Great Wall Meets Transformers: Universal Plans a Theme Park in Beijing By 2019
A rendering of how the $3.3 billion Universal theme park in Beijing will look when it opens in 2019. (Courtesy: Universal Orlando Resort)
Spiderman looks like he’ll be swinging his way to China as part of a new multi-billion dollar Universal theme park set to open in Beijing.
Aimed at capitalizing on China’s rising middle class and growing demand for all things animated, Universal plans to open the $3.3 billion theme park in Beijing’s eastern suburb called Tongzhou in 2019. It will feature attractions from other Universal parks, such as movie-themed rides, a Universal CityWalk entertainment zone and a Universal-themed resort hotel, as well as rides that reflect China’s cultural heritage.
Tom Williams, chairman and chief executive of Universal Parks & Resorts, said the park will incorporate elements of Chinese cinema and culture into the attractions.
“We will work together [with funding partner, Beijing’s Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co. Ltd.] to create experiences based on China’s best-loved stories and centuries-long rich cultural heritage,” he said in a press conference.
Headed for Beijing?: Diagon Alley at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando (AP Photo/Universal Orlandi, Sheri Lowen)
Williams wouldn’t comment on the marquee rides, but the L.A. Times said rides based on the “Transformers,” “Despicable Me,” and “Harry Potter” movie franchises would be good candidates because they were popular in Chinese theaters.
Related: Got Some Bricks? Dubai Is Building its Own Legoland
This summer, “Transformers: Age of Extinction” became the highest-grossing film ever in China. Williams indicated Universal Pictures is about to open a Beijing office and looks forward to more co-productions with Chinese studios in the coming years.
The Transformers movies have been a hit in China … a ride may be next. (AP Photo/Universal Orlando Resort, File)
The 1,000-acre park—one of the largest in Universal’s theme park collection — will be the third Universal park in Asia, joining others in Singapore and Osaka, Japan, according to the Times.
The Beijing parks presents numerous challenges not present in its Los Angeles and Orlando locations, including snow and poor air quality due to pollution. Williams reiterated that the city is working to improve upon its pollution problem and noted a “dramatic improvement” since his first visit to the Chinese city.
Related: Get the Dramamine: Florida’s Freaky New Thrill Rides
International engineering firm AECOM estimates that Chinese theme park visitors will rival U.S. numbers by 2020. The new Universal park joins a reported 59 others being built in China by 2020, including Shanghai Disney, several Six Flags locations and a DreamWorks Animation complex in Shanghai.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More from Fox News
Dinner in the Sky: Thrill seekers eat suspended high above world’s most famous landmarks
Fine dining at 30,000 feet: More airlines pairing with celebrity chefs
WATCH: Go Inside the New Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Diagon Alley
Let Yahoo Travel inspire you every day. Hang out with us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
