Shanghai continues to make theme park mark

Shanghai is poised to cash in on family entertainment as it undergoes a surge in construction of new theme parks and upgrades existing ones, tourism and industry experts say.

- By WANG YING

This summer in Shanghai, the theme park capital of China, the country's first Legoland opened, and other major projects are in the pipeline.

"Driven by the varied supply and strong consumption, as well as its good business environment, theme parks in Shanghai and China can unlock an enormous theme park economy," said Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy.

It usually costs billions of yuan to build a theme park, but owners can recoup such costs through annual consumption, with thousands of jobs created and a boost given to the entire supply chain, he said.

Legoland Shanghai Resort opened on July 5. The resort, covering 318,000 square metres, is said to be the world's 11th and largest Legoland. It is designed to cater to children aged 2 to 12 and their families, and features eight themed areas, offering more than 75 interactive rides, shows and attractions.

On May 19 Shanghai Disney Resort announced the groundbreaking of its ninth themed land, the Spider-Man zone. The new zone, adjacent to Zootopia, will include the park's first major Marvel-themed attraction, a thrilling Spider-Man roller-coaster ride.