Abondoned Shanghai Amusement Park is Terrifying

The first ever theme park in China – American Dream Park in Shanghai opened in 1996 and closed in 2001. In the 16 years since closing, it’s be come an overrun heap of ruins (and quite a scenic one at that).

Year 1997

American Dream Park was billed as the Disney Land of China when it opened to the public in 1997. It had 5 themes in the park: Colorful Boulevard, West World, Mysterious Continent, Mystic Island and America Today. Along with the roller coasters and other rides there were more than 50 arcades, 20+ restaurants.

The park was a paradise for junior school students. It was big enough to hold several schools of students simultaneously. However, the location of the park was not perfect and not everyone at that time could afford a private car or the transportation required to get there. This inconvenience, along with several accidents that resulted in deaths, led to drops in attendance and the park closed just 5 years after opening.

Year 2009

Although the park was closed for years, it still looms large in the memories of Shanghai kids who great up in that era. In 2009, the topic topic of the park was brought up by someone on the social platform Douban, which later organized the “Venture into the American Dream Park” event. The park was no longer the playground they once remembered, it had turned into heap of ruins. The people who joined the event recalled their childhood and the happiness back when they were young. On top of that, there were rumors about this abandoned amusement park claiming that people kept disappearing, and strange fires were everywhere.

Those rumors attracted many people to pay a visit to the park. So many that the park has become somewhat of an adventure destination since then.

Year 2012

There were posts online calling people to the adventure. In the 11 years since the park was closed, the place had completely decomposed.

Year 2015

Early reports claimed that the Dream Park was going to be rebuilt with new apartments and facilities around it. They turned out to be just rumors.

Year 2016

This year, an anonymous guy used a drone and shot video for the entire playground, which brought a lot of attention from the general public.

Here’s the video footage:

Year 2017

This is definitely the year that the park gained the public’s renewed attention.

People have continued to visit the park ruins, especially since there were rumors that the American Dream Park would be removed by September of 2017. Ffor now the park remains, guarded by several security staff.

The park’s overgrown ruins have produced a strange beauty, one that keeps visitors coming back to get epic photos and video footage.

Tips

Entry Time: Best after 3:00 P.M.

Entry requirements: Pay 50 RMB to the security person or climb over the wall from the side door.

Outfits for the adventure: Long-sleeve shirts and trousers. (Mosquito Alert)

Address: No.4498, Caoangong Road, Jiading District (Shanghai American Dream Park)

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