A 373-hectare-Disney-style Theme Park built in Shanghai's Qingpu District aims to show that learning is not just from textbooks any more. At this as-yet unnamed park, which opened in October 2001, children can camp, play sports, touch the high-tech arms, spacecraft and robots and meet famous historical figures from Chinese philosopher Confucius to gravity guru Newton.

There are also Internet facilities.  Other attractions include a "Tarzan"-like jungle adventure and a Mother Nature coping challenge a la the Tom Hanks blockbuster "Cast Away." The park is a vision of the Shanghai Education Commission and includes a museum, science laboratory, Internet connections and sport facilities.  The largest one in Asia, the park can serve as many as 4,000 students on overnight camping outings. On weekends and national holidays, non-students would be granted admission. 

Work is on track on building a 700-by-25-metre boulevard featuring images of 160 distinguished scientists from China and overseas. The boulevard is also lined with 400 different types of plants. Students can get up close and personal with people of excellence in sciences.  This way they come away with a deep impression, paving an easy way to build knowledge.  Education experts laud the park as a solution to the limited space provided in crowded Shanghai for extracurricular activities.  Many local schools do not have enough space for sports or recreation because of the downtown area's dense population.