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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
A farmer carries a shovel over his shoulder as he walks to tend his crops in a field that includes an abandoned building, that was to be part of an amusement park called Wonderland.

Among its various records, China now has the world's largest vacant malls, empty cities, and stalled amusement parks.

Wonderland was slated to be Asia's biggest theme park. Spread across a sprawling 100-acre plot of land on the outskirts of capital city, Beijing, it was modelled on the lines of the famous Disneyworld in the United States.

However, as farmers and government disagreed over property prices, the construction was stopped in 1998. The efforts to build it again is 2008 also failed.

Today, remains of a castle and several pavilions remain in the land in Chenzhuang village.
As sales of residential property dropped for the third month in November, there are big worries on a real estate crash in China.

The world fastest growing economy has tough times ahead as it faces a realty doom.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
The entrance to an abandoned building leads into a derelict amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

With local governments often dependent on land sales to fund payments on a staggering 10.7 trillion yuan ($1.7 trillion) of debt, Beijing worries that a collapsing property market will trigger a wave of defaults that in turn will hit the banks.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
A farmer carries a shovel over his shoulder as he walks through an abandoned building, that was to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland', to tend his crops on the outskirts of Beijing.

More worrisome, the property market, which contributes about 10 percent of Chinese growth and drives activity in 50 other sectors, could drag the real economy to a hard landing, says Reuters.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
A view of abandoned buildings.

A view of abandoned buildings that were to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
Abandoned wonderland.

A crack is seen in a footpath leading to an abandoned building that was to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
A view of a vacant carpark.

A view of a vacant carpark in front of abandoned buildings that were to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
Writing on a gate tells people to be responsible for your actions.

Writing on a gate tells people to "be responsible for your actions" when entering an abandoned building that was to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland'.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
An abandoned building that was to be part of an amusement park.

An abandoned building that was to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
Abandoned buildings.

A view of abandoned buildings that were to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
Abandoned buildings.

Cracks are seen in a carpark in front of abandoned buildings that were to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland'

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
Footsteps in fresh snow are seen across a walkway.

Footsteps in fresh snow are seen across a walkway leading to the entrance of a derelict amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
Tree branches line an entrance into an abandoned building.

Tree branches line an entrance into an abandoned building that was to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

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a's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
A building in the shape of a castle stands uncompleted in a field.

A building in the shape of a castle stands uncompleted in a field in what would have been an amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
A sign warning people about potential poisons in the soil.

A sign warning people about potential poisons in the soil is pasted on a pillar of an abandoned building that was to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland'.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
Abandoned building in Wonderland.

An abandoned building is seen through an entrance leading into what would have been an amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
David Gray/Reuters.

The steel frame of an abandoned building stands in what would have been an amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
Wonderland.

A view of an entrance to an abandoned building which leads into a derelict amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.

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China's doom story: The signs of a downfall

Last updated on: December 15, 2011 12:08 IST
Farmers dismantle a tower in a field.

Farmers dismantle a tower in a field that includes abandoned buildings that were to be part of an amusement park called 'Wonderland', on the outskirts of Beijing.