A once-sleepy forest resort in Changchun has awakened with enchantment. The new Wilderness Kingdom exhibition has sprinkled the woods with whimsy—tiny half-height houses, towering spotted mushrooms, rusted tin cars decked with propellers and gears, and playful animal sculptures—all crafted from recycled materials.

But this isn’t just eye candy. Artists have breathed new life into discarded scraps, turning them into storybook wonders: crooked-roofed elf cottages with brightly painted doors, giant mushrooms begging for photos, and a steampunk-inspired tin car that sends kids gleefully chasing. The magic deepens as live folk musicians set the mood, while costumed actors—straight out of Alice Through the Looking-Glass—roam the trails, surprising visitors with playful interactions.

A makers’ market dishes out handmade drinks and snacks, their packaging echoing the exhibit’s dreamy motifs, turning the fair into a full sensory delight. At its heart, Wilderness Kingdom delivers a simple but powerful message: recycling can spark imagination, and art and nature make the perfect playmates.