Themeparks, Compounds Reborn; Shunyi Gets New Theater

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Beijing has long been a city that is known for rapid changes, as anyone who's returned after a couple of years will know. In any given year, it's not hard to notice how different the city looks now than it did 365 days prior.

Let’s take a quick peek at what recent changes have hit our beloved city  this time – and which are to come.

Beijing Bajiao Amusement Park set to open this monthA new amusement park in Shijingshan district is scheduled to open this month, adding another spot for families and thrill-seekers of all-ages. The space that was once filled with loud and disorderly markets and the bustle of vendors has now been replaced by a Winter-Olympic themed, party-like paradise for amusement lovers.

Beijing Bajiao Amusement Park has an area of about 28,000 square meters. The park has already attracted about 2000 daily visitors who live nearby since its soft opening in May during its soft opening.

When you enter Beijing Bajiao Amusement, the first thing you will notice is the thick elements of the Winter Olympics-the snow-capped mountain corridor, the iceberg climbing wall, and the white sand residing in the sandpit.

The park features more than 20 places for sports activities, including roller skating rinks, soccer fields, basketball courts, walking trails, you name it!

What draws the most attention from the visitors is the winter-Olympic themed area, which features a 100-meter-high “iceberg” and other fitness facilities.

The park also takes a unique and innovative approach to its equipment, such as a luminous runway system, overflowing solar trash cans, and solar-night lighting seats. These elements combined with the technology will make the amusement park a must-do attraction for Beijing residents.

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Beijing to revive another 150 compounds

Great News for Beijingers who have no shortage of complaints about living in old, washed-up compounds for most of their lives, the government will be implementing a large-scale urban renewal project that revives about 150 compounds.

The project would see 1183 old buildings in 158 compounds converted into new houses. One of the areas with the largest number of innovations is Beijing’s DaXing district, where 52 old residential areas will be transformed

It is no secret that Beijing dwellers have faced problems in the old neighborhoods for quite some time. Many residents are tired of the poorly connected lights in the hallway, the broken voice-controlled lights, and the insufficient heating and gas supply. Such proposals to regenerate those old buildings come in just in time for residents who wish to take their life standards up a notch.

“There are some run-down houses in Beijing where I cannot even find the original drawings of the heating pipes,” one netizen commented. “With so many elderly people living in the building, there is not even any elevator and it almost feels like we are living in the prehistoric age."

Other netizens are voicing the need to step up such regenerations. “Can someone build an elevator in our place? My legs are swollen because I have been using wheelchairs and crutches to climb five floors.” Another user commented.
A new theater opened by the National Opera emerges in Beijing’s Shunyi districtKnown as a “cultural hub” in Beijing, residents in Shunyi now are lucky enough to attend shows at the newly-opened theater that provides plays, operas, and concerts.

The theater is under the branch of the National Opera, which also opened the China National Opera House.

The theater made its debut with Yimeng Mountain Range on last Sunday, which features stories of war heroes during the revolutionary era.

Opera nerds in Shunyi who have been searching for places to spend a lazy afternoon without treking into town can finally find refuge (as long as you don't mind viewing in Chinese!). The theater, which resides in a district with an already enriched and diverse mashup of libraries, museums, and cultural centers, aims for visitors to get the most out of their viewing experience.

The theater has a capacity of about 993 seats, and it is expected to attract even more visitors with upcoming art festivals and cultural events. Tickets for the Opera House shows can be found at piaowutong.com.

Images: Weibo, Netease, Beijing Daily

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