Forget DVDs, China now has pirated theme parks

Japan Probe's post entitled "Disneyland in China?" has already received a lot of linkage since it appeared May 2. We just saw it today, so we apologize if we are telling you something you already know. (You may also have seen a story on the topic in The Standard from April.)

From The Standard we learn that Beijing's state-owned Shijingshan Amusement Park boasts the slogan "Disneyland is too far" and "features a replica of Cinderella's Castle, with staff dressed like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and other Disney characters." Here's a quote from a 31-year-old housewife and mother at the park that nicely sums up the situation:

"I don't understand why that is such a big problem. Shouldn't others be able to use those characters besides [Disney]?" she asks.

Japan Probe offers us this gem:

Some have claimed that the park is illegally copying Disney’s Minnie Mouse. However, the park’s operators have insisted that the character ... is not a mouse. It is a cat with very large ears!

Japan Probe also links to several video clips of Japaneses news broadcasts on the topic. Below, we have embedded one with English subtitles.

It's a small world after all, people.

All images originally appeared on Japan Probe.

UPDATE: Japan Probe finds fake zebras at the fake Disneyland, and more Chinese amusement parks ripping off just about everybody. And the AP reports that Shijingshan might be trying to clean up its act.