Throughout recorded human history, China has stood as the one constant. While African and European countries have their own claims, China is generally regarded as the oldest civilization in the world, one that dates back more than 5,000 years. It’s the reason why Chinese citizens think of their country as the center of the world.
At Walt Disney World, Epcot doesn’t position China in the center, but this pavilion was integral to the inception of the World Showcase. To this day, cast members take pride in the authenticity of its look and style. Meanwhile, Disney executives rotate exhibitions and update other parts of it to keep the area engaging. Like the country it represents, this pavilion is both timeless and modern in style. Here are six amazing facts about Epcot’s China Pavilion.
The design
Image: DisneyWhen Disney Imagineers planned Epcot in the late 1970s, they knew that China must have a presence at the park. Otherwise, the entire World Showcase would feel incomplete due to the omission. To their credit, park strategists understood the importance of the China Pavilion.
Lacking the time and resources to build a worthy structure, Disney outsourced the project to Palmer-Smith Co. of Southfield, Michigan. This company also constructed the France and Japan sections as well as Horizons in Future World. As such, their imprint on Epcot is something that impacts theme park tourists to this day.
You’ll know that you’re at the China Pavilion when you see the Zhao Yang Men aka the Gate of the Garden Sun. It’s arguably the most colorful gate at the World Showcase. Still, the masterwork is the centerpiece of the China Pavilion, the Temple of Heaven. From a distance, it looks like a three-level building that has three surrounding rings. The building is basically what you’d visualize of a Chinese temple, and that might not be a coincidence.
The China Pavilion has recreated a legendary Beijing structure, also named Temple of Heaven. It’s actually a larger complex, but the most famous part of it is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. This is the temple that Disney has replicated at the China Pavilion. It’s a true wienie, a façade that attracts the eye as guests approach the pavilion.
The special touches
Image: DisneyWhen you shut your eyes and imagine China, a few stereotypes and clichés are likely to enter your mind. That’s perfectly normal and valid. At the China Pavilion, many of these philosophies are reinforced, and that’s by design. The area surrounding the temple includes white stone walkways and gardened areas.
Disney stressed legitimacy in the gardens. The foliage that you see has its roots in China, figuratively and almost literally. Disney imported several trees indigenous to China including the chianthus petusa and the Chinese scholar tree. Cast members even found Chinese-looking trees in the United States. A century-old weeping mulberry was imported from…New Jersey.
The music is similarly thematic. Gentle sounds are piped in to reinforce the serenity of the temple grounds. The interior of the building features amazing acoustics that amplify sound. This isn’t a place where you should ever yell.
Numerology also plays a factor. The temple has nine stones and four pillars inside coinciding with 12 pillars outside. Four, nine, and 12 are all symbolic numbers in China, representing the seasons, the tails of the dragon, and the number of months in a year. Disney’s shown loving attention to detail in building one of the most relaxing pavilions at the World Showcase.
The food
Image: DisneyDining at the China Pavilion is precisely what you would expect. There are two offerings here: a Quick Service and a Table Service restaurant. The counter service eatery is Lotus Blossom Café, which isn’t quite a grab-and-go place, but it can be. This place has indoor seating which is to say that you’ll have a roof over your head. It’s not enclosed, though. There are no windows blocking bugs or heavy rain.
The food is frankly pedestrian by World Showcase standards. It’s not Chinese in the traditional sense but rather the Americanized version that you can grab at a dozen places in your city of residence. The highlights are the Pot Stickers, the Orange Chicken, and the TsingTao beer. You can do better.
In fact, you can do better at the China Pavilion. Nine Dragons Restaurant is an elegant establishment with a traditional backdrop. You’d find similar design at any classy Chinese restaurant in a major city, but that’s not a bad thing. Instead of getting obsessed with Disney theming, it’s a quieter affair, a place with a lovely ambiance. Those opportunities are rare at Walt Disney World, and I relish them.
Image: DisneyAs for the food, Nine Dragons Restaurant has historically suffered terrible reviews for middling food. I can say with complete sincerity that the situation has changed in recent years. Disney has addressed the culinary concerns in crafting a stronger menu. The Braised Pork Belly Steamed Buns here are exquisite, and the Kung Pao Shrimps are succulent. I’m also a huge fan of the Nine Dragons Lunch Boxes that they sell each afternoon. Still, the best part of the restaurant is the pricing. Most entrees here are under $20, which is rare for the World Showcase. For that discounted price, you get exceptional Chinese delicacies.
Few people mention Nine Dragons in discussing the best restaurants at the World Showcase, but that should change soon. It’s better than ever before. The other plus here is that due to its reputation, you can often eat faster here than any other Table Service restaurant at Epcot.
The shopping
Image: DisneyI have to be blunt that the shopping here isn’t great. Still, I understand that everyone has differing taste in the knickknacks that they love to buy, and hoarders will have plenty of options at the two similarly named shops here.
Good Fortune Gifts and House of Good Fortune sell some wonderful merchandise. Chinese parasols are especially gorgeous, as the materials used are so refined and elegant. The stores also sell some puppets and toys that are cute enough. House of Good Fortune is a bit more upscale with its silks and porcelain. It also has some Chinese wall prints that may or may not involve Disney characters. Honestly, the best thing that I’ve found at either store is the kitchenware.
The film
Image: DisneyThe China Pavilion hosts one attraction, and it’s located at the temple. Reflections of China is a Circle-Vision 360° movie that has played at the pavilion since 2003. It replaced the original attraction, Wonders of China, which had run since the park’s inception in 1982. That film was so beloved that Disneyland actually exhibited it for 12 years starting in 1984.
Thanks to YouTube, you can watch both versions of the movie to compare them, but the Circle-Vision 360° technology is superior when you watch them in person. The genius of the technology is that the entire room is a circle filled with giant movie screens. You can spin around and see the perspectives as if you were standing in that spot in China. Each video shows many of the most famous landmarks in the country as well some historical footnotes.
Realistically, both videos are a bit dated in the internet era, and Disney is aware of this. They announced at D-23 2017 that Disney has created a new film for the China Pavilion, one that employs new technology. There’s a lot of excitement about this project, because Disney uses the same camera techniques as Soarin’ Around the World. Disney’s goal is to create a CircleVision experience that a person cannot mimic by watching the same film on the internet.
The shows
Image: DisneyIf there’s one takeaway from the China Pavilion, it’s that the entertainment options are sublime. Every time I walk past this part of the park, I wind up losing several minutes due to the wondrous distractions. The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats put on shows on a regular basis, and it’s like walking down the street to discover Cirque du Soleil performing at the end of the block.
Disney has presented variations of this show for many years now. It is the plate-spinniest, hula hoop-iest, human contortionist-iest thing I’ve ever seen. Every time I walk by one of these shows, I feel mesmerized by the skills and techniques that these cast members demonstrate. They rarely drop any objects, and I have never seen a person lose their balance enough to let someone else slip. While everyone praises Festival of the Lion King for its acrobatics, I’m much more impressed by the performers at the China Pavilion. Seeing one of these exhibitions always makes my day when I wander through the World Showcase.
Image: Disney
