Nanhu Amusement Park’s landmark “space shuttle” stands rusted on Saturday in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong province. The 37-year-old park is to be renovated this year. Photo: Liang Yingfei/Caixin

A visitor on Saturday displays a photo of himself visiting the park as a child. Opened in 1985, Nanhu Amusement Park was the first theme park in South China. Photo: Liang Yingfei/Caixin

Vegetation covers the park’s long-closed roller coaster. In the 1980s, this was the first roller coaster in China that could rotate 360 degrees four consecutive times, according to a Nanfang Plus report. Photo: Liang Yingfei/Caixin

The park’s bumper cars are still open. Photo: Liang Yingfei/Caixin

The park has steadily grown less popular, as more rivals opened and its facilities grew outdated. Photo: Liang Yingfei/Caixin

The former “Children’s Kingdom” area in the park has been turned into a kindergarten. Photo: Liang Yingfei/Caixin

The merry-go-round is still spinning. Photo: Liang Yingfei/Caixin

A dilapidated pavilion stands in the park. Photo: Liang Yingfei/Caixin

A visitor poses for photos outside the now-closed haunted house. Photo: Liang Yingfei/Caixin

The park will be closed around October for the renovation. Guangzhou plans to invest about 500 million yuan ($73.9 million) to transform the park into a 24-hour destination featuring attractions like a night market and esports venues. Photo: Liang Yingfei/Caixin