A Photographer Captured The Eerie Reality Of China's Abandoned Disneyland
This monstrous steel husk was once destined to be the hub of a breathtaking new attraction — and then some. Wonderland theme park in Chenzhuang Village, China, was actually pinned to be the largest park of its kind in all of Asia, but it didn't take long for things to go sour. As it turned out, this magical world wouldn't be so magnificent after all — and the dark reality of what happened to the ill-fated project is dystopian, to say the least.
A step into the unknown
Little more than 20 miles from Beijing's bustling streets, the luster is well and truly lost for this Walt Disney wannabe. Any souls brave enough to make the journey will be greeted by an entirely different scene to the capital's teeming streets. There are only hollowed-out structures and cavernous buildings that look entirely too empty...at first glance, that is. But what made workers abort the whole project seemingly overnight? One intrepid photographer came dangerously close to the truth.
Sounds from the shadows
Trey Ratcliff was just another urban explorer looking for thrills and cool shots when things took a sinister turn. The squeak of bicycle wheels, a child's voice, and then.. nothing. That wasn't the end, though — the unsettling sounds followed him as he made his way around the shadowy halls and vast open spaces. Perhaps he'd just imagined it. After all, Wonderland hasn't always been the stuff of nightmares.
Nineties dreams
The strange story of Wonderland and its ultimate demise can be traced back to businessman Dr. Chanchai Ruayrungruang. His vision began back in the 1980s when he created an investment company known as the Reignwood Group. Fast forward a few years, though, and the entrepreneur was on the hunt for his next money-making venture. So with a new decade accelerating towards him, Ruayrungruang had to think big.
The beginning of the end
Before long, Ruayrungruang seemed to have cracked it. And what better solution than one which already boasted unbridled success — Disneyland. Looking westward to the booming arena of American theme parks for inspiration, he decided to build a wonderland of his very own in that iconic Disney image. And what's more, he'd already found the perfect spot.
