Universal Studios Beijing

Universal Studios Beijing (Chinese: 北京环球影城) is an upcoming Universal theme park in Beijing that will open in May 2021[2] as part of Universal Beijing Resort. The park would become the fifth Universal Studios-branded theme park in the world, the seventh Universal-built park overall, and the third in Asia, after Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore.

Universal Studios Beijing
Concept Art
LocationLiyuan Town, Tongzhou District, Beijing, China
Coordinates39.8552201°N 116.6736889°E / 39.8552201; 116.6736889
ThemeShow business
Universal works
OwnerBeijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment
NBCUniversal
(Comcast)
Operated byBeijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment
Universal Parks & Resorts
General managerTom Mehrmann[1]
OpenedMay 2021[2]
Area130 acres (53 ha)
Websitehttps://www.universalbeijingresort.com/en/home

The project was announced on October 13, 2014 with the plan to invest 20 billion RMB (US$3.3 billion) into the new theme park; a groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 31, 2016. It will feature attractions themed primarily to Universal-owned movies, TV shows, animation, and music, as well as licensed properties from other companies (e.g., Warner Bros. etc.)

History

It was reported in March 2012 that officials from Comcast and its subsidiary NBCUniversal were meeting with China's sixth-largest city, Tianjin, to discuss a possible Universal park in the port city. Previously, there are said to have been many on and off again discussions for building a possible Universal theme park in China over the years going back to when Hong Kong Disneyland was first announced. On January 7, 2014, Shanghai Securities News reported that an application to begin construction on a Universal Studios park in the Tongzhou District of Beijing was filed, with work to begin in late 2014 on this $2 billion project. Demolition of existing structures had already begun, with the goal of opening the park in 2018. Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts predicted that they expected to take market share away from Disney Parks, Experiences and Products chains with their plans to invest in their Universal Studios theme parks. In regards to the competition, Roberts said "We’re doubling down on theme parks. We think that there is a lot of 'there' there in the theme-park business for many years to come and that we have a low market share — and only one way to go."[3]

On October 13, 2014, Universal Parks & Resorts CEO Thomas L. Williams announced they signed a deal to build Universal Studios Beijing and is scheduled to open in 2019 instead. The overall investment in the theme park will be more than 20 billion RMB (US$3.3 billion). It will be jointly owned by Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. (BSH Investment), a consortium of four state-owned companies, and Universal Parks & Resorts. Estimated at about 1,000 acres of Beijing property, it will include an assortment of attractions in the 300-acre theme park from other Universal theme parks as well as new attractions that reflects China's cultural heritage. Outside the theme park, there will be a Universal CityWalk retail/dining zone as well as a themed Universal resort hotel.[4] No attractions were officially revealed when the project was first announced, although many speculated that they would include popular attractions from Universal-owned assets such as Jurassic World, King Kong, Illumination (Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing) DreamWorks Animation (Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, Trolls, How to Train Your Dragon), The Mummy, Waterworld and The Fast and the Furious, as well as third party properties such as Harry Potter and Transformers.

On October 31, 2016, the park broke ground, while also announcing that the opening had been delayed from 2019 until 2020.[5][6] The construction will create approximately 40,000 new jobs. According to Duan Qiang, Chairman of Beijing Tourism Group, one of the shareholders of Beijing Shouhuan, the first phase of the park will provide between 8,000 and 10,000 jobs. Around 1/3 of the attractions at the $3.3 billion park will be themed on Chinese culture and the first phase will occupy an area of 1.59 square kilometers (0.61 sq mi) in Tongzhou, including two hotels offering 1,200 to 1,400 rooms. One hotel will reportedly be Universal-branded while the other will carry the NUO brand. More Chinese elements, such as fireworks and parades, are planned for phase two and three in the future.[7]

According to Comcast's CEO Brian L. Roberts, the Comcast-owned Universal Beijing Resort shall open "on time and on budget in 2021".[8]

Park layout

Universal Studios Beijing is approximately 54 hectares (130 acres) in area, occupying the northeastern most part of the 400-hectare (990-acre) Universal Beijing Resort.[9] The theme park's list of attractions has not yet been officially announced, but some of the park's planned amenities and themed areas have been revealed in concept artwork and promotional materials.[10] As of October 2019, the park is planning to construct seven themed zones, each surrounding a large, central lagoon.[10]

Themed Zone Notes
Hollywood Boulevard Themed after the real Hollywood Boulevard, in Hollywood, CA, this area acts as the entryway to the park. It will also contain a music plaza, a Mel's Diner, and a "Lights, Camera, Action!" Show co-hosted by Steven Spielberg and Zhang Yimou[11]
Jurassic World Isla Nublar Themed after the Jurassic World movie franchise.
WaterWorld Themed after Waterworld. First Universal theme park to have a dedicated Waterworld themed zone.
Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness Themed after DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda movie series.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Themed after the Harry Potter book and film series.
Transformers: Metrobase Themed after the Transformers media franchise.
Minion Land Themed after Illumination's Minions and Despicable Me franchise. Second Universal theme park to have a full-scale Despicable Me themed zone after Universal Studios Japan.

Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

Transformers: Metrobase

Minion Land

Waterworld

Hollywood Boulevard

Jurassic World Isla Nublar
  • Jurassic World Adventure
  • Jurassic Flyers
  • Camp Jurassic

Kung Fu Panda The Land of Awesome
  • Kung Fu Panda: Journey of the Dragon Warrior
  • An unnamed merry-go-round attraction

Roller Coasters
Name Manufacturer Type Opened Status
Loop-Dee Doop-Dee - Family roller coaster 2021 Under Construction
The Decepticoaster Bolliger & Mabillard Sitting Coaster (B&M model) 2021 Under Construction
Jurassic Flyers Mack Rides Inverted Powered Coaster 2021 Under Construction
Flight of the Hippogriff Mack Rides YoungStar Coaster 2021 Under Construction

References
  1. Robert Niles (5 October 2017). "Universal taps Tom Mehrmann to run its Beijing theme park". Theme Park Insider.
  2. "北京环球主题公园明年5月开园". 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  3. Garcia, Jason (January 7, 2014). "Comcast takes aim at Disney in theme-park battle". Orlando Sentinel.
  4. "Universal Theme Park and Resorts Planned for Beijing".
  5. Schwankert, Steven (1 November 2016). "Universal Studios Breaks Ground on Beijing Park, Opening Postponed Yet Again". www.thebeijinger.com. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  6. Storey, Ken. "Looks like Universal Studios will actually build that new theme park in Beijing". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  7. "Universal Beijing theme park to add 40,000 jobs". Ecns.cn. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  8. "Brian Roberts: Universal Beijing Resort Set to Open 'Amazingly on Time and on Budget'". TheWrap. 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  9. "Universal Theme Park and Resort Planned for Beijing". Comcast. 2014-10-13.
  10. Kleinhenz, Marc (October 14, 2019). "Universal Studios Beijing REVEALED". Orlando Informer. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  11. https://orlandoinformer.com/blog/universal-studios-beijing-revealed/
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