China's Counterfeit Disneyland Is Actually Super Creepy
“Disneyland is too far to go, please come to Shijingshan!”
Photographer Marco Bell takes a photographic journey into the Shijingshan Amusement Park, located in the Shijingshan District of Beijing, China.

Marco Bell
This notorious park was established in 1986 under the motto: “Disneyland is too far to go, please come to Shijingshan!”

Marco Bell

Marco Bell
Today, the park is a strange and dusty place.
It's filled with knock-off characters and rides that reference not only Disney’s intellectual property, but imagery based on Batman, Shrek, Bugs Bunny, Hello Kitty, and Popeye.

Marco Bell

Marco Bell

Marco Bell
It even contains its own rendition of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, Disneyland’s Toon Town, Magic Kingdom’s Splash Mountain, and a Spaceship Earth structure at Epcot Center.

Marco Bell

Marco Bell

Marco Bell
During the park’s golden days, bizarre clones of Goofy, Donald Duck, and Mickey Mouse would walk the park and greet masses of children on holiday.

Marco Bell
Yes, that sign reads, "Happy, Healthy, High."

Marco Bell
Although, after these imitations were exposed by international media in 2007, the Disney Corporation threatened to take legal action against the Shijingshan Amusement Park.

Marco Bell

Marco Bell

Marco Bell
In response, the park management claimed that these features were actually based on Grimm’s Fairy Tales, which would fall into public domain.

Marco Bell

Marco Bell

Marco Bell
“We have nothing to do with Disney,” declared the park’s president to a Japanese broadcaster, describing their rendition of Mickey Mouse as “a cat with big ears.”

Marco Bell

Marco Bell

Marco Bell
Since then, park officials have continued to silently remove the most obvious references to Disney’s imagery.

Marco Bell
Marco Bell is an artist and photographer based in New York, NY. To view more of his work, check out his website at www.marcobell.com.
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