Merlin picks Shanghai as site for next Legoland theme park

Artist’s impression of Legoland Shanghai’s gate entrance

Merlin Entertainments, Madame Tussauds and the Dungeons have entered into an agreement with the Shanghai Jinshan District Government, CMC and Kirkbi to develop a Legoland Resort in Shanghai’s Jinshan District.

Under the terms of the agreement, all parties will form a joint venture company and contribute funding to the construction and development of Legoland Shanghai. The total project investment is expected to be approximately £500 million (US$642 million). The project’s schedule is still to be determined, but it is not expected to open until after 2023.

This latest news follows Merlin’s earlier announcement to build and operate a Legoland Resort in Sichuan Province in Western China, in collaboration with Global Zhongjun Cultural Tourism Development.

Legoland Shanghai will be one of the largest Legoland Resorts in the world and will incorporate a 250-room fully-themed hotel on opening.

China is a strategic growth market for the Lego Group, which has significantly expanded its retail operations in the past few years and is projected to have 220 stores in more than 50 cities by end-2020.

Dependent on opening schedules, Legoland Shanghai will be opened after Legoland New York (scheduled to open 2020) and Legoland Korea (scheduled to open 2022).

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