New Attraction in China Simulates Death, Rebirth

New Attraction in China Simulates Death, Rebirth

People who wonder how it feels to die will be able to get a sense of it in China's new attraction - a death simulator called "Xinglai."  The attraction offers a 2-hour session in which participants are given a life-or-death scenario¹ and asked to choose whether to sacrifice their life or somebody else's, and explain why. The game place was set to open in Shanghai on Monday. The owner plans to hold two 2-hour sessions a day, four days a week at the price of 444 yuan per person ($68.50). The date of the launch (4-4) and price are no coincidence as the Chinese tend to link the number 4 to death.

In Shanghai's new attraction, players use a tablet to discuss who should be "killed off," "cremated²" and then "resurrected" by "birth" through a latex womb chute.  Participants must give explanations for their choices In a question-and-answer session.

For example, a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan and his comrade are noticed by a local herdsman who might reveal their location to the enemy. They must decide whether to kill the herdsman or let him live, and why.

Death simulator founder³ Ding Rui says the one chosen to "die" faces some of the same challenges that most people do before their death.

"When we do not fully⁴ understand death, saying goodbye is really quite a complicated and difficult task," said Ding Rui, Xinglai death simulator founder. "It covers various dimensions, conflicts, and even prevents you from being able to reach a decision, and you don't know what to do. This all can happen. So I came up with a premise⁵ on how to educate people on life, so when they approach death, they don't have to think about these problems constantly."

One of the first people to go through the simulated death and re-birth says the experience raised new awareness⁶ for him.  

"This is a really interesting feeling," said Lu Siwei, a 33-year-old participant. "It at least gives you the chance to calm down and give in to some deeper thoughts and think about some of life's problems. ///  When you walk through that door, you will experience some changes in your mentality⁷, and it will be different from what it was before you entered. I think this is really great, and very worthwhile."

For others it can be frightening.

"At the moment when everything is completely black, the feeling was really realistic," said Ji Rouxing, a 30-year-old participant. "Especially at the beginning, when I was sitting inside that room, and the door opened, I could hear the noise inside and was a little scared, and then when I went inside, I thought it was all right."

At the end of a session, participants write down their reflections in a game survey, and have the option of writing their "last words before death."  They can keep the printout as a reminder⁸ or shred⁹ it on the spot.

1 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

2 cremated   

v.火葬，火化（尸体）( cremate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He wants to is cremated, not buried. 他要火葬，不要土葬。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bodies were cremated on the shore. 他们的尸体在海边火化了。 来自辞典例句

3 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 premise   

n.前提；v.提论，预述

参考例句：

• Let me premise my argument with a bit of history.让我引述一些史实作为我立论的前提。
• We can deduce a conclusion from the premise.我们可以从这个前提推出结论。

6 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

7 mentality   

n.心理，思想，脑力

参考例句：

• He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
• Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。

8 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

9 shred   

v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少

参考例句：

• There is not a shred of truth in what he says.他说的全是骗人的鬼话。
• The food processor can shred all kinds of vegetables.这架食品加工机可将各种蔬菜切丝切条。