The idea of Dragon Gate was launched back in 2004 by a Chinese billionaire named Jingchun Li.
He had built his fortune in his home country selling mosquito repellent – now his sights were set on building a miniature China outside Tierp.
The dream was a huge Chinese-style cultural center, with a shopping mall, hotel, restaurant, a Kung Fu temple and an exhibition of Terracotta Warriors.
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Controversies surrounding Dragon Gate
But it would take a full ten years to finish building the disputed complex. According to SvD the Chinese workers earned just 17 kroner an hour, and used scaffolding made of bamboo.
In 2014, the hotel was finally ready, but then the authorities stopped it from opening after deficiencies were found with the fire alarm, according to SVT.
A couple of years later, Jingchun Li left Sweden. Then he must have put a staggering 200 million on the building.
Training camp and Chinese buffet
Exactly what type of business is being conducted at Dragon Gate right now is unclear.
On the website, it seems that you can book the temple for “martial arts and health arts”. Larger groups can also book a Chinese buffet in the Gulddrakens room for around SEK 250 per person, and for those who fancy a dip, there is a jacuzzi to rent.
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Dragon Gate has been sold
In the fall of 2024, Dragon Gate was sold by the previous owners Sisyfos Group. The new owners are Arosslätten’s properties, who write in a press release that they want to give more actors the opportunity to establish themselves in the area.
“The hotel building with its buildings is fascinating and a magnet of interest. However, it requires a series of investments and preparation to be put into use for the public, which is a partial goal,” writes Arosslätten’s CEO Lars-Gunnar Andersson in a comment to SvD.
The purchase price has been kept secret, but according to Fastighetsvärlden the price tag should have been SEK 40 million.
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