Legoland Shanghai Resort opens as China's first

Legoland Shanghai Resort, China's first Legoland resort, officially opened to public on Saturday in Shanghai, featuring eight immersive themed areas with over 75 interactive rides, shows, and attractions.

Located in Fengjing Town, Jinshan district, the 318,000-square-meter resort is specifically designed for families with children aged two to 12. The park showcases thousands of Lego models constructed from more than 85 million Lego bricks.

The grand opening ceremony was attended by representatives from the Shanghai and Jinshan governments, Merlin Entertainments, the Lego Group, and New Jinshan Investment Group, along with guests and visitors. Legoland characters Mike and Amy made special appearances during the ceremony, accompanied by music and dance performances.

"Our purpose at Merlin Entertainments is to bring people together to create memorable experiences for families around the world. Today, we are taking that to the next level, with the opening of Legoland Shanghai Resort, our first Legoland Resort in China, the second-biggest theme park market in the world," said Fiona Eastwood, CEO of Merlin Entertainments.

"Our deep understanding of the Chinese consumer and our experience of operating in China for over a decade has allowed us to create Legoland Shanghai as the ultimate theme park and hotel destination," she said. "It blends the tried and tested Legoland experience with rich Chinese cultural elements, creating a destination that is both globally recognizable and locally resonant, connecting children with their heritage through imaginative play."

Legoland Shanghai will be an integral part of the Lego ecosystem in China and a great addition to Lego's retail network and brand events enhancing the immersive and interactive Lego play experiences for Lego's customers, according to Niels B. Christiansen, president and CEO of the Lego Group.

"I look forward to Legoland Shanghai becoming a new cultural landmark for family interaction and bringing unique joy to all Lego fans in China and beyond."

To celebrate the opening, the resort is hosting a special "Brand Opening Week" from July 5 to 13, featuring new themed decorations, immersive experiences, and exclusive promotions. Daily welcome shows will be performed at Lego Plaza, offering visitors opportunities to interact with Legoland characters.

The resort boasts several exclusive attractions, including the world's first Lego Monkie Kid live show and the world's first water-town-style boat tour showcasing miniature versions of traditional Jiangnan water towns and modern Shanghai cityscapes built from Lego bricks magnified 25 times. At the center of the park, Legoland Creative World features the largest Lego minifigure Dada.

It is a resort that has been very much tailored also for the Chinese market, noted John Jakobsen, chief strategic portfolio development officer of Merlin Entertainments. "We have unique features in Miniland that exhibit the highlights of China are replicated in the Lego bricks. We have found fantastic Chinese IPs like Monkie Kid. We have the boat to arrive where we were inspired by the fantastic water towns in this region."

Distinctive themed areas include Lego Ninjago themed land, where visitors can experience rides including Lego Ninjago The Ride, Jay's Gravity Force Trainer, and Kai's Sky Master. LEGO City offers young visitors the chance to earn their first "driver's license" or participate in fire rescue missions with their parents.

Water enthusiasts can head to Lego Friends land for jet ski and boat building competitions, while Lego Castle themed land displays a world of knights, wizards, and dragons with thrilling speed and height challenges.

The resort houses 10 retail shops, including Asia's largest "The Big Shop" and the world's first Lego Monkie Kid's Merch shop, along with six themed restaurants and numerous food carts. The Legoland Hotel extends the experience with character meet-and-greets, pajama dance parties, and nightly activities.

The project's completion represents the collaborative effort of more than 10,000 construction workers from over 300 teams across 15 countries, according to the resort.

Zhuang Jian, chairman of Shanghai New Jinshan Investment Holding Group Co, emphasized that the resort has brought advanced international theme park management concepts and rich cultural connotations, injecting new vitality into the tourism market of Jinshan and even Shanghai.

The opening coincides with the launch of the 36th Shanghai Tourism Festival Vacation Summer, promising to attract domestic and international visitors to this new landmark of family entertainment in China.