According to recent research, Chinese chocolate tastes better than its well-established Swiss rival. In carefully monitored blind tests, volunteers agreed on which samples had a superior taste and to everyone’s surprise, Chinese chocolate came top. Now a special exhibition in Shanghai prepares to welcome chocolate lovers from across China and beyond.
Shanghai Chocolate Dream Park
This tantalizing attraction will be open for 66 days, from December 16th 2011 to February 19th 2012, in Shanghai’s Pudong district, the city’s financial and commercial hub, on the east bank of the Huangpu river. Chocolate never featured high in China’s long history but with modern commercial interests at stake, consumers are encouraged to discover this new pleasurable addiction.
Set on the 3rd floor of the Himalayan Centre, the Dream Park will be divided into four sections, World Chocolate Pavilion, Dream Park Theme Pavilion, Pavilion of Chocolate Life and Chocolate and Happiness Square.
Chocolate Attractions in Shanghai’s Park
Besides a whole architectural complex made of chocolate, there will be exhibits of modern art and representations of Old Shanghai, such as Chinese dress, blue and white porcelain, bronze pots and a six metre long traditional scroll, ‘Dwelling on the Funchun Mountain’, based on a Yuan dynasty painting and claiming no less than 100 kg of chocolate. For artist chocolatiers, the most challenging part of the work is controlling the surrounding temperature, be it in the room or on work and display marble tops.
According to staff at the Shanghai Chocolate Dream Park, the aim is to ‘combine industry, aesthetics and digital technology, in order to create a brand new chain of technology.’ In other words, it’s all about adding style and culture to a new consumers’ appetite. Over 400,000 visitors are expected to view Shanghai’s edible art and those who wish to do so will be able to create their own chocolate souvenirs to take home.
Beijing and the Original Chocolate Dream Park
But Shanghai isn’t first. In 2010, Beijing had its own Chocolate Wonderland, close to the already popular Olympic attractions of the Ice Cube and Bird’s Nest. The three month long exhibition was hailed as a resounding success, astonishing many visitors with its superb chocolate replicas of some of China’s most iconic sights.
Top of the list in Beijing's wonderland was a 10 metre long Great Wall of China by master chocolatier Wang Qilu, made of dark chocolate bricks held together with white chocolate, and allowed to crumble at one end just like the real thing.
A close second was the legendary Terracotta Army, discovered near Xian in 1974, and displaying some 560 life-like chocolate warriors. All in all, the Beijing Wonderland consumed 80 tons of the sweet stuff and if looking wasn’t enough, visitors could take part in tasting and chocolate making sessions.
Who will be next? Place your bets and start to dream…
Sources
china.org.cn
chinahighlights.com
sciencedaily.com
Solange Hando - I am a travel writer, editor and photographer, contributing to a range of publications in the UK and worldwide.
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