Splendid China was a theme park in near Orlando, Florida. It opened in 1993 and closed on December 31, 2003. It was a sister park to the Splendid China in Shenzhen, China, and cost $100 million to build. It was a 75-acre (30 ha) miniature park with more than 60 replicas at a one-tenth scale at its height of popularity. Each piece was handcrafted to maintain authenticity. Initially, Chinese artists were hired to perform in the park. After a number of them tried to seek political asylum in the United States, they were replaced by local performers.
I wrote about visiting this park in my travel memoir, Time Traveled. I had a lot to say about it, so I’m not going to repeat it here. I’m going to use this space to share some photos and videos.
We visited the abandoned park in early February 2009. The park had been closed for five years and local kids were using it as a skate park. Most of the structures were damaged and all the office buildings were trashed.
My husband, Ryan and I filmed this video on the park’s abandoned stage. The next video was filmed at the park’s entrance and the final one has Ryan trying to piece it all back together.
Here’s a collection of photos we took:
If you would like to read more about Splendid China, please pick up my book:
Time Traveled (e-book or paperback)
Krista Marson 
It’s in that second video (haven’t I seen this?) that I noticed (not the graffiti on the wall) around :25 that middle wall with what looks so very much like a fake Mark Rothko. Did you write about that? That’s what I DON’T remember. But what I also remember is this feeling of ennui every time I see Ryan’s ponytail. Lendon cut mine off about three months ago (don’t blame her; I asked for it) and the SOB just won’t grow back!!! Mine was almost as long as his. Well, maybe a few inches shorter. Now, every time I put my hair up the sides “spike out” and I just look AWFUL! I mean, I look awful all the time, one way or the other. It’s dreadful. I just don’t want to go out in public any more. I might have to Sinead O’Connor the whole thing.
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