Legoland Shanghai Resort is set to become a major new attraction in the country's tourism and entertainment landscape.
Photo from CFP
by Shen Xiaoge
China’s first Legoland resort has entered its final phase of construction, with 80% of its rides installed and several key attractions undergoing testing, the park operator announced on March 13.
Set to open in summer 2025, Legoland Shanghai Resort will be China’s first and the world’s 11th Legoland theme park. The resort confirmed its timeline last November during the China International Import Expo, reinforcing its role as a major new attraction in the city’s tourism and entertainment landscape.
Located in Jinshan District, the park covers 318,000 square metres, making it one of the largest Legoland resorts globally. Construction began in November 2021, with the project featuring eight themed zones and a Lego-themed hotel.
Of the park’s 24 rides, 12 are now in the testing phase, including the world’s first BIG LEGO Coaster, the Monkey King’s Mount Huaguo Adventure, the Flying Dragon roller coaster, and Little Dragon Coaster.
The 60-metre-high Legoland observation tower has been fully installed and is currently being tested, while “Dada,” the world’s largest Lego minifigure, standing 26 metres tall and weighing 136 tonnes, is now complete.
The park will feature 2,889 Lego models built from over 85 million Lego bricks, with 97% of them already delivered. The exterior of all park buildings is 85% complete, while interior decoration has reached 93.5%.
More than 40,000 square metres of oversized Lego bricks have been used to decorate the resort’s buildings, including the Legoland Hotel, where Lego bricks have been scaled up 450 times, and the Lego Creative World zone, where some elements are 750 times their normal size.
The Legoland Hotel’s exterior and interior finishing are in their final stages, with soft furnishings set to begin soon.
Authorities have confirmed the park will open in phases, with daily visitor numbers initially limited to 2,000 to 5,000 before gradually increasing. Officials estimate total visitor numbers could exceed one million by late 2025.
Legoland Shanghai Resort is being developed by Merlin Entertainments, the British company behind Legoland parks worldwide, in partnership with China’s CMC Inc. and Jinshan Urban Construction Group.
