China's "Little People's Kingdom" is a theme park, where little people dance and sing in fairytale costumes, drawing both curious groups and criticism. The theme park, near Kunming City in Yunnan Province, employs 108 dwarfs (矮子) from across the country, who gather on an artificial hillside twice a day to dance and sing for tourists. And all pretend to live in a tiny hilltop village.
The guests can watch shows like comedies, group dance and acrobatics (杂技). The show's centerpiece, a funny performance of Swan Lake, sees performers dressed in special pink costumes and pretending to be little swans. "The first time I performed it (Swan Lake) I felt a bit embarrassed. I had never worn a skirt like that before. But later, once I got used to it, I found I could do it very well," said Chen Ruan, 21, from Hunan Province who joined the park when it opened.
For many of the employees, the park offers a rare opportunity to find work. As unlikely as it seems for men and women doing daily funny performances of Swan Lake, they think that it feels good to live in dormitories that look like caves while living with people with similar experiences. In addition, the life facilities in the park are made according to their special needs. Besides, performers in the park earn 2,000 yuan a month, around twice the salary of a high school graduate.
The founder of the park, Chen Ming, made his fortune by producing electronics and investing, but said he had always wanted to help the disadvantaged groups in the community. People, like human right activists for the disabled, think that such a park only encourages the discrimination against little people. The only requirement for participants to be employed at the theme park is to be shorter than 51 inches and be able to take care of themselves in daily life. The youngest employee is 18, and the oldest is 48.
a. Having the ability to look after themselves.
b. No taller than 51 inches.
c. Aged between 18 and 48.
d. Being a high school graduate.
One of the things I like best about Beijing is the beautiful parks. One that is less well known to foreign visitors is called Taoranting Park. It(lie) to the west of the Temple of Heaven and covers area of 56.56 hectares (公顷), with 16.15hectares occupied by water. (open) in 1955, Taoranting Park was the(early) modern city park constructed in Beijing after the founding of the People's Republic of China.
The park gets its name the Taoran Pavilion, which(build) in 1695. Scholars often gathered in this pavilion(read) and write poetry. In the 20th century several famous revolutionaries (革命者) were(close) related to the Taoran Pavilion.
In common with other Chinese parks, this one also has a "park within a park"—Huaxia Famous Pavilion Scenic Spot. The mini park contains more than 10 pavilions in all, some of are full-sized copies of famous pavilions in some Chinese cities.
All in all, the beautiful garden scenery, rich cultural atmosphere, and glorious revolutionary historical sites make Taoranting Park a tourist(attract) in Beijing.
For most of the kids, amusement parks are their favorite. When choosing an amusement park for their kids, parents can begin by going to the amusement park's website. In general, many of the official websites have complete lists of rides and attractions, as well as height limits and target age groups.
When selecting an amusement park for kids, you may be able to find one that matches your child's interests easily. Usually there are many interesting themed ones in the city. Some parks are built entirely on the theme of a popular television show or a famous cartoon brand.
Another thing you should keep in mind when choosing an amusement park for kids is safety. Besides, amusement parks, especially those designed for younger kids, often have additional safety features to make sure that kids are safe there, particularly if they become separated from their families.
It is a wise decision to buy a day pass if it is offered in the park, which typically allows the holder to ride as many rides as desired for one price. There are different kinds of performances in amusement parks. Some parents find that it's a good idea to buy tickets for one of the performances at an amusement park for kids. This gives kids a chance to take a break and sit down to rest for a while, even if they may not want to.
A. The price is another consideration.
B. And they are fairly common throughout the day.
C. These amusement parks will not fail to attract children.
D. Most importantly, pay attention to the weather condition.
E. Even elder children can find their favorite amusement parks.
F. Almost every theme park has a place for kids to go to if they are lost.
G. This will help you know if there are activities that are suitable for your kids.
