The Hollywood theme park that Universal plans to open in Beijing by 2020 include attractions from films such as "Despicable Me" and "Jurassic Park." (Photo : REUTERS)
Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of NBC Universal that owns Universal Studios Hollywood, is set to build North China's first international theme park in Beijing and open it by 2020, China Daily reported.
The Beijing Daily quoted an official from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform as saying that the construction of the $8-billion-worth Hollywood theme park had started early this month.
The official said that the first phase of the park is expected to be completed by 2019, with the site opening to public the following year.
The report said that the park, which aims to target 10 million visitors, will have seven main sightseeing areas, including those based on the "Jurassic Park" and "Despicable Me" film franchises, an addition to Beijing's impressive range of tourist and culture sites.
The park and resort would feature strong Chinese elements in its catering, hotels, and consumer goods offering onsite.
An official also said that they will provide sufficient transport links to the park as it has been confirmed that the Batong subway line, which links Tongzhou District to downtown Beijing, and Line 7 will pass through the site.
Subway line S6 has been upgraded to connect Beijing with Tianjin municipality and Hebei Province, with access to Beijing's two main airports. Line S6 will be linked with Line 7 at a new Universal Park stop, the official told the Beijing Daily.
Beijing's Sixth Ring Road and the Beijing-Harbin Highway will also provide connection to the park.
According to the report, Universal is collaborating with Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co. Ltd., a consortium of four state-owned companies, on the project.
The park would be the company's sixth giant park globally, and third in Asia after Singapore and Osaka in Japan. It is expected to cover 1.2 square kilometers, which is five times the size of its global parks and twice those in Singapore and Osaka, respectively.
Media reports said that the second phase would include another themed site, a water park and five more resort hotels.
Chris Yoshii, vice president and global director of Leisure Asia AECOM (Hong Kong), a U.S.-based consultancy group, said that the park is expected to become a huge attraction.
"It will need to be large to accommodate the crowds expected, that's why Universal is making the Beijing park its largest in the world," Yoshii said.
China has become a priority for rival global theme park operators as a key target market, according to the report.
Last month, Robert Iger, Walt Disney Co.'s chairman and chief executive officer, said that they have set the schedule for the opening of its new $5.5-billion resort in Shanghai next spring.
