Chappypie China Time: Chinese theme park coming to NSW Central Coast

A VAST, $500m Chinese theme park is coming to NSW, promising visitors a “harmonious relationship between you and a panda”. Meet Chappypie China Time.

WANT an authentic Chinese experience in Australia? Forget the culturally rich immigrant communities of Hurstville in Sydney or Box Hill in Melbourne. The new home of oriental culture in Australia is set to be in an unlikely town on NSW’s Central Coast.

Billed as “Chinese Disneyland”, a company has unveiled plans to build a massive, $500 million Chinese theme park in Warnervale, about one hour’s drive north of Sydney.

The best bit? It will be called Chappypie China Time.

The vast Chinese cultural theme park planned for the NSW Central Coast.

The attraction is described as “a park integrating culture and happiness, nature and spirit”. It is staggering in scope and scale, including performance spaces, cultural experiences, eateries, accommodation and shops.

There are plans to build traditional Chinese temples, classic theme park rides, statues of ancient oriental gods, the Spring Festival Square with room for 1000 people, and a section devoted to the best-loved Chinese animal — the panda.

The mayor of Wyong Shire, Doug Eaton, is understandably stoked about the prospect of half a billion bucks of investment heading his way, and he has gone so far as to proclaim that the park will be a tourist attraction to rival the Sydney Opera House or Harbour Bridge.

The company behind the 15.7-hectare development, Australia-Chinese Theme Park Pty Ltd, has released an 11-minute virtual video tour, and some of the highlights include:

● “Panda Paradise creates a harmonious relationship between you and a panda”

● “Happy Chinese characters integrate hi-tech multimedia means so that visitors can feel wisdom and happiness of Chinese characters”

● “The Spring Festival Square is like centre stage full of happy and auspicious atmosphere”

● “China traditional music feast your ears”

● “Chinese gourmet quickens your appetite”

● “China traditional arts and handcrafts will dazzle your eyes”.

● “Like a Chinese chess board, the theme park has reasonable layout”

Yay! Pandas!

The attraction is divided into 12 main sections — including the Meridian Gate, Thanksgiving Temple, Zheng He’s Treasure Ship, arts and crafts workshop, Spring Festival Square and Panda Paradise, which will place hundreds of panda statues in a bamboo grove.

Visitors can engage in spaces that explore calligraphy, traditional theatre and music, gardens and a panorama of Chinese history.

A river flows around the park where punters can row a dragon boat under bridges and willow trees.

A giant “treasure ship” is both a ride and a celebration of shared maritime history between Australia and China.

The Wyong Shire Council website describes the park as “one of the biggest tourism projects NSW has ever seen”.

An artist’s impression of stage one of the Chinese theme park planned for the NSW Central Coast.

The company bought 15.7 hectares next to the Warnervale Airport from the council for $10 million in 2012.

The development application for stage one of the park is yet to be lodged, but it has already received support from the mayor.

“I’ve truly never seen anything like this before — it’s going to blow people away when they watch the video and get a sense of how big and imaginative this concept really is and what it can do in terms of tourism for our shire,” Mr Eaton said.

“The developers have long been telling us that this theme park will be up there with the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge in terms of tourist attractions and I’ve got to hand it to them — it’s absolutely in that category.”

Wyong Mayor Doug Eaton (right) with Australia-Chinese Theme Park chief executive officer Bruce Zhong at last week’s launch of new plans for the Warnervale attraction.

The council is so keen on the investment that it has voted to pay for Chinese language lessons for councillors, the Central Coast Express Advocate reports.

The mayor is among councillors to take up the chance to develop Mandarin skills in the hope that it will boost the region’s chances of attracting more lucrative Chinese investment.

If approved, stage one of the park could be open as soon as 2016.

Want do you think of the plans? Would you visit? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ.

The Spring Festival Square, with room for 1000 people.