Universal Beijing Resort announces Jurassic World dark ride, WaterWorld land and more
Universal Beijing Resort has announced the creative plans for its upcoming theme park, Universal Studios Beijing.
The resort will include seven themed lands in the theme park, as well as a signature Universal CityWalk Beijing entertainment complex and two resort hotels.
“We will immerse our guests in incredible experiences that bring their favorite stories and characters to life in entirely new ways,” said Tom Mehrmann, president and general manager of Universal Beijing Resort. “Our theme park will showcase the best Universal rides, as well as all-new, unique experiences created to reflect China’s rich cultural heritage. We are looking forward to sharing these exciting experiences with millions of visitors.”
As part of the announcement, celebrities Li Bingbing (“Transformers: Age of Extinction”) and Liu Haoran (Turbo Liu) [voice of Hiccup in Chinese translation of “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”] took fans on an animated sneak-peek journey through the seven lands, along with CityWalk and the two hotels. The video also includes guest appearances by Chinese film director Zhang Yimou and Hollywood director Stephen Spielberg.
Located in Beijing’s Tongzhou District, this phase of Universal Beijing Resort will take up approximately 420 acres of a 1,000-acre site.
The seven themed lands at Universal Studios Beijing are:
Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness
Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness brings the animated film series to life, following the adventures of the panda named Po on his quest to become a Kung Fu master. This land is completely indoors, set in “Legendary China,” and will be the world’s first theme park land themed to “Kung Fu Panda.” Guests will visit many of the films’ locations, like the Jade Palace, the Panda Village, and the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom.
Transformers: Metrobase
Transformers: Metrobase is based on Hasbro’s Transformers franchise, and is the first theme park land in the world dedicated to the IP. An expanded story was created for the character Metrobase, who is a titan (a robot the size of a city). Alongside top Chinese scientists, Metrobase chose this Energon-rich location to serve as the N.E.S.T. Beijing headquarters – a top-secret, high-tech area where an alliance between Autobots and humans was developed to protect Earth.
The land is packed with Cybertronian architecture and advanced technology to create an immersive experience for “guest agents.” From the looks of the concept art, it also includes a Transformers-themed clone of the Incredible Hulk roller coaster from Universal’s Island of Adventure in Orlando.
Minion Land
Themed to Illumination Entertainment’s “Despicable Me” franchise, Minion Land is filled with characters and scenes from the films. Here, guests can see new shows, meet their favorite characters, and interact with Minions everywhere they go.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Chinese fans will have the chance to experience the magic of the Wizarding World when they step into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. The land will feature multiple attractions, restaurants, entertainment and more, with plenty of special, wintry touches to bring guests right into the story.
Jurassic World Isla Nublar
Guests of all ages can explore Isla Nublar, an island where Dinosaurs roam the Earth once again. Here, guests will experience attractions and adventures from “Jurassic World” and encounter dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptors, and the fearsome Idominus Rex.
Looking at the overall concept art for the resort above, there appears to be a dark ride in this land, rather than the river adventure attraction present at both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
Hollywood Boulevard
Guests will live their Hollywood dreams in this land. Here, guests can experience the “Lights, Camera, Action!” attraction, featuring directors Zhang Yimou and Steven Spielberg. The experience will combine both Western and Eastern pop culture and take guests behind-the-scenes of Hollywood special effects.
WaterWorld
In addition, guests will also get to experience WaterWorld, the stunt show that offers a one-of-a-kind “battle on water.” Only in Beijing, the show will expand into a land that includes dining and other entertainment offerings.
Universal Beijing Resort will also debut two new resort hotels. The Universal Studios Grand Hotel and the NUO Resort Hotel – Universal Beijing Resort.
As the first-ever Universal-themed hotel, The Universal Studios Grand Hotel will offer a modern interpretation of the Hollywood Golden Age. The design will be a classic Spanish architectural style, and the decor will surround guests with the world of film and their favorite movies. The hotel will have 800 rooms.
The NUO Resort Hotel – Universal Beijing Resort will offer a more luxurious escape, inspired by the beauty of China’s ancient royal garden. This will be the first-ever resort hotel from NUO, one of the country’s first luxury hotel brands. The hotel will be located beside the park’s waterway and will feel like a private retreat, and include approximately 400 rooms.
Stay tuned for more updates on Universal Beijing Resort.
