Shenzhen's largest fun park, Happy Valley, is promising big surprises for its visitors starting in less than 40 days.

Beginning May 1, the Valley's third phase project will unveil new attractions, like swirling wheels and a sky launch, and will give visitors plenty to scream about. The list of attractions will include a new 4-dimensional movie, which is a 3-dimensional movie with special in-theater sensory effects like moving seats, and a crowd-participation-based comedy show. Also, the Maya Water Park will finish its renovations and open to the public again.

"I know it seems so sudden," said Luo Xiangyang, a media officer at Happy Valley. "For the last 24 months, the Valley has been committed to keeping a low profile about our new multi-sensory attractions. We just really want to make a big splash when everything is finally ready."

Luo said 180 million yuan (US$21.8 million) has been invested in the eight new attractions and three new dancing and singing shows.

Luo said the third phase attractions all followed the theme of an old circus as it takes place in a 19th century European coastal town. He said to be surrounded by buildings reminiscent of old Europe would be fascinating and visitors would be drawn to the new exciting attractions. Certainly exciting for the visitors, he said the entry fee would stay the same, 120 yuan per person.

By the end of 2004, Luo said Happy Valley had attracted about 2.52 million tourists since 1997. He said during last May's holidays, the park received more than 200,000 tourists, from home and abroad, and ranked first among fun parks in China.

Happy as the Valley is about its present success, Luo said the park would face challenges from Disney in Hong Kong soon. The Hong Kong Disneyland will open in September this year and Luo said the third phase, from a strategic point of view, was to balance the coming impact of Mickey Mouse.

But Disney or no, don't pass on this opportunity to experience new fun in Shenzhen.

Editor: Catherine