SHENZHEN'S three major theme parks, namely Window of the World, Happy Valley and China Folk Culture Villages, received more than 110,000 visitors during the New Year holiday period, according to statistics provided by them.

From Jan. 1 to 3, Window of the World recorded a total of 40,000 visitors, China Folk Culture Villages attracted 30,800, and Happy Valley entertained more than 40,000 people.

Fu Zuogang, a media officer of Window of the World, said the number of visitors entering the park after 7 p.m. had been four times that of last year, especially during New Year's Eve, when people flocked to the theme park for a countdown. The park attracted at least 20,000 visitors on New Year's Day.

Although China Folk Culture Villages didn't register a major increase in the number of visitors, it attracted a larger number of overseas tourist groups, the park's statistics revealed.

Happy Valley recorded more than 3 million visitors in 2005, an increase of 20 percent over 2004. The increase was largely attributed to the launch of the park's third phase which opened May 1, 2005, and more aggressive marketing.

"Good weather has been favorable to us," said Luo Xiangyang, media officer of Happy Valley, "Besides tourist groups, the park attracted many parents taking their children to experience thrills here."

It is expected that these parks will make even greater efforts to lure tourists in 2006, as the competition with Disneyland Hong Kong and other tourist attractions in the Pearl Delta Region heats up.

Editor: Wing