The world is full of strange and interesting places, full of delightfully interesting people. These are the oddest places around the globe.
Kingdom of the Little People, China
Despite its label as a “theme park,” the Kingdom of the Little People is actually home to several hundred people, all of whom suffer from dwarfism.
The park was established in 2009 by Chinese tycoon Chen Mingjing, and its residents often put on performances that include plays, music, and dances.
China has a Dwarf Theme Park called “Kingdom of the Little People” that employs over 100 Chinese dwarves to sing and dance (including breakdancing and Swan Lake). The 13,000-acre park also features tiny dogs and tiny fruit trees.
— Bad Spit (@BadSpit) July 31, 2022
👁 https://t.co/K1X81JY6HV pic.twitter.com/aFPo4EDIG6
The park has, of course, sparked some debate. There are many who, with good reason, call it a “human zoo” and contend that its very existence is exploitative.
However, Mingjing asserts that he is doing more for the hundreds of individuals who call his complex home.
The morality of the Little People’s Kingdom might be debated, but the fact that it exists at all is remarkable.
Federation of Damanhur, Italy
The Federation of Damanhur is a municipality in northern Italy with its own constitution and currency (named the Credito), which it bills as “a living laboratory for the Future.”
Damanhur is a self-sufficient community that divides its residents into classes based on their level of participation.
Class A inhabitants, for instance, pool their wealth and make their permanent home in the village, whereas Class D citizens, who make their homes outside the community, continue to worship Federation religion.
1978, 28-year-old Oberto Airaudi, or “Falco” initiated the construction of, The Temples of Humankind, which are a collection of subterranean temples built by Federation of Damanhur. To promote peace, harmony & elevated consciousness.https://t.co/Lsqx1SYAxo pic.twitter.com/CaLMDsX2gn
— Amateur Engineering-Physicist (@AmateurEnginee1) August 28, 2021
New residents are asked to give all of their access to give up all their assets to the community when they arrive.
While the town has been labeled as a cult by outsiders, its 1,000 members claim that assertion is untrue.
However, according to Italics Mag, “Damanhur champions some eccentric views, like a belief in time travel across millennia or the importance of ‘listening’ to the music plants produce through electromagnetic waves.”
The Villages, Florida
Senior citizens have gone wild at The Villages, a retirement community in Sumter County, Florida, where the average resident is aged 61.
The level of decadence in The Villages is on par with that of a college dorm. Drug usage, fights at bars, and sexually transmitted diseases are all common occurrences.
More than 40 golf cart crashes in first quarter in Sumter County portion of The Villages. Florida man has a problem. https://t.co/IeQCeq40Es pic.twitter.com/Z7fNR3yLOP
— Florida Man (@FloridaMan__) April 15, 2023
“Some Kind of Heaven,” a documentary that was released in 2020, was inspired by the peculiarity of the community.
The video follows a group of residents of The Villages as they go about their days, looking for love and purpose as they near the end of their lives.
The presence of this group should serve as a reminder that the need for adventure and ability to make questionable life decisions does not vanish with old age.
Whittier, Alaska
Whittier, Alaska, with a population of about 320, has only one structure to house its residents. Yes, the entire population of the town, together with its school, city offices, hospital, and grocery stores, resides in the 14-story Begich Tower.
Whittier is the quintessential example of a secluded city, surrounded on all sides by steep mountains and a lake. The only road in or out of town is a one-way street that closes completely at night.
Leaving Whittier might be a hassle because the road’s direction shifts during the day. The locals, on the other hand, wouldn’t have it any other way.
In the town of Whittier, Alaska, almost everyone lives in one building.
— Genevieve Mina (@spifffy) November 1, 2022
90% of the town’s residents live in one 14-story building – that also houses a post office, shop, police station, health clinic, and a bed & breakfast. #akleg pic.twitter.com/5rAjabvhLV
The town’s harsh winters are responsible for Whittier’s decision to confine itself to a single structure.
Over a meter of snow can fall in severe situations, effectively surrounding the city. Over sixty mile per hour winds are possible.
Whittier attracts an unusual crowd because of its out-of-the-ordinary setting. There’s a certain allure to being part of a close-knit neighborhood. Despite the town’s reputation for “loners,” the locals are actually fairly sociable.
In this little community, everybody knows each other. It’s a great place to get away from the noise and chaos of the city.
