The Shenzhen Huaqiang Group will build a cultural technology theme park in Johannesburg, South Africa, which would be the largest park of its kind in Africa, according to an agreement signed at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center during the 5th China （Shenzhen） International Cultural Industries Fair （ICIF） yesterday.

The construction of the Johannesburg Fantawild Adventure Park, which will cost around US$250 million and cover 770,000 square meters, will start at the end of the year and be finished in two to three years.

The project will include three aspects featuring Chinese culture, African culture and cultures of other countries.

The project, China’s first large cultural project in Africa, is expected to attract up to 2 million visitors a year when it opens.

“It marks the further expansion of Fantawild in the global market and will enhance cultural exchange between China and Africa, as well as promote the Chinese cultural industry internationally,” Liang Guangwei, president of the Huaqiang Group, said at the signing ceremony.

With the support of the China-Africa Development Fund and China Development Bank, Johannesburg Fantawild Adventure Park would become the most stunning Chinese cultural theme park in Africa. It would not only enhance the culture, tourism and related industries in Africa, but also constitute a blueprint for the global development of China’s cultural industry and would be a splendid showcase for Chinese culture, Liang said.

Mbuyazwe Nagagula, head of tourism with the South African Industrial Development Corp., said the project would create more jobs and promote tourism in Africa because there were travel visa requirements for residents in African countries to travel in South Africa.

At last year’s fair, Fantawild Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of the Huaqiang Group, signed a contract for 70 million euros （US$94 million） to build the first overseas Fantawild Adventure Park in Isfahan, Iran’s second-largest city. Construction started earlier this year.