Before Universal Studios Opens, Kill Time at These Theme Parks
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The long gestation of Universal Studios Beijing theme park rumbles on, with its opening delayed until 2021.
Negotiations between Universal and Chinese authorities began as long ago as 2001, in the now almost unimaginably different pre-Olympic era. Final permission was granted in 2013 and a site was purchased in up-and-coming Tongzhou, now also home to some of the city’s administrative functions. However, progress has been slow, and a recent announcement promised the park would finally open in 2021.
The announcement came from local authorities rather than Universal, as did the earlier opening date of 2019. Universal are playing their cards very close to their chest; we approached them to contribute to an article on Beijing theme parks, and they did not respond. Universal Beijing Resort (universalbeijingresort.com) celebrates the completion of the site’s project management, even though the quotes used on their own website come from another source.
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However, construction has begun on some of the attractions, as documented on theme park fan websites like Theme Parx (themeparx.com). They carry pictures of the site and are able to identify some of the rides from their skeletal form. Theme Park University (themeparkuniversity.com) reports that there will be areas themed around Harry Potter, Transformers, Kung Fu Panda, and, erm, Waterworld.
The steel structure, apparently, is "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey"
Theme park watchers speculate that there is a sudden urgency to construction so that the park can open in time to benefit from visitors to Beijing’s Winter Olympics in 2022. However, the company behind it is saying nothing.
Universal Studios Beijing is not the only theme park in development which is keeping mysteriously silent. We also approached the company behind the Peppa Pig attraction due to open this year and the Legoland Discovery Center. They did not respond to requests for news about opening dates.
All this leaves Beijing, when it comes to theme park thrills, sadly lagging behind Shanghai, though we say it through gritted teeth. While southerners rejoice in the biggest Disneyland in the world (though of course, Disney World in Florida makes it look like one of the Seven Dwarves), we take a look at the alternatives Beijing has to offer:
This attraction, situated near the East Fourth Ring Road, is thrillseekers’ best bet for real rollercoaster action.
Mon-Fri
9.30am-8.30pm, Sat-Sun 9am-8.30pm
All ages
RMB 260, RMB 195 (children under 1.4m), free (children under 1.1m)
Xiaowuji Bei Lu, East Fourth
Ring Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区东四环小武基北路北京欢乐谷
Beijing's oldest
theme park, opened in 1986, Shijingshan will please younger kids, though
some of its rides are looking rather tired.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm,
Sat-Sun 9am-6pm
RMB 10 (from Apr 1), RMB 5 (children), free (children under 1.2m)
25 Shijingshan Lu, Shijingshan District
石景山区石景山路25号
This distinctly Chinese park offers quirky attractions like indoor fishing (for real fish).
Daily 8am-6pm
Free (individual entertainment facilities to be paid on site)
1 Xiedao Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区蟹岛路1号
READ: The Best Beijing Parks and Gardens for Budding Horticulturalists
Additional reporting by Wendy Xu.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication beijingkids.
Photos: universalbeijingresort.com, themeparx.com, baidu.com
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