In depth

Soaring through Changbaishan with new attraction from Brogent Technologies

China has welcomed a flying theatre to its Changbaishan Biosphere Reserve with Brogent Technologies supplying the landmark new attraction

Flying by Changbai Mountain gives riders a birdseye view as they soar across the Changbaishan Biosphere Reserve

Media-based attractions manufacturer Brogent Technologies has played a significant part in Legend Changbaishan - a CN¥2bn (US$309.7m, €262m, £223m) cultural development south of the Changbaishan Biosphere Reserve in northeast China.

Brogent’s i-Ride system has been paired with a five-minute journey created by Flying Theatre Films to develop a brand-new immersive 70-seat attraction in the visitor centre at the heart of the Changbaishan National Park.

CREDIT: FLYING THEATRE FILMS

Taking the rider on a journey through the region in Jilin Province, the ride system suspends the audience in the air in front of a 4K, 60-foot half-dome screen. Special effects such as wind, mist, sound and scent are added to sensory motions to create what feels like a real-life flight through Changbaishan.

“Changbaishan Biosphere Reserve is already a tourist region,” Brogent’s Stefan Rothaug tells Planet Attractions. “Adding a flying theatre to show the beauty of the area and the seasonal changes from a new perspective was the goal.”

Shot at 8K resolution for much of the aerial photography, the film production and visual effects team combined live action and computer generated techniques using elevation and terrain data to deliver truly stunning imagery that captured the beauty and every detail of the natural landscape through the seasons.

The choreography of the film was carefully conceived to provide a seamless flight with no visible joins in between scenes, delivering an even greater immersive experience for its audience.

The film follows a Manchu Falconer’s bird of prey as it soars over and through open plains, ravines and dense forests, eventually reaching a huge lake at the mountain’s summit.

Through the flight, the audience will see Changbaishan mountain in all its seasons, experiencing the changes in the landscape over the course of a year.

“In a region with cooler temperatures even in the summer months, an indoor experience like the flying theatre is a welcome offering to rest and recharge,” says Rothaug.

CREDIT: FLYING THEATRE FILMS

While the opening of the attraction was affected by the pandemic, the installation was not. In fact, it was already completed before it started, though the resulting restrictions left the attraction closed for over a year. One challenge the team did face was the weather. The ride system was installed in the winter months, with temperatures dropping as low as minus 20 degrees celsius in the region. This was solved fairly easily, however, says Rothaug: “our team brought warm clothes!”

The overall concept for the attraction, including the entrance, circulation, pre-show and queue, was developed by Jora Vision in the Netherlands. As well as Flying Theatre Films, Brogent also worked with PEL Creative on the project.

CREDIT: LEGEND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT

Part of the visitor experience for the Changbaishan Legend Village at the national park, the flying theatre, which has been well-received by visitors since launch, is complemented by a number of restaurants and retail offerings.

Legend Culture Development (LDC) is the investor for the development, which was built by the Changbai Mountain Development and Construction group. The project is a three-phase development with LDC company saying the project will be a leader in “smart tourism” for the region.

The Changbaishan Biosphere Reserve is positioned in the northeast of China, with the Unesco-listed site bordering North Korea. A number of craters formed millions of years ago now form vast lakes, which are surrounded by 16 mountains - the highest of which sits 2,691m (8,828ft) above sea level. At the summit, visitors can find a lake, hot springs and a waterfall.