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   China is all set to open its first virtual reality theme park in February 2018, which aims to ride a boom in demand for virtual entertainment that will propel tenfold growth in the country’s virtual reality market, to hit almost $8.5 billion by 2020. From giant robots to futuristic cyberpunk castles, this sci-fi theme park rise out of lush mountain slopes on the outskirts of Guiyang, the capital of one of China’s poorest provinces. In the push to become a center of innovative tech, Guizhou is luring firms such as Apple Inc. The park promises 35 virtual reality attractions, from shoot-‘em-up games and virtual rollercoasters to tours with interstellar aliens of the region’s most scenic spots.

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   Because of its uniqueness, this will attract more visitors as the people wants something different from other theme parks. (Image: Reuters)

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   The first virtual reality theme park is built on 330-acre (134-hectare) in southwestern Guizhou province. (Image: Reuters)

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   The $1.5-billion Oriental Science Fiction Valley park, is part of China’s thrust to develop new drivers of growth centered on trends such as gaming, sports and cutting-edge technology, to cut reliance on traditional industries. (Image: Reuters)

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   In the push to become a center of innovative tech, Guizhou is luring firms such as Apple Inc, which has sited its China data center there, while the world’s largest radio telescope is in nearby Pingtang county. (Image: Reuters)

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   The Guiyang park will offer tourists bungee jumps from a huge Transformer-like robot, and a studio devoted to producing virtual reality movies. (Image: Reuters)

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   Most rides will use VR goggles and motion simulators to thrill users. (Image: Reuters)

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   The park says it is the world’s first of its kind, although virtual reality-based attractions from the United States to Japan already draw interest from consumers and video gamers seeking a more immersive experience. (Image: Reuters)

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   Once the park opens, it will change the entire tourism structure of Guizhou province as well as China’s southwest, says Chief Executive Chen Jianli. (Image: Reuters)

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    China’s virtual reality market is expected to grow tenfold to 55.6 billion yuan ($8.4 billion) by the end of the decade. (Image: Reuters)