Safari, Fireworks Show, and Circus... Everland's Most Ambitious Lineup Yet in Full Bloom

Samsung offers two types of "memory": one is semiconductors, and the other is memories-cherished moments. This spring, Everland, operated by Samsung C&T Resort Group, is creating unforgettable memories for spring visitors by unveiling a lineup of extraordinary new attractions, including the Tulip Festival, Safari World, a special fireworks show, and a circus performance. In the gentle April breeze, we visited the most exciting destination in Korea at this very moment.

The first stop was "Panda World," home to the beloved panda family adored nationwide. This venue has evolved beyond a simple animal exhibit to become the origin of a powerful fandom business. In particular, the newly renovated "second house" for the twin pandas Ruibao and Huibao offered visitors a deeply immersive experience. Watching the family leisurely munch on bamboo, it was clear why the entire country is captivated by "panda fever."

After about a year of preparation, "Safari World The Wild" reopened on April 1, completely transformed with a focus on animal welfare and customer experience. Through this renewal, Everland significantly expanded features like waterfalls, ponds, trees, and enrichment structures. The safari enclosures now reflect the actual habitats of predators, with zones such as the "Savanna Grasslands" (for lions), "Forest of Predators" (for tigers), and "Northern Forest" (for brown bears), allowing animals to live in environments much closer to their natural habitats.

The safari exploration method has also changed dramatically. The exploration vehicles have been replaced with 40-seat electric (EV) buses instead of the previous trams, reducing both noise and vibration. This enables both people and animals to experience the safari in a more comfortable setting. At Safari World, visitors can observe the ecology of about 50 animals from 8 species-including tigers, lions, and Asiatic black bears, typically seen only in documentaries-right before their eyes. Since its initial opening in April 1976, Safari World has welcomed around 90 million cumulative visitors and is now on the verge of surpassing 100 million.

After refreshing your eyes with cuteness, it's time to get your heart racing. Everland has captivated visitors at the Grand Stage with "Wings of Memory," a collaboration with Eloize, one of Canada's top three circus production companies.

This production, held in a dedicated indoor theater with about 1,000 seats, follows the story of the protagonist "IEL," who is led into a magical world by a mystical swan and spirits. For around 40 minutes, world-class circus performances unfold. This show, which blends spectacular aerial acrobatics with media art, truly lets audiences' imaginations take flight, just like its name suggests. In particular, as seven types of high-level circus acts-including contortion, aerial pole, and Russian swing-were performed, the venue filled with the audience's admiration and applause.

Before the excitement in the theater subsides, visitors are greeted by a sea of flowers under the bright sunshine. The Four Seasons Garden, where the Tulip Festival runs until April 30, features about 1.2 million spring flowers from over 100 varieties, including tulips, daffodils, and muscari, allowing visitors to capture "the photo of a lifetime" at every turn of the camera shutter.

Especially impressive is the Infinity Tulip Garden, where a giant LED screen displaying garden footage seamlessly blends with the real flower beds, creating a unique space that merges virtual and reality. It offers an immersive experience, as if stepping into one of Europe's grand tulip fields. At night, garden lighting created in collaboration with British installation artist Bruce Munro transforms the space, allowing visitors to stroll through a night garden where fiber-optic lights and art installations blend together.

Additionally, the special fireworks show "Guardians of the Light," held every night at the Four Seasons Garden, is gaining explosive popularity. This 20-minute performance features thousands of fireworks combined with giant object drones, 3D imagery, laser mapping, special effects, and dynamic sound, creating a breathtaking spectacle. During the grand finale, thousands of fireworks light up the night sky in a dazzling display.

An Everland representative stated, "Since the Tulip Festival opened on March 20, more than 500,000 spring visitors have come in less than a month, marking an increase of over 20% in attendance compared to the same period last year. We believe that the rich variety of new attractions this spring-including colorful spring flowers, Safari World, the fireworks show, and the circus performance, all available in one place-has led to the increase in visitors."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.