As you enter the China pavilion at Epcot, you truly feel as if you have been transported into another land. In front of you lies a half size replica of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. If you time your entrance right, you will hear live flute, zither, or dulcimer music. You may see Chinese acrobats, usually children, performing outside the Temple of Heaven. Take a minute and look at the vegetation around you. In respect to Chinese culture, where age is respected, Disney gardeners have planted trees with corkscrew trunks or weeping branches. The rosebushes are a variety native to China.
Much of the architecture of the China pavilion pays tribute to Chinese culture, although those of us not as familiar with the traditions of this great land won’t readily see it. Look at the stones in the floor of the Temple of Heaven. The center stone is surrounded by nine other stones, because nine is a lucky number in China. Twelve columns surround the outer room, representing the twelve months of the year and the number of years in a full cycle of the Chinese calendar. Near the center of the room stand four columns, representing the four seasons of the year. The columns support a square beam, representing Earth, and above that lies a round beam, representing heaven.
The China pavilion’s main attraction is a Circle Vision film called Reflections of China. This film is new to the pavilion. It replaces the previous film, called Wonders of China. Filmmakers used nine separate cameras to film in circle vision, meaning the movie wraps all the way around you as you watch. It’s a fantastic effect. The only drawback to circle vision is that the theatre doesn’t contain seats. It’s standing room only. The film of course shows the Great Wall and Tian’anmen Square, and it also shows scenes of Hong Kong, Macau, Beijing, and Shanghai.
On your way out of the pavilion, stop by the House of Whispering Willows. It’s a museum of sorts where ancient Chinese art and artifacts are on display. Disney changes the collection about every six months, so you never know what’s going to be on display when you visit. But whatever it is, it’ll be interesting!