The Case of Florida Splendid China

The history of Florida Splendid China (FSC) is linked to the original miniature attraction in Shenzhen, China. Designed as a showcase to promote tourism in China, the amusement park, located near Hong Kong, was the brainchild of Ma Zhimin (Ma Chiman), general manager of China Travel Service (CTS) Ltd. Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, CTS, the largest tourism firm in mainland China, owns travel agencies, theme parks, and performing arts groups. In 1989, Ma reflected on the conception of Splendid China:

During my trip to Europe in 1985, I visited the famous Madurodam ‘Lilliputian Land’ in Holland when an idea came to me and I thought how great it would be if we could build a miniature scenic spot in which China’s renowned scenic attractions and historical sites could be concentratedly displayed so that people could admire and know more about China’s beautiful scenic wonders, splendid history and culture as well as various national customs and habits in a shorter time. (Ma, Liu, & Au, 1989, p. 3)

With sufficient funding from CTS, the idea quickly turned into reality.