LEGOland Shanghai: The World's Largest Park Opens Its Doors and Revolutionizes Entertainment in China!

May 26, 2025, marked a significant milestone for the entertainment industry in China, with the announcement of the start of trial operations for the LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort. This new complex, the largest LEGOLAND in the world, is preparing for its official grand opening on July 5, 2025, promising an immersive and playful experience for young children and their families, while consolidating Shanghai's position as a major hub for international themed tourism.

A Design Commensurate with Ambition

Located in the Jinshan district, specifically in the town of Fengjing, the LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort spans an impressive area of 318,000 square meters (equivalent to 31.8 hectares). This theme park and hotel destination is specifically designed for children aged 2 to 12 and their families, offering a safe and stimulating environment where creativity and imagination are at the heart of the experience.

The complex will feature more than 75 interactive rides, shows, and attractions, as well as thousands of meticulously constructed LEGO models built from over 85 million LEGO bricks. These elements are spread across eight immersive themed "lands," each inviting visitors to explore unique worlds inspired by the iconic building blocks. The complex also includes a 250-room LEGO-themed hotel, enhancing visitors' immersion from the beginning to the end of their stay.

The pre-opening phases, which began with trial operations, are crucial. Selected guests are invited to test the park, providing valuable feedback that will allow teams to fine-tune every detail, from attractions to restaurants, shows, and hotel rooms, to ensure the highest standards of quality and entertainment. This progressive approach ensures continuous optimization of the guest experience before the grand opening.

Unique Attractions Rooted in Local Culture

LEGOLAND Shanghai stands out with several flagship attractions that blend the globally recognized LEGO universe with unique Chinese cultural touches. The Miniland, a signature attraction in all LEGOLAND parks, is here a feat of engineering and creativity. It will feature monuments, historical sites, and natural wonders from major cities, including iconic Shanghai cityscapes like the Bund and Lujiazui, all built with millions of LEGO bricks. Miniland also incorporates dynamic lighting, immersive soundscapes, and interactive elements for an even livelier experience.

In a world first, the park will debut a themed zone dedicated to LEGO's "Monkie Kid," inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West and the legendary figure of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. The zone's signature attraction, "Flower Fruit Mountain Adventure," promises to merge LEGO elements with this rich Chinese mythology, creating an immersive experience that resonates deeply with local culture.

Other highlights include the Lego Monkie Kid Live Show Theater, which will feature performances with 13 professional puppeteers and an impressive 3.7-meter-tall Bull Demon King puppet, enhanced with projection effects. The park will also offer daily meet-and-greets with 22 LEGO characters, 11 themed shows and special events, and a 4D cinema showing LEGO movies. Another notable addition is "Dada," the world's largest LEGO Minifigure, standing 26 meters tall and weighing 136 metric tons, a true colossus that will capture attention. The park will also offer a boat ride inspired by the Jiangnan style (south of the Yangtze River), integrating the aesthetics of Chinese water towns into the LEGO universe.

Merlin Entertainments: A Strategic Bet on China

LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is the result of a strategic investment and collaboration with Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in themed entertainment destinations. Fiona Eastwood, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, emphasized that China represents a key pillar of the company's global growth strategy. With over a decade of successful operations in China with other attractions like Madame Tussauds, Merlin possesses deep knowledge of Chinese consumer needs. The company plans to continue investing heavily in this market, capitalizing on its economic robustness and immense scale.

Merlin Entertainments' goal is to attract between 3 and 5 million visitors annually to LEGOLAND Shanghai. To achieve this, they are banking on a successful fusion of global LEGO creativity with elements of Chinese innovation and culture. This strategy extends beyond Shanghai, with other LEGOLAND Resorts already under construction in Shenzhen and Sichuan, demonstrating Merlin's long-term commitment to the Chinese market. Strategic partnerships, such as the one with Tencent for personalized digital experiences, also strengthen this approach.

The Booming Chinese Theme Park Market

The establishment of LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is set against a backdrop of explosive growth in China's theme park industry. The country is now the world's second-largest theme park market, just behind the United States. In 2023, the industry welcomed 130 million visitors, an impressive 72% increase from the previous year, generating operating revenue of 60 billion yuan (approximately £6 billion). Analysts predict this figure could almost double by 2028, reaching over 110 billion yuan.

This growth is fueled by significant investments, with over 50 new mega-parks under development across the country. Leading international brands like Disney (with Shanghai Disney Resort) and Universal (with Universal Studios Beijing) have already achieved resounding success, attracting attention thanks to their strong intellectual properties and immersive, technology-driven experiences. Chinese local governments are actively supporting cultural and tourism projects, recognizing their role in stimulating domestic demand and strengthening the economy.

The success of these "meta-parks" is transforming theme parks into true lifestyle destinations, where visitors, including solo travelers and seniors, return frequently for refreshed experiences. LEGOLAND Shanghai is perfectly positioned to capitalize on this trend, offering a new dimension to family entertainment options in the Yangtze River Delta region, just 18 minutes from the Shanghai Hongqiao hub via the Jinshan North station.

In summary, LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is not just a new amusement park; it represents a major step in the evolution of themed entertainment in China, testifying to the confidence of foreign investors in the dynamism of the Chinese market and the industry's ability to create worlds of play and imagination on an epic scale.