After signing the contract more than two years ago, rumors about the site location have shifted from Zhijiang to Yuhang, then to Xiaoshan and Tonglu—this project, touted as... The progress of establishing a “world-class” theme park in Hangzhou remains stuck at the stage of “striving to start construction as soon as possible.”

As early as 2023 Year 3 Moon 22 On [date], Hangzhou signed an agreement with Pudifou of France for a total investment of... 50 A project contract worth hundreds of millions of yuan will see the construction of a Madman’s Kingdom-themed amusement park in Hangzhou. This news has thrilled Hangzhou residents, after all, in that year’s government work report, Hangzhou explicitly stated its intention to “plan and develop a world-class tourist amusement park.”

France Pudufu (also known as) “Fangren Country” is one of the world’s top theme parks, on par with Disney and Universal Studios in the U.S. However, unlike those parks, it doesn’t feature large-scale amusement rides; instead, it’s renowned for its stage plays and live performance shows and is known as the “world’s greatest storyteller-themed park.”

Hangzhou Dream: A World-Class Theme Park

Hangzhou’s decision to introduce Pudifoo was no accident. As a renowned tourist city in China, Hangzhou has consistently been seeking to upgrade its tourism offerings and attract more international visitors.

Pude Fu Zi 1978 Since its opening to the public, it has become one of France's most popular theme parks, welcoming over [number] visitors each year. 250 Ten thousand visitors, second only to Disneyland in France.

Unlike other theme parks, Pudafu’s distinguishing feature lies in its all-performing arts format. It boasts 19 a project, including 11 Stage performance, 4 a scenic spot and 4 A garden.

These performances recreate arena shows from ancient Roman Gaul, Viking pirate raids on villages, and the Hundred Years' War between England and France, interweaving elements such as dance, combat, equestrian skills, animal training, and bird training.

From signing to pending

Since its signing, the Hangzhou Pudefu project has attracted considerable attention, yet its progress has been extremely slow. ：

1、 Sign the contract

2023 Year 3 Moon 22 On [date], Hangzhou announced at the city-wide Conference on High-Quality Development of the Tourism Industry that it will introduce the French-themed park Pudifou. The project is planned to be located along the “Three Rivers and Two Banks” waterfront area.

At the time, this news was exciting, as it meant Hangzhou would soon welcome its first world-class theme park.

2、 Site selection controversy

After the project was signed, the site-selection issue has remained unresolved.

The earliest reports came from Jiande City. 2023 Year 11 In the government work report of Jiande City, it was mentioned: “We will continue to coordinate with the special task force for cultural and tourism development along both banks of the Three Rivers, and further refine the land-use nature of the Nanfeng plot for the Kuangren National Project.”

But shortly afterward, Nicholas, Chairman of the Board of Pudafu Group, visited Yuhang and Tonglu and explicitly stated his preference for the Yuhang site, believing that... The Yuhang Jingshan plot is... Puy du Fou The preferred site for project development.

The Tonglu County authorities stated frankly in a work report: “Currently, Pudufu Theme Park is in negotiations with Yuhang District, requesting that Yuhang District provide land at zero land price. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, the French side will prioritize recommending Tonglu.”

Xiaoshan Wenyan later also joined the competition. 2024 Year 4 In a document titled “Feasibility Study for the Jointly Funded Shopping Mall Construction in Wenyan Subdistrict, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou City,” it is mentioned that the project will “leverage the visitor traffic advantages of the Xianghu Tourism and Resort Area and the Crazy Man’s Kingdom Theme Park.”

Meanwhile, the mayor of Hangzhou visited the Xiaoshan Kuahu Bridge Site Museum and the Hangzhou Kaiyuan Senbo Resort Hotel, both located along Xianghu Lake in the Wenyan Subdistrict area.

3、 Latest developments

2025 Year 5 Moon 9 On the day, the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio and Television and Tourism issued... 2025 The annual work plan mentions that this year, Hangzhou will “speed up commercial negotiations with the French Pudifou Hangzhou project and strive to kick off construction at an early date.”

From 2023 Year 3 It’s been more than two years since the monthly contract was signed, yet the project remains in the stage of commercial negotiations, and progress is clearly below public expectations.

The Multiple Challenges of the Pudefu Project

The Pudufu project has been slow to take root in Hangzhou, and there are multiple underlying reasons for this. , which mainly includes the following points:

1、 Site-selection challenges

Site selection is not merely a choice of geographic location; it also involves a comprehensive consideration of foot traffic, transportation, and supporting facilities.

In my personal opinion, Compared to other areas, Xiaoshan Wenyan has a distinct advantage: it is located right next to Hangzhou’s main urban area and has an under-construction subway line. 4 Southern extension of Line X, 18 Line [number] will intersect at Wenyan, offering excellent transportation conditions.

Meanwhile, Xianghu Lake itself is already a mature tourist attraction, and with nearby amusement parks such as Hangzhou Paradise and Changqiao Polar Ocean Park, it has created a cluster effect.

Although Tonglu, Jiande, and other areas boast beautiful environments, they are located far from Hangzhou’s main urban area and have a small population base, which may result in insufficient visitor traffic.

2、 Visibility Challenge

Pudifoo is less well-known in the Chinese market than Disney and Universal Studios.

Many Hangzhou residents have only limited knowledge of it, and since it primarily features performances rather than large-scale thrill rides, its audience may be somewhat limited.

If a theme park of this kind is located in a remote area, tourists may be even less inclined to visit.

3、 Investment and Negotiation

50 The total investment of 100 million yuan is substantial, and the project’s requirement for land to be provided at zero cost further complicates the negotiation process.

The amusement park operator may weigh the pros and cons among several potential sites to secure the most favorable conditions.

The possibility of Pudufu in Hangzhou

Despite the challenges, Pudufu’s establishment in Hangzhou is still worth looking forward to.

1、 Possible site selection

Based on the available information, Xiaoshan Wenyan and Yuhang Jingshan are the most likely locations.

Yuhang District is in 2024 Year 8 The Moon has completed the confirmation and signing of the specific terms of the Memorandum of Cooperation for the “Madman’s Country” project, while Xiaoshan, leveraging its advantageous location and transportation infrastructure, has emerged as a rising star.

2、 Features and Opportunities

If Pudufu can be successfully implemented, it will fill the gap in Hangzhou’s high-end performing arts-themed amusement park. and international cultural and tourism projects The blank.

It differentiates itself from Hangzhou’s existing theme parks by offering unique theatrical performances and cultural narratives, attracting tourists who are interested in cultural experiences.

3、 Challenges and Risks

The longer the project is delayed, the greater the uncertainty.

Hangzhou is not the first city in China to introduce Pudifu. 2021 Year 10 Last month, the People's Government of Dali Prefecture signed an agreement with Pudafu Asia Co., Ltd. to introduce the “Pudafu Dali International Resort Project in Yunnan.”

The Hangzhou project must avoid falling into long-term stagnation after signing the contract, as some other projects have done.

The significance of Pudufu to Hangzhou

Pudufu is not only a theme park but also an important component of Hangzhou’s efforts to internationalize its tourism.

It is affiliated with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Club Med Together with international high-end hotel brands such as Longwu International Resort and Capella Parkview Green Hotel, these hotels form an important component of Hangzhou’s upgraded tourism offerings.

Once these projects are implemented, they will reshape the popularity rankings of Hangzhou’s tourism market and attract more inbound tourists.

Finally,

A concert at the Huanglong Sports Center, an international light show by West Lake, and the urban balcony pier in Qianjiang New City. —These scattered tourism elements need a world-class theme park as an anchor to link them together and create a stronger tourism appeal.

The Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio and Television and Tourism has already... 2025 The annual work plan clearly states the need to “speed up the commercial negotiations for the Pudifou Hangzhou project with France.”

What do you think—can Pudufu be successfully implemented in Hangzhou?