Song Dynasty Park
This place was a park in Hangzhou China that went from serine lily pad, tranquil family historical themed park, to a bat shit crazy theme park.

Let me explain.

(About 4 years ago) I arrived at the park about 2pm not sure what to expect - as the people I went with - didn't really speak English. Imagine a historical themed park Akin to Camelot or something along those lines. Respectable families would arrive in smart clothes. Men in suits (though this was kinda the daily dress code norm for any man in china as afar as I'm aware)

have a look at this for an idea of the place

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5Ccz1dTt1A&NR=1


This is some of the only footage I have ever found of this place. For a while I wondered if I imagined it all.

anyway. Night fell, and I slowly noticed small stalls appearing everywhere selling water pistols and bowls. This was odd, as the only things up till then that you could buy in this place was traditionally made wooden sculptures and green tea.

For a laugh we buy some of these water pistols and we walk over to an area where people were converging and grouping. There must have been around 1000 people all milling around. I notice large open barrels filled with water dotted about the place, and (for some reason) several large canoe/boats filled with water (I know- stick with me on this though) (look at the video @ 5:36 for the dums and boat in the background)


It looked like we were about to be treated to a performance... this was proven correct as - differing to traditional history of China, a Hawaiian themed procession started before us, with people on chairs hoisted up in the air. Grass skirts etc. They walked around the audience and then through them and onto a platform and started to sing. Odd.

A man then marched into the crowd turned around with a bow an arrow, lit the arrow end, and fired it 40ft over the performers into a giant hole behind them. This lit a massive volcano like structure behind the performers.

What happened next I still to this day cant comprehend.

BOOM! The whole park went dark, strobe lights went on Dry Ice. Water jets from under our feet shot in the air

WATER FIGHT!!!!

With that Rave dance music blazed out of the PA system. And everyone darted to the boats/barrels with their water pistols/supersoakers/bowls

I instantly get it - and join in. Within 2-3 second I was soaked to the bone.

I really cant convey how weird it is to see Chinese people - of all ages - I'm talking 80yr old women included here- having a water fight with you. T

**TAP TAP on your shoulder** turn around… WOOOOSH as you take 4 litres of water into your face… behind your eyes, down your throat through your nose, you get your sight back - it’s a 70 yr old man in a very soaked suit. He laugh and runs off..

**Tap Tap ** again you turn around….WOOSH an other bucket of water in your face, full force, you catch your breath and realise everyone is doing it and your not being singled out. You instantly realise you have to get someone….

Fill your bowl

You spot someone next to you unware of you… this time its youwho Tap tap's

Woosh - you get the chinese man back.

And so on - for another hour.

I was ill for a few days after that, as they used the water from the pond that you see on the clip above… not very clean but brilliant fun.

Sorry for length - im still to meet someone who has done this, or taken pictures.

Edit: found a picture of the volcano
www.chinatravelguide.com/ctgwiki/Image:Hangzhou_Song_Dynasty_City_5.jpg
(Dan dan dan They tik urh jerbs!!!, Wed 15 Jun 2011, 16:37, 1 reply)

Excellent
It's like wandering into an episode of Takeshi's Castle.
( .Yeti. El amor en los tiempos del cólera, Wed 15 Jun 2011, 18:03, closed)