A disaster in the making
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[Photo source: Global Times] |
"The park is usually only open for tours and disasters," said Mr Han, designer and construction manager of the handful of buildings that officially make up the Shuguang Disaster Prevention Theme Park (spelled out on its entrance as "SHUGUN D saster prevention Theme Park"). What kinds of disasters warrant an opening? "Standard disasters," Mr Han replied, adjusting his white hard hat, "like earthquakes and big winds."
Commissioned by the Beijing Earthquake Department (in cooperation with Haidian District Earthquake Department) following the May 2008 Sichuan earthquake that claimed nearly 69,000 lives (and injured some 375,000), Mr Han's Disaster Park is located half a kilometer inside the East Fourth Ring Road. It sits atop a thin strip of land between the Royal Link golf course (driving range: 200 yuan per hour) and a bed-and-breakfast complex that Mr Han said he designed and built.
Aside from the empty hall where Mr Han was taking refuge from the hot and humid day, the park also consists of an "Experiencing Tilt Room" (a shack-sized building Mr Han said could be used to simulate the conditions of a real earthquake), an "Educational Walkway" (a series of cartoonish posters lining a perfectly straight gravel road, though their colors have long since faded and vines have grown over what's left to see) and also a good number of life-sized bronzed sculptures depicting children, PLA soldiers and victims in the throes of disaster striking. "Half the money came from the government, the other half from private investors," said Mr Han, explaining the park's background. "They give me money, no problems."
Outside the empty exhibition hall, a mother and her daughter were found sitting in the building's shade. "There's nothing to do here. I'm angry," the mother remarked. "I brought her here to learn something… I'm just glad it was free."
Four sweat-drenched workers were found in the shade of a tree by the "Experiencing Tilt Room," and were puzzled why someone was trying to get inside. The building's doors were locked and dusty filing cabinets, bicycles and tarps could be seen inside through dirtied windows.
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