China’s Sex Theme Park That Wasn’t

Travel Blog  •  Julia Ross  •  05.18.09 | 12:50 PM ET

Maybe it was the red thong. Officials in Chongqing, China, ordered the country’s first-ever sex theme park—set to open this fall—demolished over the weekend after news of its opening drew global media coverage and embarrassment among locals.

The park—dubbed “Love Land”—promised the chance to see giant replicas of genitals and exhibits on sexual history, with the goal of improving sex education in a country where open discussion of the topic has traditionally been taboo.

Public officials took a different view; after touring the park, they deemed it an “evil influence on society.” The park’s welcome sign—a lovely rendition of a woman’s lower half, clad in a red thong—was toppled yesterday like Saddam’s statue. In a country where a good number of barber shops are fronts for sex work, there’s more than a little hypocrisy to go around.

Meanwhile, sex theme park tourism on South Korea’s Jeju Island is still going strong. After perusing these photos, you can see why.

Tags: Planet Theme Park, Tourism, Tres Loco, Asia, China, South Korea, Shrinking Planet

Julia Ross is a Washington, DC-based writer and frequent contributor to World Hum. She has lived in China and Taiwan, where she was a Fulbright scholar and Mandarin student. Her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Time, Christian Science Monitor, Plenty and other publications. Her essay, Six Degrees of Vietnam, was shortlisted for "The Best American Travel Writing 2009."


5 Comments for China’s Sex Theme Park That Wasn’t

Carlo Alcos 05.18.09 | 7:50 PM ET

So close!

Jennifer 05.19.09 | 7:49 AM ET

A sex theme park drawing global media coverage and causing embarrassment?  Who would have thought?!?!?  This sounds like the kind of idea that drunk, preadolescent males dream up on a Friday night!

Rosa 05.19.09 | 10:34 AM ET

check out this video if you want to see the statue http://www.newsy.com/videos/not_your_typical_theme_park
The image of them tearing it down really does look like when they took down the Saddam statue exept, you know, with a giant red thong

Jam 05.19.09 | 1:27 PM ET

Can’t blame people in thinking negative thoughts about the park. They must be somewhat alarmed of the statue but I understand the organizer of the theme park but they should let people know the real story behind it. Guides or assistant around the park could be a great help so people will not misunderstand the real message of the said park.

US State Parks 05.26.09 | 1:44 PM ET

Actually it’s quite embarrassing for parents when they go for outing with their children.

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