Splendid Tours

Splendid China was a theme park in Four Corners, Florida near Disney World and Orlando. It opened in 1993, and closed on December 31, 2003. It was a sister park to Splendid China in Shenzhen, China which is still open. Florida Splendid China cost $100 million to build.At its height of popularity, it was a 75 acres miniature park with more than 60 replicas at one tenth scale. Each piece was handcrafted to maintain authenticity. The park's replica of the Great Wall took nearly seven million 1 inch long bricks and stretches about .5 miles . The replica of the Leshan Buddha was four stories tall.After the park's opening, Florida Splendid China put on shows featuring a rotating cast of 60 dancers, actors, and acrobats from the People's Republic of China . After a number of artisans, dancers and members of the cast escaped and sought political asylum in the United States, Florida Splendid China reduced the number of cast members from overseas and hired local performers. Splendid China was criticized for being owned by the government of the People's Republic of China, in that officers of the corporation that owned, controlled and operated Florida Splendid China were appointed by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The critics cited the following specific allegations about the inclusion of minority exhibits: Specifically, we are protesting the inclusion of the Potala Palace that was built by the Tibetan people and served as the home of successive Dalai Lamas since 1645, the Id Gah Mosque and Tomb of Abakh Hoja which serve as cultural icons of the people of Eastern Turkestan and the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan and the Mongolian Yurt exhibit which attempt to add a Chinese name to the Southern Mongolian people. After closing its gates, Splendid China suffered a rash of attacks from thieves and vandals. Hundreds of items were taken ranging from small miniatures to portions of life-size statues. The perpetrators, thought to be local youths, were never caught.The property has passed through several owners and in July 2009 was up for sale at an asking price of $30 million.
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