Fantawild Holdings Inc., a leading one-stop solution provider in the theme park industry, has officially launched Oriental Legend, its new theme park in Ziyang, China.
Oriental Legend is themed around the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilisation, and its immersive experiences and innovative rides place this rich heritage at the heart of contemporary family-friendly entertainment.
The attraction is the latest addition to Fantawild’s Ziyang resort, and joins the successful Fantawild Water World and Boonie Bears Hotel.
As a flagship tourism destination in Sichuan Province, Oriental Legend’s opening ceremony on 8 August welcomed a high number of visitors and reflected a new stage in the collaborative development of Sichuan and Chongqing’s tourism sectors.
Showcasing Chinese culture
Ziyang City is known as the ‘Heart of Chengdu-Chongqing and Gateway to Shu civilisation’, and the Ziyang Fantawild resort illustrates the company’s efforts to explore the area’s heritage and use immersive entertainment to develop its own gateway to Shu culture.
Oriental Legend combines Chinese cultural and historical themes, including Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and local Shu civilisation artefacts and stone carvings. Arranged across seven zones, the park features 10 large-scale indoor high-tech attractions exclusive to Fantawild, 28 outdoor attractions, and an array of landscape designs, speciality F&B offerings, and retail outlets.
In addition to offering a fun family day out, the park creatively showcases Chinese culture and contributes to efforts to reposition Ziyang from a transit point to a tourist destination for the greater Chengdu metropolitan area. In addition to Fantawild Water World, Boonie Bears Hotel, other tourist attractions in the locality include the Anyue stone carvings and Chen Yi’s former residence.
Advanced ride technologies
Oriental Legend explores 5,000 years of civilisation using advanced entertainment technologies, including dome theatres for flight simulations, phantom imaging, and 4D motion effects, which garnered positive feedback on the opening day.
Rides include Confucius, a rotating platform theatre attraction where guests join the philosopher on a cultural AV journey through ancient kingdoms. In Legends of Shu, a large indoor dark ride, ancient Shu warriors and visitors battle side by side to defeat mythical serpents. This highly interactive experience offers realistic fight scenes, and many visitors at the opening repeated the ride.
In the large-scale trackless dome screen ride, Whimsical Caves, stunning landscapes and views of Ziyang’s grottoes come to life. Guests go on a magical, cartoon-style flight over Ziyang’s scenic locations and cultural sites. The ride also proved popular on the park’s launch day.
Mr. Wang, a local visitor, said: “It’s so breathtaking! The interactivity is strong! As a Ziyang native, I feel incredibly proud.”
Play, retail, & dining
The park is free to enter with a reservation, enhancing accessibility. Guests can explore cultural landscapes, enjoy interactive performances, and pay for their favourite attractions as they go.
On the opening day, families particularly enjoyed a themed street built upon Fantawild’s ‘Boonie Bears’ IP. This street includes figures of beloved characters such as Briar, Bramble, Vick, and their forest-dwelling friends.
In addition to themed streets, Oriental Legend offers indoor and outdoor attractions for families. Play facilities, such as Forest Drifting and Boonie Cubs World, are suitable for children of all ages. Families with older children can enjoy spending time together in large-scale attractions like Soaring Dragon and Mythical Valley.
The park also offers five unique restaurants and nearly 100 snack options that cater to diverse guest preferences. Well-known chains like Starbucks, Dicos, and Honeymoon Dessert, a Hong Kong-style dessert specialist, are joined by local favourites such as Dragon Wonton,Wanglaoma Pork Trotters, and Lishanshan Tea.
Within the park, guests can shop for Fantawild souvenirs and ‘Boonie Bears’ merchandise at the Boonie Bears Gift House. Other outlets offer souvenirs that reflect local cultural heritage, traditional costume photography studios, and toys.
Complete tourism model
On Oriental Legend’s launch day, Ziyang Fantawild Water World also welcomed a significant number of visitors. The water park, which opened two months ago, has already established a reputation for its distinctive ‘Boonie Bears’ elements, outstanding water attractions, attentive service and a refreshing, comfortable atmosphere.
Fantawild’s Ziyang resort offers a fusion of Shu culture with exciting water and land attractions. The formal launch of the new park marks the culmination of the resort’s comprehensive tourism model, to include “dual water and land experiences + hotel accommodation.”
Looking forward, Oriental Legend is set to collaborate with Fantawild Water World and Boonie Bears Hotel to set a new benchmark for family breaks in Sichuan and Chongqing through engaging experiences. These activities support both the combined growth of culture and tourism in Ziyang, and initiatives to enhance tourism development in Sichuan.
Last year, Fantawild celebrated the opening of the first Boonie Bears-themed shopping mall, including retail, entertainment, food, and socialising facilities. This offers entertaining educational experiences for children and their families, in an approach to learning that aligns with the values of the Boonie Cubs animated series.
