World's largest Legoland to open in Shanghai with a replica of the iconic city skyline
One of the star attractions at Legoland Shanghai, which officially opens on July 5 this year, is likely to be a mini replica of the Shanghai waterfront and skyscrapers of the Lujiazui financial district, all built in the colourful plastic bricks.
The Shanghai resort, which will be the world's biggest Legoland so far and the first in China, features eight themed sections that will feel familiar to fans of Lego.
They include Ninjago, Lego Friends and Monkie Kid lands, in which classic Lego pieces are brought to life and supersized, though not big enough to meet everyone's expectations.
"I thought it would be huge, but it turned out to be half of the scale I dreamed ... But the attractions are beyond my expectation," said Lyu Xiaole, a very grown-up seven-year-old whose family were among those able to get limited tickets for a pre-opening visit on Friday.
China's economy has been hit by weak consumer spending in recent years amid a prolonged property slump and high youth unemployment, but Legoland Shanghai will be counting on resilient domestic travel and "experience" spending, which have remained strong.
Legoland Shanghai is operated by a joint venture between Merlin Entertainments, which runs Legoland parks around the world, and the Shanghai Jinshan District local government.
The replica of downtown Shanghai and the city's waterfront is housed in the "Miniland" building at the site, where skyscrapers face the colonial era splendour of buildings along Shanghai's famed Bund promenade.
The Miniland creations took 168,000 hours to complete, using more than 20 million bricks.
"I think it's best to play Lego in Legoland because I have much less Lego at my place," said seven-year-old Shen Jieqi.
Lego, the Danish family-owned toymaker that produces the bricks, is a familiar name in China, where it has more than 400 stores.
In Shanghai, Legoland will offer another leisure space in the city for those who can afford it. Tickets will start from 319 yuan (US$44.46) in low season and up to 599 yuan on peak days.
"We came very early in the morning. The atmosphere in the park is very joyful. The staff are full of passion," said Huang Xuanhua, 44, who lives close by the resort in Shanghai's Jinshan district and visited on Friday. "It has been a joyful day."
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CNA
6 hours ago
- CNA
World's largest Legoland to open in Shanghai with a replica of the iconic city skyline
One of the star attractions at Legoland Shanghai, which officially opens on July 5 this year, is likely to be a mini replica of the Shanghai waterfront and skyscrapers of the Lujiazui financial district, all built in the colourful plastic bricks. The Shanghai resort, which will be the world's biggest Legoland so far and the first in China, features eight themed sections that will feel familiar to fans of Lego. They include Ninjago, Lego Friends and Monkie Kid lands, in which classic Lego pieces are brought to life and supersized, though not big enough to meet everyone's expectations. "I thought it would be huge, but it turned out to be half of the scale I dreamed ... But the attractions are beyond my expectation," said Lyu Xiaole, a very grown-up seven-year-old whose family were among those able to get limited tickets for a pre-opening visit on Friday. China's economy has been hit by weak consumer spending in recent years amid a prolonged property slump and high youth unemployment, but Legoland Shanghai will be counting on resilient domestic travel and "experience" spending, which have remained strong. Legoland Shanghai is operated by a joint venture between Merlin Entertainments, which runs Legoland parks around the world, and the Shanghai Jinshan District local government. The replica of downtown Shanghai and the city's waterfront is housed in the "Miniland" building at the site, where skyscrapers face the colonial era splendour of buildings along Shanghai's famed Bund promenade. The Miniland creations took 168,000 hours to complete, using more than 20 million bricks. "I think it's best to play Lego in Legoland because I have much less Lego at my place," said seven-year-old Shen Jieqi. Lego, the Danish family-owned toymaker that produces the bricks, is a familiar name in China, where it has more than 400 stores. In Shanghai, Legoland will offer another leisure space in the city for those who can afford it. Tickets will start from 319 yuan (US$44.46) in low season and up to 599 yuan on peak days. "We came very early in the morning. The atmosphere in the park is very joyful. The staff are full of passion," said Huang Xuanhua, 44, who lives close by the resort in Shanghai's Jinshan district and visited on Friday. "It has been a joyful day."
Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Straits Times
World's largest Legoland set to open in Shanghai on July 5
Visitors ride on a rollercoaster during the press day in the new Legoland in Shanghai, China. PHOTO: EPA-EFE SHANGHAI – One of the star attractions at Legoland Shanghai, which officially opens on July 5, is likely to be a mini replica of the Shanghai waterfront and skyscrapers of the Lujiazui financial district, all built in colourful plastic bricks. The Shanghai resort, which will be the world's biggest Legoland so far and the first in China, features eight themed sections that will feel familiar to fans of Lego. They include Ninjago, Lego Friends and Monkie Kid lands, in which classic Lego pieces are brought to life and supersized – though not big enough to meet everyone's expectations. 'I thought it would be huge, but it turned out to be half of the scale I dreamed… But the attractions are beyond my expectation,' said Lyu Xiaole, a very grown-up seven-year-old whose family were among those able to get limited tickets for a pre-opening visit on June 20. China's economy has been hit by weak consumer spending in recent years amid a prolonged property slump and high youth unemployment, but Legoland Shanghai will be counting on resilient domestic travel and 'experience' spending that have remained strong. Legoland Shanghai is operated by a joint venture between Merlin Entertainments, which runs Legoland parks around the world, and the Shanghai Jinshan District local government. The replica of downtown Shanghai and the city's waterfront is housed in the 'Miniland' building at the site, where skyscrapers face the colonial era splendour of buildings along Shanghai's famed Bund promenade. The Miniland creations took 168,000 hours to complete, using more than 20 million bricks. The replica of downtown Shanghai featuring the city's famed Bund promenade is housed in the 'Miniland' building at the site. PHOTO: REUTERS 'I think it's best to play Lego in Legoland because I have much less Lego at my place,' said seven-year-old Shen Jieqi. Lego, the Danish family-owned toymaker that produces the bricks, is a familiar name in China where it has more than 400 stores. In Shanghai, Legoland will offer another leisure space in the city for those who can afford it. Tickets will start from 319 yuan (S$57) in low season and up to 599 yuan on peak days. 'We came very early in the morning. The atmosphere in the park is very joyful. The staff are full of passion,' said Mr Huang Xuanhua, 44, who lives close by the resort in Shanghai's Jinshan district and visited on June 20. 'It has been a joyful day.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride China soft-power wave
TikTok paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. PHOTO: EPA-EFE SHANGHAI - Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher. Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural exports gaining traction abroad, furry ambassadors of a 'cool' China even in places associated more with negative public opinion of Beijing such as Europe and North America. Labubus, which typically sell for around US$40 (S$51.40), are released in limited quantities and sold in 'blind boxes', meaning buyers do not know the exact model they will receive. The dolls are 'a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate', interior designer Lucy Shitova told AFP at a Pop Mart store in London, where in-person sales of Labubus have been suspended over fears that fans could turn violent in their quest for the toys. 'Now everything goes viral... because of social media. And yes, it's cool. It's different.' While neighbouring East Asian countries South Korea and Japan are globally recognised for their high-end fashion, cinema and pop songs, China's heavily censored film and music industry have struggled to attract international audiences, and the country's best-known clothing exporter is fast-fashion website Shein. There have been few success stories of Chinese companies selling upmarket goods under their own brands, faced with stereotypes of cheap and low-quality products. 'It has been hard for the world's consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation,' University of Maryland's Professor Fan Yang told AFP. Pop Mart has bucked the trend, spawning copycats dubbed by social media users as 'lafufus' and detailed YouTube videos on how to verify a doll's authenticity. Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years. 'It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable,' Prof Yang said. The TikTok effect Through viral exports like Labubu, China is 'undergoing a soft-power shift where its products and image are increasingly cool among young Westerners,' said Ms Allison Malmsten, an analyst at China-based Daxue Consulting. Ms Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China's global image 'similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo'. Video app TikTok – designed by China's ByteDance – paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. Mr Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP that 'TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers' minds about China'. TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population. The app has become a focus of national security fears in the United States, with a proposed ban seeing American TikTok users flock to another Chinese app, Rednote, where they were welcomed as digital 'refugees'. A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu. Labubumania Cultural exports can 'improve the image of China as a place that has companies that can produce globally attractive goods or services', CFR's Mr Kurlantzick told AFP. 'I don't know how much, if at all, this impacts images of China's state or government,' he said, pointing to how South Korea's undeniable soft power has not translated into similar levels of political might. More on this Topic China state media warning on blind-box toys sends Labubu maker Pop Mart shares tumbling While plush toys alone might not translate into actual power, the United States' chaotic global image under the Trump presidency could benefit perceptions of China, Prof Yang said. 'The connection many make between the seeming decline of US soft power and the potential rise in China's global image may reflect how deeply intertwined the two countries are in the minds of people whose lives are impacted by both simultaneously,' she told AFP. At the very least, Labubu's charms appear to be promoting interest in China among the younger generation. 'It's like a virus. Everyone just wants it,' Kazakhstani mother-of-three, Ms Anelya Batalova, told AFP at Pop Mart's theme park in Beijing. Qatari Maryam Hammadi, 11, posed for photos in front of a giant Labubu statue. 'In our country, they love Labubu,' she said. 'So, when they realise that the origin of Labubu is in China, they'd like to come to see the different types of Labubu in China.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
