New Communist theme park draws scorn on the Internet

A Communist-themed amusement park, the first of its kind, opened this week in the city of Wuhan, China, but the occasion has been met with a backlash of criticism from Chinese Internet users, according to a report in the Guardian.

While a Chinese government website quoted by the Guardian describes the park as “using lively, populist art [to show] the role models and history of the party, exerting a subtle influence on the public and providing them with a ‘red benefit,’” China’s online community has given the venture harsh criticism for allegedly using taxpayers’ money to finance what is largely seen as a propaganda park.

The report quoted various users of Weibo, a Twitter-like social media site. “They don’t believe in it themselves, and yet they want the public to believe it,” one user was quoted, while another wrote, “It should be called the brainwashing theme park.”

The Guardian cited newspaper accounts claiming visitors will be greeted by statues of 35 “model communists” and bushes carved into the shape of various Communist Party core values.

Theme parks are attracting much attention and capital in China, with both Universal Studios and Disney slated to open theme parks in the country, the Guardian reported, adding that Disney’s park is rumored to contain the largest castle on Earth.