China's theme park capital to welcome Spider-Man, Harry Potter in tourist economy boon
Shanghai Disneyland is expanding once again, this time with a Spider-Man-themed zone that marks the amusement park's first major Marvel addition.
The world's biggest Disney park began construction on the zone – its third major expansion since opening in 2016 – on Monday. It will host a Spider-Man-
themed roller-coaster , and follows the opening of a Zootopia-themed attraction in 2023.
In addition to Spider-Man, a new Legoland park is set to open in Shanghai in July, as well as two
Harry Potter and Peppa Pig amusement parks, both scheduled to open in 2027, according to official announcements earlier.
Increasing tourism demand in the world's second-biggest economy is fuelling a boom in international amusement parks in China's gateway megacity, turning Shanghai into a rising global star in themed entertainment, analysts said.
The trend comes amid China's efforts to diversify its economy from an investment and export-led model to one more powered by consumption, where leisure and tourism expenditure are increasingly important.
The Legoland Shanghai Resort, the world's largest amusement park inspired by the plastic bricks from Danish toymaking giant Lego Group, is set to officially open on July 5, it announced earlier this month.
Spanning 318,000 square meters in the suburban Jinshan district, it will be the 11th Legoland globally and features a 250-room themed hotel designed for children, as well as 75 interactive attractions, performances and play areas across eight zones.
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