Universal-Studios-Theme-Parks-logo.jpg (Photo : www.doddleme.com)
The Universal Studios is set to bring Harry Potter and the Transformers to China as the company invests over $3 billion in a movie-themed park in Beijing five years from now.
The Universal Parks and Resorts, in partnership with Beijing's Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co. Ltd., is targeting 2019 as the awaited opening of the theme park to be built in the city's eastern district of Tongzhou.
The establishment of the park, which is estimated to be built on 120 hectares of land, had been initially approved by China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) earlier last month.
The project, which is expected to attract about 8 million visitors upon its inauguration, will include Universal movies-themed retail outlets, restaurants and a hotel.
Aside from getting additional tourists, the collaboration between is seen to create around 10,000 job opportunities in the area.
"We will work together [with funding partner, Beijing's Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co. Ltd.] to create experiences based on China's best-loved stories and centuries-long rich cultural heritage," Universal Parks & Resorts Chairman and Chief Executive Tom Williams declared.
Though Williams did not reveal which rides will be showcased in the Chinese capital, several insider reports speculated that rides based on the movies "Transformers," "Despicable Me" and "Harry Potter" will be the main highlights of the park.
Despite issues like pollution problems and the lack of snow, Williams still expressed his enthusiasm about creating a Chinese version of Universal's theme park collection, noting the "dramatic improvement" in China's capital city.
The Beijing Universal Studios Theme Park will be the fifth of its kind after the U.S. entertainment firm established its Orlando, Osaka, Los Angeles, and Singapore theme parks.
