Ride Profile
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Dragons &
Dinosaurs Known as “Dragon Town” thanks to the area’s rich palaeontological history,
Changzhou is a prefecture level city in China’s Jiangsu Province, located 180km
northwest of Shanghai.
It should therefore
Were you surprised that a family destination such as China Dinosaur Land – with just two other coasters – should opt for a 4D Coaster? KR – Not really …but we had a little advance notice. A few years ago we had the opportunity of working with them on a Combination Tower ride, which opened in 2010. It was then that they informed us they were changing the demographic focus of the park. Being close to Shanghai with several other parks under construction, built or in the planning stages within the area, Dinosaur Land was looking to set itself apart from the rest. We were told that if all went well with the tower installation, they’d be talking to us about a significant coaster opportunity. The result turned out to be our 4th Dimension Coaster.
What is the park’s target market? LH – Our park serves two types of guest; the first is family and grandparents, the other is younger people and teenagers. So we have some rides that cater to
families, but Dinoconda is for teenagers who like exciting rides – it is not for families! It’s all about creating a balance. If you don’t like one ride, you simply choose another.
What improvements has S&S made since previous 4D Coaster installations in the USA and Japan? KR – Two very important improvements. At Magic Mountain, with the help of Six Flags engineers, we dramatically reduced the weight of the trains by improving the wheel carriers. Unlike the Six Flags installation, both Dinosaur Land’s ride and the installation before it at Fuji-Q Highland feature six (instead of seven) rows of cars, with two seats in each row on each side of the track. We’ve also increased the track specifications. For future installations, additional improvements would include our new 12-seat train. We will still load and unload 24 passengers at a time, however
come as no surprise that the then leader of the city chose to establish a museum in Changzhou showcasing locally discovered dinosaur fossils. Opened in 1994, most visitors would stay for only an hour or two an so, three years later, a few amusement rides were added. In 2000, China Dinosaur Land was established, fusing theme park attractions with educational activities and research.
More rides followed over the years, from a mix of Chinese and Western suppliers and, in 2003, a waterpark was added. A number of upgrades have been made in recent years, including a themed area opened in 2010 featuring an S&S Combo Tower and various Zamperla attractions and, more recently, new waterpark additions by WhiteWater. Now recognised as a 5 “A” tourism product (the highest certification awarded in China), the park experienced a staggering 52.2% leap in attendance last year, from 2.3 to 3.5 million guests. Management is now planning more major improvements over the coming years as it seeks to consolidate Dinosaur Land’s position as one of Top 20 busiest parks in Asia.
JULY 2012
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