Universal's fifth and largest theme park is expected to open in 2021 in Beijing. Approved by the Chinese government in 2014, the four-square-kilometer project in the district of Tongzhou has finished its phase-one construction last year.
According to Chu Boyao, deputy manager of Universal Beijing, the construction of the resort is going at full speed, and the coronavirus pandemic has not affected the construction progress. Except for the Beijing resort under construction, the other four Universal Studios have remained temporarily closed until at least May.
The new Universal Beijing Resort is trying to bring to millions of expected visitors attractions like Kung Fu Panda, the Minions, and the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Movie fans will meet and interact with their favorite characters in the newly-announced theme lands.
Rendering of Minion Land. /Universal Beijing
The resort will also bring high-tech experience to tourists.
Chu said that the resort and Alibaba cooperated to create an intelligent park digital system. "We have done a more detailed sorting with mobile devices, and optimized the experience through technology in terms of entering the park, parking vehicles, save time in queuing," he said.
Zhao Ying, vice president of Alibaba group, said that the park will have a "face ID recognition" system that will allow them to buy tickets, enter the park, use lockers, rent service facilities and shopping. In order to improve the efficiency of restaurant queuing, the park will also provide QR code scanning ordering and online reservation services.
Parks slowly reopening
Other theme parks have reopened recently in China with strict social distancing measurements.
Happy Valley Wuhan reopens with a limit on the number of visitors, May 19, 2020. /VCG
Happy Valley Wuhan, a theme park in Wuhan, the worst-hit city by COVID-19 in China, reopened on May 19. Visitors are required to book tickets online before and the daily number of visitors is capped at around 3,000. The park also requires body temperature checks before entry, face masks and social distancing during the visit.
After being closed for more than 100 days, Shanghai Disneyland became the first Disney Park globally to officially reopen for business on May 11 after a coronavirus shutdown.
Other popular theme parks like Chimelong Paradise in Guangzhou and Zhuhai, Fantawild in Changsha, Overseas Chinese Town in Shenzhen, and Haichang Amusement Park in Dalian have also reopened to the public.