Monday, March 07, 2011

E-Da World

Located in Da Shu District, Kaohsiung City, E-Da world is a community that incorporates recreation, education, estate development and health care. E-United group, in cooperation with Eliter Corp, spent 25 years planing and constructing and invested more than 50 billion to build a community that has 2 hotels (Crowne Plaza and E-Da Skylark Hotel), the biggest outlet shopping mall in Taiwan, the first Greek themed amusement park, E-Shu University and international high school, Eliter Estate (Earl's District) and its own public transportation. E-Da World was test operated on June 19th, 2010 and the grand opening was on December 18th, 2010.

I visited E-Da world during the new year holidays and checked in to the Crowne Plaza. Off the freeway No.1, the width of roads to E-Da world started from 3 lanes each direction down to a 1 lane winding mountain road, with the new year crowds I was amazed that I didn't get stuck in traffic. After parking, I gave up on checking into my room because of the crowds in the Crowne Plaza lobby and headed to the outlet mall (Mon-Fri: 11:00-22:00; weekend/holidays: 10:00-22:00). The 19 thousand meter square outlet mall is divided into 3 sections. Section A, 7 floors and a ferris wheel on the roof (NT$200; free ride if you have a ticket to the amusement park), sells designers collections, interior decor and housewares. Section B, 2 floors, has a Fontana di Trevi replica and painted dome that attracts most of the attention in the mall. The roof of section B is an open-air market and restaurants where live performances take place every night. Section C, 6 floors, is where all the fun starts. Rock climbing, ice skating, baseball, basketball and a movie theater. This section is also the ticketing and entrance of the amusement park.



E-Da theme park (NT$899, Mon-Thu 09:30-17:30; Fri-Sun 09:30-19:30; NT$ 650 after 14:00(Mon-Thu),15:00 (Fri-Sun); tickets sold before 17:30) is the first Greece themed amusement park in Taiwan, the park is built according to the Acropolis, Santorini Mountain City and Trojan Castle styles. Acropolis has an extravagant opera theatre that can accommodate 1800 guests. Santorini mountain city creates an illusion of being actually in Greece. The giant wooden horse in front of the Trojan Castle recreates the scene of the famous story that has been told for thousands of years. In the castle, flying over Taiwan simulates hangliding over scenaries of Taiwan. There are 47 recreation facilities in the park including an U shaped roller coaster, a spin that goes up to 55 meters above ground and a roller coaster goes into water, etc. This is the place where you can have fun untill you throw up.

I went back to the Crowne Plaza Hotel and was suprised by the crowds in the lobby waiting to check in at 18:00. I've never seen anything like this: guests in every counter of the reception were complaining about the sluggish checkin procedure; a woman was screaming at the manager, it was so loud that everyone in the lobby could hear her and a group were taken into the manager room as they were banging on the table; people who waited in lines were total strangers but acted as they were the best comrades and were planing a riot. I waited an hour and finally it was my turn. After checking my reservation and ID the receptionist told me that my room was not ready yet and suggested that I should have dinner first and come back later! I asked the receptionist to send my key to me at the Italian restaurant in the hotel, 30 mins later, my key was sent to my table and my room was upgraded.

Despite the incident of checking-in, the hotel amenities of Crowne Plaza were fabulous. Water fountain show right next to the restaurants, sauna, swining pool, gym and espresso café machine in the room..., it was a great acommodation.

Transportation: shuttle buses commute between Taiwan High Speed Rail Zuoying station and E-Da World (NT$37; 06:20-23:00, timetable in details),



12 comments:

Traveling Hawk said...

It seems to be a huge mall. It is an interesting idea to bring Greece there. Do the people like it?

Hanjié said...

I don't know if the others like it or not but I like it. However, it's over priced if you ask me.

EC said...

Was the ticket into the theme park inclusive of all the individual rides? Or did you have to buy the entrance fee and also pay for each ride too?

Hanjié said...

All facilities are inclusive in the entrance fee except for food/drink.

teto said...

Thanks for posting this interesting overview of E-DA (I don't read Chinese, your post is almost the only information I could find). Same price for kids /babies ? That looks very expensive compared to Taiwanese prices.

Hanjié said...

Yes, teto, there are special prices for kids/babies ranged from NT$500-599.

It is very expensive compared to other amusement parks I agree. You might be able to get a cheaper price from travel agencies THSR packages.

Anonymous said...

hi hanjie, may i know whats the journey time from zouying station to E-Da world taking the shuttle bus?

Brooke Higgins said...

I have never heard the name of "E-Da World" before. It seems to be a new tourist attraction for people who want to visit peaceful and lees crowded places. Photographs shows that this is like a dream wold. meet and greet luton

EthanBryan said...

This name "E-Da World" is really strange for me. It shows to be a tourist attraction for the people who want peace of mind while travelling. car parking Luton airport meet and greet

Unknown said...

I agreed that this is the place where you can have fun untill you throw up. i got the same experience during my travel.

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Meet and Greet Heathrow said...

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