Merlin Entertainments opens China's first LEGOLAND Resort

Merlin Entertainments has opened LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort, their first LEGOLAND Resort in in China and the second biggest theme park market in the world.

LEGOLAND® Shanghai Resort officially opened on 5th July and to mark the spectacular opening, LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is holding an impressive ‘Grand Opening Week’ currently underway until 13th July.

Located in Fengjing Town, Jinshan District, this highly anticipated destination offers the ultimate LEGO® experience for children aged two-12 and their families.

Spanning 318,000 square metres, the brand-new theme park and hotel destination invites guests to immerse themselves into eight ‘lands’, filled with over 75 interactive rides, shows and attractions, as well as to explore thousands of LEGO models built from more than 85 million LEGO bricks.

From adrenaline-filled adventures to hands-on play, every corner of the Resort is designed to create unforgettable memories for all. This extraordinary achievement has been made possible thanks to 10,000 workers and 300 teams from 15 countries bringing together world class creativity, engineering, and innovation.

The opening ceremony was a colourful celebration, featuring joyful music and dancing, and appearances from popular LEGOLAND characters Mike and Amy. Dressed in vibrant costumes, performers brought the opening to life, alongside representatives from the Shanghai and Jinshan Governments, Merlin Entertainments, The LEGO® Group, and New Jinshan Investment Group, the Resort’s Kid Reporters and thousands of guests, who gathered to commemorate this exciting milestone.

During the ‘Grand Opening Week’, guests can enjoy a week of fun, with the Resort transformed into a festive wonderland of themed decorations, immersive experiences, and exclusive offers. The LEGO Plaza will buzz with daily welcome shows and meet-and-greet moments with many LEGOLAND characters.

Fiona Eastwood, Chief Executive of Merlin Entertainments (pictured above) notes “our purpose at Merlin Entertainments is to bring people together to create memorable experiences for families around the world” adding that the opening of LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort “represents a major step towards our ambition to be the global leader in branded entertainment destinations. 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.

“It blends the tried and tested LEGOLAND experience, which is so successful across our parks from Denmark to Dubai, with rich Chinese cultural elements, creating a destination that is both globally recognisable and locally resonant, connecting children with their heritage through imaginative play. From the first sketches to the final LEGO brick, this Resort is the result of years of vision, collaboration, and passion and is a testament to the dedication of our teams and the unwavering support of all our partners.”

Niels B. Christiansen, President & Chief Executive, the LEGO Group added "LEGOLAND Shanghai will be an integral part of the LEGO ecosystem in China and a great addition to our retail network and brand events enhancing the immersive and interactive LEGO play experiences for our customers. 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.”

Zhuang Jian, Chairman of Shanghai New Jinshan Investment Share Holding Group Co., Ltd., emphasised that the establishment of LEGOLAND in Shanghai has brought advanced international theme park management concepts and rich cultural connotations, injecting new vitality into the tourism market of Jinshan and even Shanghai, and will attract more domestic and international tourists to the region.

LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort offers guests the opportunity to step into the spectacular live theatre, where the world premiere of the LEGO Monkie Kid live show will take centre stage. At the world-first water-town style boat tour, guests are welcomed to cruise through 25x scale LEGO Chinese water town and modern Shanghai cityscapes - all built from LEGO bricks. The resort also debuts, the LEGOLAND Creative World, where creativity soars to new heights. The area is home to DADA where guests are able to engage by taking a picture with the largest LEGO minifigure in history.

Brand new to the Resort, BRICK STREET and BRICKTOPIA! are the ultimate destinations for LEGO enthusiasts, bursting with imaginative decorations, awe-inspiring LEGO models, and daily performances. In the LEGO NINJAGO themed land, the action never stops, thrill-seekers can challenge themselves on three major rides: LEGO NINJAGO The Ride, Jay's Gravity Force Trainer, and Kai's Sky Master. Alternatively, for younger guests who are still at the start of their theme park adventures, LEGO CITY is the perfect place to begin. Families can also head to the Driving School to earn their very first driver's license or team up with their loved ones for a thrilling firefighting rescue. It's a place where every child can be a hero.

Next, water lovers of all ages won’t want to miss the fun-filled LEGO Friends land. Ride a jet ski at Water Race Challenge, glide through waves at the Beach Party, or join a friendly boat-building competition at Build-A-Boat. Then, it’s time to head over to the LEGO Castle themed land, young guests are transported into a world of knights, wizards, and dragons through thrilling speed and height challenges.

Throughout the resort an array of restaurants, food stands and retail stores provide a wide range of dining and shopping options. Pigsy's Food Court, CITY Restaurant, and Bricks Family Restaurant serve up LEGO themed tableware for a playful meal. Ice cream food carts dish out Dragon Ollie and LEGO brick-shaped ice-cream delights. The largest “The BIG Shop” in Asia and the world premiere LEGO Monkie Kid’s Merch shop are treasure troves of LEGO products and exclusive items.

Guests can extend the fun with a sleepover at LEGOLAND Hotel, where they are greeted by Ollie the Dragon and can enjoy character meet-and-greets, pyjama dance parties, and nightly surprises that carry the magic of the park into bedtime.

Merling Entertainments not “the grand opening of LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort signifies the culmination of years of hard work, creativity, and partnership. It marks a new chapter where Chinese and Western cultures blend, and imagination and creativity spark unforgettable moments.”

Images. Opening of LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort.Credit: Merlin Entertainments