of the 19 confirmed projects for Dubailand, and it is among one of the first ten projects that will coincide with Dubailand’s Phase 1 Grand Opening in early 2008. Construction on Aqua Dunya, a project equivalent in size to 150 football fields, will begin in January 2006.

Source : Asia Travel Tips