Tourists will be able to enjoy the world's biggest chocolate show Friday near the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, as Beijing is transforming the Olympic venue to a creative and cultural center.

A model wears dress made of chocolate and candy at the "Chocolate Wonderland" opening show, Jan 28, 2010. Photo: Xinhua

Tourists will be able to enjoy the world's biggest chocolate show Friday near the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, as Beijing is transforming the Olympic venue to a creative and cultural center.

The 20,000-sq-m "World Chocolate Wonderland" with five indoor areas and two outdoor sites inside the Beijing Olympic Green will showcase nearly more than 1,000 handicrafts of chocolate and candy, including replicas of 560 terra cotta warriors and a 10-meter Great Wall, said Zheng Yaoting, who runs the show.

A model shows chocolate hat at the "Chocolate Wonderland" opening show, Jan 28, 2010. The 20,000-sq-m "Chocolate Wonderland" will open to the public on Jan 29. Photo: Xinhua

People could make their own chocolate artifacts with the help of professionals, she said.

Costing more than $10 million, the show consumed 80 tons of chocolate.
The park will last until April 10 when the weather will begin to get warm.

A model wears dress made of chocolate and candy at the "Chocolate Wonderland" opening show, Jan 28, 2010. Photo: Xinhua

The chocolate theme park is part of Beijing's efforts to utilize the Olympic venues after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, said Ma Yinghui, deputy director of Chaoyang District Tourism Bureau.

A French Chocolate artist performs at the artwork show in the Beijing "Chocolate Wonderland", Jan 28, 2010. Photo: Xinhua

As one of Beijing's most favored tourist destinations, the Olympic Green received 2.56 million tourists during the week-long National Holiday in 2009, according the official website of the Olympic Green.

Beijing is bringing in new elements to the Olympic venues to prevent them from running down as people will turn their eyes to the approaching London Olympics, Ma said.

People show their skills of making sweet in the Beijing "Chocolate Wonderland", Jan 28, 2010. Photo: Xinhua

The Bird's Nest introduced the snowy winter wonderland between December and February this year.

The National Aquatics Center, or Water Cube, was closed in October last year for renovations until mid 2010 when the center would be open to international competitions as well as aquatic sports for fitness, recreation and travel visits.

A cartoon indicates a car made of chocolate in the Beijing "Chocolate Wonderland", Jan 28, 2010. Photo: Xinhua

"I'm happy to be among those who lead the trend," Zheng said.
"We try to bridge the East and the West by integrating chocolate with China's cultural characteristics."


Xinhua

2010.01.29

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-01/29/content_9398086.htm