Universal Studios Beijing has been delayed. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the park is nearly doubling from what it was originally proposed. According to Universal Studios Beijing, from a statement on China.org.cn, the park will now open in 2021.
While that might seem like a big delay, it’s honestly because the size and scope of the park has changed. The park’s budget effectively doubled, going from $3.26 billion, to $6.5 billion. This was to accommodate retail and entertainment space, as well as improve attractions. Simply put, this could become the biggest and coolest Universal theme park in the chain.
“You thought the wait is forever, but actually, it will be 2021,” the resort announced on its official Weibo account, while posting a promotional teaser video showing the theme park under construction. “This is a gift in advance for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Please expect the grand opening of the Universal Beijing Resort in 2021.”
The construction of the first phase of the resort has now entered its final stage with steel structural frames completed and rides installation work and gardening work under way. A subway station serving the resort will also be in operation by the end of this year.
The resort is owned by the Beijing International Resort Co., Ltd., a joint venture between the Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. and Universal Parks & Resorts, a business unit of Comcast NBCUniversal. Guests to the Resort can expect attractions in seven different zones, based on such hit properties as Harry Potter, Minions, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Transformers, as well as Hollywood attractions and Kung Fu Panda. The resort will also be experiences that celebrate China’s unique cultural heritage.
The new resort will also feature two new hotels, the first being the world’s first Universal Studios themed hotel. The Universal Studios Grand Hotel will be an 800 room four star resort, with Spanish Inspired architecture, and many Universal film elements.
The other hotel will be the NUO Resort Hotel, a five-star hotel with 400 rooms. The design of the hotel will be distinctly Chinese, as it’s inspired by by China’s famous Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace).
Kempinski Hotels and the Beijing Tourism Group will form Key International Hotels Management Co., Ltd, a joint venture between the two groups.
In addition to the two hotels and huge Universal Studios Theme Park, the new resort will also feature the dining and retail complex, CityWalk, which is also at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando.
Universal Beijing will open in 2021!
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