Six Flags Zhejiang

Six Flags Zhejiang was the planned Chinese flagship of a proposed group of Six Flags-branded amusement parks developed with Riverside Investment Group, also known by its Chinese name Shanshui Wenyuan. The project was located in Haiyan County in Zhejiang Province, roughly 45 miles from central Shanghai, and was conceived as part of a large integrated tourism and entertainment destination on Hangzhou Bay. It was announced during Six Flags Entertainment Corporation's effort to expand its licensing and operating footprint in China, where the company sought to combine its roller-coaster and theme-park brand with Chinese real-estate development and tourism infrastructure. The project was publicly identified as Six Flags Zhejiang in 2015 after Six Flags and Riverside had announced their broader Chinese partnership in 2014. Groundbreaking for the development took place on January 4, 2016, while formal construction of the theme park was reported to have begun on May 1, 2017. Early plans described a multibillion-dollar resort with several themed areas influenced by existing Six Flags properties, including Thrillseeker Plaza, Magic Mountain, Great Adventure, Fiesta Texas and Waterfront Square. A Garfield-themed children's area, later referred to as Garfield Beach, was also planned. The original schedule anticipated opening the principal theme park around 2019, but the timetable repeatedly slipped. A neighboring waterpark, initially called Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Zhejiang, was announced in December 2016 as a first-phase component of the resort. The attraction package was expected to use water rides supplied by WhiteWater West, and construction of the waterpark formally began in June 2018. The wider project also contemplated a separate children's gate called Six Flags Kids World. During development, the partners announced plans to use licensed characters and intellectual property including Garfield and Tuzki. Sally Dark Rides later presented a concept for Garfield's Underwater Adventure, although the planned attraction was never opened under the Six Flags name. The development encountered construction delays, weakening real-estate conditions and financial problems affecting Riverside. Six Flags disclosed in 2019 that the opening schedules for its Chinese projects had been delayed, citing partner performance, economic conditions and local readiness. By late 2019, reports indicated that construction at the Zhejiang site had stalled. In January 2020, Six Flags said that its Chinese developments had not progressed as expected and that Riverside had defaulted on payments. Six Flags formally withdrew from the Chinese projects in February 2020, leaving the partially developed destination without the original brand and operating partnership. Sunac China subsequently reached an agreement with the Haiyan County government in June 2020 to take over the suspended project. The destination was redesigned under Sunac's tourism-development portfolio, with plans for multiple theme-park and waterpark gates, a commercial district and a hotel. The completed portion of the former Hurricane Harbor project reopened as Sunac Water Park on June 26, 2021. The former Six Flags theme-park site was reworked under the Sunac Land name, but progress later slowed and its eventual opening became uncertain. A separate Sunac Snow World indoor ski project broke ground in October 2021, although subsequent construction was also reported to have halted or been postponed. Accordingly, Six Flags Zhejiang is best understood as a discontinued brand and an abandoned or repurposed development concept rather than an operating amusement park. Its partially realized waterpark survives under Sunac branding, while the originally planned Six Flags theme park, children's gate and associated branded attractions did not open as announced.

The Hangzhou Bay project originated in Six Flags Entertainment Corporation's effort to establish a presence in China through partnerships with local real-estate developers. Six Flags announced its intention to pursue Chinese theme-park projects with Riverside Investment Group on June 23, 2014. The Zhejiang site, located in Haiyan County in Jiaxing, was confirmed in September 2015 and was promoted as Six Flags Zhejiang. The project was intended to form part of a major tourism and entertainment complex near Shanghai, combining a large theme park with hotels, commercial facilities and additional leisure attractions. The development's official groundbreaking ceremony took place on January 4, 2016. Plans called for a collection of themed zones drawing on existing Six Flags identities, including Magic Mountain, Great Adventure, Fiesta Texas, Thrillseeker Plaza and Waterfront Square. A later concept added Garfield Beach, a children's area based on the Garfield character. The project was expected to open around 2019, but its schedule was ambitious and construction did not advance consistently. Formal theme-park construction was reported to have begun in May 2017. Six Flags and Riverside expanded the concept in December 2016 by announcing an adjacent Hurricane Harbor waterpark. WhiteWater West was selected to supply the water slides. The partners also presented a preview center for the Zhejiang Riverside Themed Town in August 2017 and announced a second children's gate, Six Flags Kids World, in October of that year. Licensing plans included Garfield attractions and Tuzki-themed dark rides. In 2019, Sally Dark Rides displayed a concept for Garfield's Underwater Adventure, combining physical figures with projection effects, but the attraction remained a development proposal. The project was affected by delays and deteriorating financial conditions in the Chinese property sector. Six Flags acknowledged in February 2019 that its Chinese park schedules had slipped. Later that year, construction reportedly stopped at the Zhejiang site, while Riverside experienced serious financial and operational difficulties. Six Flags subsequently disclosed that Riverside had defaulted on payments and warned that the Chinese projects might be cancelled. The company ended its involvement in the projects in February 2020, and the Six Flags Zhejiang identity ceased to represent an active development. Sunac China assumed control of the suspended project after signing an agreement with the Haiyan County government on June 2, 2020. Under Sunac, the plans were modified into a broader tourism complex with multiple proposed gates, a commercial area and a hotel. The largely completed waterpark was rebranded as Sunac Water Park and opened on June 26, 2021. The former theme-park site was redesigned as Sunac Land, but later progress became uncertain. Sunac Snow World, an indoor ski development within the wider project, broke ground in October 2021, though reports subsequently indicated delays or halted construction. The Six Flags-branded theme park, children's park and other planned gates never opened under their announced identities. The surviving waterpark is therefore a successor project rather than an operating Six Flags attraction. The site's current long-term status remains uncertain, and the original Six Flags Zhejiang brand is defunct.

• 2021

  Sunac Water Park opens

  [1]Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism Cityen.wikipedia.org

  The former Hurricane Harbor waterpark opened under Sunac branding on June 26.

• 2020

  Six Flags terminates Chinese projects

  [1]Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Six Flags withdrew from the Chinese developments after Riverside failed to meet obligations.

• 2020

  Sunac takeover agreement

  [1]Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Sunac China agreed to take over the suspended Haiyan development.

• 2019

  Opening schedules delayed

  [1]Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Six Flags disclosed delays to its Chinese projects amid partner and economic difficulties.

• 2017

  Theme-park construction begins

  [1]Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Formal construction of the main theme-park component was reported to have begun on May 1.

• 2016

  Groundbreaking ceremony

  [1]Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism Cityen.wikipedia.org

  The project held its official groundbreaking ceremony on January 4.

• 2016

  Hurricane Harbor waterpark announced

  [1]Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism Cityen.wikipedia.org

  An adjacent waterpark was added to the planned resort.

• 2015

  Zhejiang project confirmed

  [1]Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism Cityen.wikipedia.org

  The Haiyan County development was publicly identified as Six Flags Zhejiang.

• 2014

  Six Flags announces Chinese expansion partnership

  [1]Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Six Flags announced plans to develop Chinese theme-park projects with Riverside Investment Group.

A proposed large-scale, family-oriented and thrill-focused theme-park resort bringing the Six Flags brand and licensed entertainment properties to the Chinese tourism market.

• Theme park

  Six Flags Zhejiang

  The proposed main gate was planned as a large thrill and family theme park with several zones inspired by existing Six Flags destinations. Concepts included roller coasters, themed environments and licensed children's entertainment. The park did not open under the Six Flags name and was later reworked as part of the proposed Sunac Land project.

• Waterpark · 2021

  Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Zhejiang

  The planned waterpark was intended to serve as an early phase of the resort. Its design included more than 27 slides and 18 distinct attractions, including master-blaster, funnel, racing, body-slide and children's play experiences. WhiteWater West supplied the slide systems. After the Six Flags partnership ended, the facility opened as Sunac Water Park in 2021.

• Children's theme park

  Six Flags Kids World

  Six Flags Kids World was announced as a separate children's gate adjacent to the main Zhejiang park. It was intended to provide age-appropriate rides and family attractions, but no Six Flags-branded gate opened under this concept.

• Licensed themed area

  Garfield Beach

  Garfield Beach was a planned children's area using the Garfield intellectual property. The development partners also promoted a proposed Garfield's Underwater Adventure dark ride using animatronics and projection effects. These plans remained unbuilt after the Six Flags project was cancelled.

• 2020

  Investor lawsuit over Chinese project disclosures

  Investors filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that Six Flags had misled the market about the progress of its Chinese properties before the company disclosed partner defaults and potential cancellation. A federal court dismissed the case in March 2021.

  Source

Read more

• 2017Garfield and family entertainment integration

  China

  The developers publicized plans to integrate Garfield into children's areas at the Zhejiang and Chongqing projects.

  Outcome. The proposed character-themed attractions did not open under Six Flags branding.

  Source
• 2015Six Flags China expansion

  China

  Six Flags and Riverside promoted the Zhejiang project as part of a broader strategy to bring the Six Flags theme-park model to China.

  Outcome. The project was announced and advanced into construction, but the Six Flags partnership ended in 2020.

  Source

• 2020

  Withdraw from the Chinese developmentsStrategy

  Background

  The project suffered delays and Riverside failed to meet payment obligations amid financial and real-estate-market difficulties.

  Action taken

  Six Flags terminated its involvement in the Chinese projects, including Six Flags Zhejiang.

  Aftermath

  Sunac China took over the site and converted the waterpark and wider development to its own branding and plans.

  Source

• 2020

  Sunac assumes control of the projectM&A

  Background

  The suspended project contained a largely completed waterpark and unfinished theme-park infrastructure.

  Action taken

  Sunac China signed an agreement with Haiyan County to take over and redesign the tourism complex.

  Aftermath

  Sunac Water Park opened in 2021, while the proposed Sunac Land and Sunac Snow World components faced later delays.

  Source

• 2016

  Add Hurricane Harbor Zhejiang waterparkProduct launch

  Background

  The original resort concept was expanded with a separate waterpark intended to operate alongside the main Six Flags theme park.

  Action taken

  Six Flags and Riverside announced the adjacent Hurricane Harbor gate and planned to use WhiteWater West water attractions.

  Aftermath

  The facility was substantially completed but ultimately opened under Sunac branding.

  Source

1. 1Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism Cityen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Six Flags Zhejiang official project pagecontent.sixflags.com