Shanghai Unveils China’s First and the World’s Largest LEGOLAND Resort: A New Era for Family Tourism

Shanghai’s LEGOLAND Resort: A Monumental Debut in China

Shanghai has officially opened the doors to its highly anticipated LEGOLAND Resort, marking a significant milestone for both the city and the global LEGO brand. As China’s first LEGOLAND and, at the time of opening, the world’s largest, the resort is a testament to the growing demand for family-oriented entertainment in Asia. Spanning an impressive 318,000 square meters and constructed with over 85 million LEGO bricks, the park is designed to captivate children aged 2 to 12 and their families, while also appealing to LEGO enthusiasts of all ages.

Visitors arriving at the resort are greeted by Dada, a colossal 26-meter (85-foot) LEGO minifigure, setting the tone for a whimsical and immersive experience. The opening of LEGOLAND Shanghai is not just a new chapter for the LEGO Group and Merlin Entertainments, but also a strategic move for Shanghai as it seeks to solidify its status as a premier global tourism destination.

What Makes LEGOLAND Shanghai Unique?

LEGOLAND Shanghai stands out for its blend of classic LEGO attractions and rich Chinese cultural elements. The park is divided into eight themed lands, each offering a unique adventure and interactive experiences. These lands include:

• Miniland: A signature attraction featuring meticulously recreated cityscapes and landmarks from across China, such as Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and Shanghai’s Bund waterfront, all built from LEGO bricks.
• LEGO Monkie Kid: Inspired by the beloved Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” this area features the world’s first LEGO Monkie Kid live show and themed rides, bringing Chinese mythology to life through LEGO storytelling.
• Creative World: Home to Dada, the world’s largest LEGO minifigure, and a hub for hands-on building and creativity.
• LEGO NINJAGO, LEGO Friends, LEGO Castle, LEGO City, Brick Street, and Bricktopia: Each land offers a mix of rides, shows, and play zones tailored to different interests and age groups.

With over 75 interactive rides, shows, and attractions, the park promises a full day of adventure. Highlights include a water-town style boat tour through a LEGO recreation of traditional Jiangnan water towns and modern Shanghai, a driving school for kids, firefighting rescue missions, and thrilling roller coasters.

Opening Day: Enthusiasm Amidst a Heatwave

The grand opening on July 5, 2025, was a vibrant celebration attended by thousands of guests, local officials, and representatives from Merlin Entertainments and the LEGO Group. Despite a sweltering heatwave that triggered an orange alert from Shanghai’s meteorological observatory, families and LEGO fans queued eagerly for entry. Tickets for the opening day sold out quickly, underscoring the pent-up demand for new entertainment options in China.

Staff distributed water and provided air-conditioned rest areas to ensure visitor comfort. While some guests noted long queues and the challenges posed by the heat, the overall mood was upbeat. Many visitors, including those who had purchased annual passes, expressed excitement about the park’s attractions and the special opening ceremony gifts, such as wearable LEGO mitts.

Immersive Experiences and Attractions

LEGOLAND Shanghai is designed to be more than just a theme park—it’s an immersive world where creativity, play, and cultural heritage intersect. The park’s attractions are tailored to both local and international audiences, with a strong emphasis on Chinese culture. For example, the Miniland area not only features global landmarks but also highlights iconic Chinese sites, fostering a sense of national pride and cultural connection among young visitors.

The LEGO Monkie Kid live show is a world-first, combining large-scale puppetry, projection effects, and action-packed storytelling. The water-town boat tour offers a unique perspective on traditional Chinese architecture, magnified 25 times in LEGO form. Throughout the park, guests can meet 22 beloved LEGO characters, enjoy 11 themed shows, and participate in interactive workshops and building challenges.

Dining and shopping options are plentiful, with six restaurants, numerous food stands, and ten retail stores. The BIG Shop, the largest LEGO store in Asia, offers exclusive merchandise, while themed eateries serve up playful meals on LEGO-inspired tableware. Ice cream carts dish out treats shaped like LEGO bricks and dragons, adding to the whimsical atmosphere.

LEGOLAND Hotel: Extending the Adventure

For families looking to extend their stay, the LEGOLAND Hotel offers a fully immersive overnight experience. The hotel features 250 uniquely themed rooms across five LEGO worlds: LEGO City, LEGO Friends, LEGO Castle, LEGO NINJAGO, and the world’s first LEGO Monkie Kid rooms. Each room is designed to transport guests into a different LEGO universe, with over 1,700 LEGO art installations and 200 interactive features throughout the hotel.

Guests can enjoy character meet-and-greets, pyjama dance parties, and nightly surprises, ensuring that the magic of LEGOLAND continues long after the park closes. The hotel’s lobby boasts a massive Minifigure Wall with over 4,500 uniquely posed LEGO minifigures, making it a must-see for collectors and fans.

Economic and Cultural Impact on Shanghai

The opening of LEGOLAND Shanghai is expected to have a significant economic impact on the city and the broader region. The park’s construction involved over 10,000 workers and 300 teams from 15 countries, showcasing international collaboration and investment. Local officials and business leaders anticipate that the resort will boost tourism, create thousands of jobs, and stimulate growth in the hospitality, transportation, and retail sectors.

According to the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, about 70% of visitors to the resort come from outside Shanghai, reflecting the park’s national and international appeal. The high-speed rail network makes the park easily accessible, with connections to major transportation hubs in under 20 minutes. This accessibility is expected to drive a surge in hotel bookings and ancillary spending in the surrounding area.

Fiona Eastwood, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, emphasized the park’s role in bringing people together and creating memorable experiences for families. She noted that LEGOLAND Shanghai blends the proven LEGOLAND formula with local cultural elements, making it both globally recognizable and locally resonant.

Integrating Chinese Culture: The Monkie Kid and Beyond

One of the defining features of LEGOLAND Shanghai is its integration of Chinese culture. The LEGO Monkie Kid theme, based on the classic novel “Journey to the West,” introduces children to traditional stories through modern, interactive play. The park’s design team worked closely with local experts to ensure that attractions like the water-town boat tour and Miniland’s Chinese landmarks accurately reflect the country’s heritage.

This cultural integration is part of a broader strategy to connect children with their roots while providing a fun and educational environment. John Jakobsen, Chief Strategic Portfolio Development Officer of Merlin Entertainments, highlighted the importance of showcasing Chinese IPs and regional inspirations, stating that the park is “very much tailored for the Chinese market.”

Shanghai’s Tourism Strategy and the Future of Theme Parks in China

The launch of LEGOLAND Shanghai aligns with China’s broader efforts to position itself as a global tourism powerhouse. The government has prioritized the development of family-friendly attractions that blend entertainment, education, and cultural heritage. Shanghai, already home to major destinations like Shanghai Disney Resort, is leveraging its infrastructure and international reputation to attract both domestic and foreign tourists.

The success of LEGOLAND Shanghai is expected to pave the way for additional parks in cities like Shenzhen and Chengdu, further expanding the LEGO brand’s footprint in China. These future resorts are likely to follow the Shanghai model, combining LEGO’s global appeal with local cultural themes to create unique experiences for visitors.

The park’s opening also signals a shift in consumer preferences, with Chinese families increasingly seeking experiential and interactive entertainment. Despite economic headwinds and a challenging retail environment, the strong turnout at LEGOLAND Shanghai demonstrates resilience in experience-focused spending.

Visitor Experience: Early Reviews and First Impressions

Early visitors to LEGOLAND Shanghai have praised the park’s creativity, attention to detail, and family-friendly atmosphere. Ji Yujia, a LEGO fan who attended the opening, described the resort as “a real fairyland of LEGO.” Children and adults alike have been captivated by the scale of the models, the variety of attractions, and the immersive storytelling.

While some guests noted areas for improvement, such as queue management during peak times, the overall feedback has been positive. The park’s staff have been commended for their enthusiasm and efforts to ensure guest comfort, even in challenging weather conditions.

Annual passes and special “First-to-Play” packages have proven popular, with many families planning repeat visits to explore all the park has to offer. The combination of rides, shows, workshops, and themed accommodations makes LEGOLAND Shanghai a destination that encourages extended stays and repeat business.

Broader Implications: LEGOLAND Shanghai as a Blueprint for Global Theme Parks

LEGOLAND Shanghai is more than just a new attraction—it represents a blueprint for the future of theme parks worldwide. By seamlessly integrating local culture with a globally recognized brand, the resort sets a new standard for immersive, educational, and entertaining experiences. Its success is likely to inspire other international brands to invest in China’s burgeoning tourism market, further diversifying the country’s entertainment landscape.

The park’s emphasis on creativity, hands-on play, and cultural storytelling aligns with broader trends in the industry, where visitors increasingly seek meaningful and memorable experiences. As Shanghai continues to evolve as a global city, LEGOLAND Shanghai will play a key role in shaping its identity as a hub for innovation, culture, and family fun.

In Summary

• LEGOLAND Shanghai is China’s first and, at opening, the world’s largest LEGOLAND resort, spanning 318,000 square meters and built with over 85 million LEGO bricks.
• The park features eight themed lands, over 75 rides and attractions, and a strong integration of Chinese cultural elements, including the LEGO Monkie Kid theme.
• Opening day saw thousands of visitors despite a heatwave, with tickets selling out and high demand for annual passes and hotel stays.
• The resort is expected to boost Shanghai’s tourism industry, create jobs, and attract both domestic and international visitors.
• LEGOLAND Shanghai sets a new standard for theme parks by blending global entertainment with local culture, serving as a model for future developments in China and beyond.