You Can Visit the Whimsical Home of Labubus at This Theme Park in Asia

Travel + Leisure

7 hours ago

Sure, you can get a little stuffed Labubu to hang off your purse and feel perfectly on trend. But why stop there when you can book a ticket to China and jet off to visit the home of the furry creatures at Pop Land instead?
In case you live under a rock or you've heard your teenager (or your adult friends) scream the word "Labubu" over and over without an ounce of context, let us educate you on this trend.
Labubus are the work of Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung. As NPR reported, Lung moved to the Netherlands as a child, where he became enamored with Nordic fairy tales about elves. This ultimately inspired the look of the furry, gremlin-meets-troll characters (who are known to be good-natured, though they can sometimes cause chaos) in his book series, The Monsters , which debuted in 2015 and became an instant hit. And, as Lung has noted, there are more than 100 different Labubus.
While the books and toys will surely get you started, there's only one surefire way to prove your fandom: visiting Pop Land. The Pop Land theme park in Beijing, China.
Pop Land, located in Beijing's Chaoyang Park, is the first theme park "dedicated to copyrighted designer toys," Beijing's official tourism website explained. That means it's home not just to Labubus but also to Molly, Dimoo, and other characters. "More than a place to snag adorable collectibles, it allows fans to step right into their favorite characters' worlds at Molly's Castle and interact closely with the beloved figurines," according to the website.
However, before you book that flight, it's critical to note that this theme park is far from the likes of Disney or Universal. There are no major thrill rides that will get your adrenaline pumping. This is a far more laid-back experience where you can simply immerse yourself in the world of Labubus and their friends. A performer wears a costume of a character from Pop Mart's hugely popular Labubu dolls series while dancing for visitors at the Pop Land theme park.Guests can enter through Pop Street, take part in interactive activities, and shop at the land's stores, which do have a ton of exclusive merch for super-fans. But before you go too far, just make sure to pick up your passport booklet so you can collect stamps of all the places you've seen in Pop Land along the way.
Guests can make their way through the Labubu Adventure Forest, where they can spot characters for meet-and-greets and watch live performances. Once guests get hungry, Klook explained that they can make their way to the second and third floors in Molly's Castle for themed desserts like the Crybaby Chocolate Cake and the Labubu Strawberry Crepe. If this spot is too busy, try The Yum Explorer at the Dimoo Yacht Restaurant for more bites. A woman posing next to the character Mokoko.
There are a few spots to play in the same way as a typical theme park, including an adventure playground filled with climbing walls, nets, mazes, and trampolines. Guests can also feel what it's really like to live in the universe through the augmented reality immersions. And, naturally, there are also plenty of places to stop to snap photos and videos for social media, which helped make the Labubus the stars they are today.
Tickets to Pop Land start at around $12-$17 USD for adults, depending on the day. Tickets can be purchased online through trip.com or klook.com.