Universal Beijing Theme Park to Reopen After Six-Week COVID Shutdown
The Universal Beijing Resort is poised to reopen next week after being closed due to the coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese capital.
The resort – comprising the Universal Studios Beijing theme park, Citywalk retail and entertainment area and two hotels – is set to restart operations on June 15, it announced Tuesday via its Chinese social media accounts. It has been closed since May 1.
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The park will be allowed to operate at no more than 75% capacity. Other disease-control measures, such as social distancing, will also be applied.
State-controlled media this week reported “victory” over the latest COVID outbreak, which was driven by the omicron variant of the disease. Beijing reported a total of 1,822 COVID-19 cases from April 22 to June 5.
Restaurants, public transport and entertainment venues reopened in the city from Monday and quickly drew crowds and queues. However, a Beijing municipal spokesman also cautioned that Beijing will “unfalteringly carry out” the country’s dynamic zero-COVID policies. These have involved border closures, enforced lockdowns and mass testing.
The park’s reopening coincides handily with the release of Universal’s “Jurassic World: Dominion” in mainland Chinese theaters on June 10.
The resort initially opened in September 2021 and is operated by Universal Parks & Resorts. A 70% majority ownership stake belongs to Chinese state-owned company Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment, with the remaining 30% belonging to NBCUniversal.
In April this year Universal Beijing Resort launched thematic entertainment experience “Universal Studios Beijing: Honor of Kings Heroes LIVE”.
The resort expects to rollout more experiences in the coming months, including Minion-themed rooms at Universal Studios Grand Hotel, based on Illumination’s “Despicable Me” franchise. Later in the year, it will unveil Jurassic World Isla Nublar thematic experiences.
(Pictured: “Jurassic World: Dominion”)
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