World Joyland (环球动漫嬉戏谷, Huánqiú Dòngmàn Xīxì Gǔ) better known as the Warcraft and Starcraft-themed amusement park, has been the subject of massive speculation since the first digital rendering surfaced on the internet six months ago. An amusement park entirely devoted to making your online virtual nerd-topia a reality, the EPIC potential of our MMORPG fever-dreams made manifest led us to the park with pretty massive expectations. more ›

Yes, Joyland (嬉戏谷, xīxìgǔ), the World of Warcraft and Starcraft-themed park, is real! Last month, intrepid members of the Shanghaiist team decided to journey out to the park made infamous by its alleged knock offs of Blizzard products. Getting there may not be easy, and it definitely takes some time, but it is absolutely worth it! One or two botched attempts later, and Shanghaiist now has it all figured out for you. Follow these simple instructions and you’re on your way to having the best time EVER! more ›

These pictures were taken of the front entrance yesterday, amid reports that the opening of the park could be delayed past March. Looks to be about right, if you compare the early designs of that gnarly entrance gate with the real deal. See our previous post on the park for more details! more ›

In case the China-made World of Warcraft wasn't enough for you - there is a chance you could get yourself to a World of Warcraft theme park sometime soon... heck, there'll be a Starcraft world thrown in to boot! The internet has been buzzing with news about a new amusement park called Joyland (website here) that's just itching to put you next to a Protoss on your next rollercoaster ride. more ›

Despite having an audience here in China that makes up half of its international player base, Blizzard Inc. has had little luck getting its popular expansion of the World of Warcraft franchise onto Chinese shores... until now! That's right, Chinese WoW players, you can now FINALLY play the Wrath of the Lich King expansion - almost two years after it first came out everywhere else. more ›

Though Shanghai's latitude makes it pretty hard for us to see snowfall, northern China has been blanketed by it for days. As it's pretty rare for the area around Beijing to get snow this early in the cold season, the torrents have brought about some complications and tragedies, but also joy. more ›

So China has finally lifted the World of Warcraft blackout, no doubt to the joy of both Blizzard and its four-plus-million Chinese fans. Betcha didn't know that half the WoW players in the world are from this country! more ›

• A shuttlecock fight of epic proportion [theage.com.au] "Emerging superpower China annoyed neighbouring Malaysia this week as an unprecedented Chinese domination of badminton's showpiece event — the All-England Championships — led to heated claims of match-fixing."
• Rumor: Focus Media Executives In China May All Resign [Digital Marketing Inner Circle] "In what is some hot gossip circulating in the digital marketing industry in Beijing is that former Focus Media CEO Tan Zhi will collectively resign with the other Focus Media executives once the executive adjustment plan post the merger of some of its businesses with Sina.com."
• Chinese Officials Prohibit Blizzard's Lich King Expansion [Life from Wired.com] "Chinese World of Warcraft fans will have to wait even longer to enjoy the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, as the Chinese government has twice rejected applications for its release."