Peacemakers of Yùn Chèng
Written by @Nigelchanning09 and @DashHaber
Ride Exterior
Sitting atop the 4th level of Yùn Chèng is a large and imposing temple. Though grand in its seeming scale, there is a humbleness to the actual design work. No grand or ostentatious golden designs to it. Instead, the walls are painted in simple red and white, the roofs coming out to sharp points with yellow accents. Darkened windows dot the walls, suggesting that whoever was here has currently left it quiet. The overall effect feels imposing and commands attention, yet without demanding it. There is even a courtyard space out front of the temple with a few stone statues of creatures set up, giving guests something to admire when the queue extends into the courtyard on busy days.
Queue
Guests will enter the temple through a wide front door. Entering in, they follow a set of hallways with plain wooden floors. Tapestries hang on the walls, depicting monks in a variety of tasks like tending to a garden and meditating. Eventually, the hallway path leads them into the Central Chamber. Inside, there is a grand statue of a man seated with legs crossed and hands raised, in the middle of meditation. There is a phrase engraved on the base of the statue: Nèibù hépíng (Peace from within). Keen guests may also notice a low chant in the air, as if they could hear the spiritual power in this place. Navigating along the pathways in the Central Chamber, guests will be guided towards one of the hallways for the Tapestry Chambers. They will also be divided into smaller groups along the way, as they head down the specific hallway and reach the Tapestry Chamber.
Preshow
Entering the Tapestry Chamber, guests find a room with three tapestries hanging on the wall in front of them. One depicts a monk in a tai chi-like pose, one depicts an armored warrior with a spear locked in battle with a monk, and one depicts a stone dragon. Resting in front of the tapestry is a smaller version of the statue originally found in the Central Chamber. Guests will head towards one of many numbered spots in the room, standing in position until the room has been filled, as necessary. Once all are inside, the doors to the Tapestry Chamber close.
A chime from some unknown source rings through the air, reverberating through the room with a feel of power. The eyes of the statue glow blue, and a voice follows, intoning with a sense of gravity, “Welcome, travelers. It is not many who find the way to Yùn Chèng. Perhaps it is Yùn Chèng that found you, drew you here. Who am I? Consider me a guardian of this temple, a watcher over an order known to humanity as the Peacemakers.”
The first tapestry lights up, as the voice continues. “The Peacemakers pursue the art of peace, strengthening their inner spirits through meditation and training. Though they possess great power, they have sworn an oath only to use that strength to guard others.” The monk on the tapestry comes to life, moving through a series of tai chi-like stances before bringing his palms together, a golden aura shining around him. “For ages, they have emerged in times of darkness, when a pure soul would arrive for them like a flickering candle in the darkness. Thus, they are summoned to the living world to protect it from those who seek ill will. Those, like the Warmongers
The second tapestry lights up, as the armored warrior’s red eyes gleam with malice. As he starts battling the monk, the voice continues, “Souls corrupted by the need to conquer and consume, the Warmongers care little for others. Time and again, they have tried to conquer Yùn Chèng and its spiritual powers but have been turned back. However, their numbers are growing, and they return once more. A light is needed in the world, to shine and cast away their darkness.” The armored warrior and monk lock poses, a blinding light formed from their clash. The voice then remarks, “Perhaps that is why you are here. You may be the candle to help light the way and bring the Peacemakers back. However, there is something you must do to realize that potential: you must go on a spirit quest.”
The third tapestry lights up, as a figure approaches the stone dragon. The voice continues, “In our stone garden, you will find a statue of your spirit guide. Set aside your material possessions and straddle the statue that corresponds with your own number. Once you are seated with your hands on its rails and with restraints in place, you will have to stay on for your safety. The journey through the spirit world may be intense, but it can purify the spirit and awaken that sense of inner peace which the Peacemakers wish to share.” As the voice explains these rules, the figure sets down their items in a holding container and then safely straddles the stone dragon. It comes to life, letting out a roar before flying off with the figure.
“Now, then, you must go to the stone garden and take part in your spirit quest. If all goes well, you will find a great light shining within you, one that can help the world and this land.” With the voice’s final remarks, the room rumbles as the wall on the opposite side from where you entered glows with a blue light. The wall opens, allowing guests to leave the Tapestry Chamber and enter the Stone Garden (the loading area).
Loading Area
We enter the Stone Garden, the attraction’s loading platform, within a show building. The garden is full of exotic trees and flowers that are also bioluminescent. Cast members tell us to board the army of Stone Dragons facing the horizon where we’re in a forward facing motion and to grip the handle bars resembling the dragons ears. A small restraint rises from behind and rests on our lower back and legs. We’re told to put on some Spirit Glasses (3D glasses) to be able to see the spirit guides themselves.
Ride Description
The lights dim and the attraction officially begins as our ride vehicles begin shaking and we grow more and more near to the horizon as all of a sudden, we take flight and soar over the beautiful landscape. First, we glide through waterfalls and fly above mountains. We soar over a large ocean as waves crash and dolphins swim parallel to our ride vehicles. We squeeze through caverns and above palaces. Eventually, we come across a large tree in the center of an island. We can visibly see that the tree is covered in a smokey, black substance, which seems to be killing the tree and thus the island itself.
The Spirit Guides fly full speed ahead towards a mountain. Atop the mountain is a small arch that we pass through. This arch acts as the entrance to the Spirit World where the Spirit Guides are visible to us. They roam and interact with one another as they frolic and play. Some Spirit Guides even take the form of other animals like Tigers and Elephants. The plans in the spirit world are bioluminescent and are more unique and supernatural in a way. We once again soar as we’re surrounded by a group of Dragon Spirit guides as we flip, turn, and spin through the magical spirit world.
We eventually settle upon a large mountain and see an elderly man who we know as the guardian of the temple. “Return to the physical world and go to Yùn Chèng” he says as his voice echoes. “You must defeat the Warmongers using not confrontation, but inner peace. I know you can do it” he says. With a flick of his wrist, we are sent to the physical world.
Our spirit guides take us back to Yùn Chèng as we see the Warmongers have arrived and the black substance covers the area as the Foot Soldiers of the Warmongers guard the area. The spirit guides fly us through the gates and through the alleys and streets of Yùn Chèng.
We fly towards the gates of the main palace where the bridge has been blocked off by the Warmongers. The large army notices our presence and begins to summon the evil substance onto the bridge and in our direction. All of a sudden, a large beam of light appears from over the horizon and an army of hundreds of Spiritual Peacemakers fly towards us on their Spirit guides. The Warmongers retreat as we return peace to Yùn Chèng!
The Temple Guardian re-appears and thanks us for restoring peace. We fly out into the city as songs ring out and colorful fireworks explode! The Spirit Guides take us back to the temple where we find ourselves back in the Stone Garden. A Cast member thanks us for restoring peace and tells us to have a great rest of our day!