Beijing Universal Theme Park (also known as Beijing Universal Studios Theme Park) is a joint venture between Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. (“Shouhuan Investment”) and the Universal Theme Park and Resort Group under Comcast NBC Universal have. It is understood that this brand-new theme park will also tailor-made “Chinese elements” attractions for the domestic market, covering an area of 120 hectares and a total investment of over 20 billion yuan.
On the morning of September 13, 2015, New York local time, the signing ceremony of the “Joint Venture Agreement” for the Beijing Universal Theme Park and Resort Project was held at the New York headquarters of Comcast NBC Universal Group. Municipal Standing Committee Member and Executive Deputy Mayor Li Shixiang attended the signing ceremony.
On February 16, 2020, Chu Junwei, deputy secretary of the Tongzhou District Committee of Beijing, introduced that the Beijing Global Theme Park will be completed by the end of 2020 and will open in May 2021. On May 11, 2021, after evaluation by the market supervision department, Beijing Global Theme Park will successfully obtain the authorization to repair large-scale amusement facilities in the park.
Introduction of the park
Beijing Global Theme Park, settled in Tongzhou Tailor-made “Chinese Elements” BTG Group has been preparing to build a global theme park project since 2001. The project has undergone multiple links including site selection, relocation, land acquisition, and demonstration of external municipal conditions. After 13 years of ups and downs, it was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission on September 25 and officially settled in Tongzhou Cultural Tourism Zone.
Universal Theme Park is a large-scale theme park owned by Universal Studios of the United States, and Disney theme parks are also known as the two giants of the world’s entertainment theme parks. After the Beijing Global Theme Park project is launched, it will be the fifth global theme park to be built in the world and the first global theme park in China.
Accessibility
Beijing Global Theme Park and its auxiliary facilities are located in the northwest corner of the intersection of Beijing-Harbin Expressway and East Sixth Ring Road in Tongzhou District, Beijing, covering an area of 120 hectares. The brand-new theme park not only has the most popular theme park experience in the world, but also tailor-made “Chinese elements” for the domestic market. Both China and the United States are conducting research and design on Chinese cultural elements in attractions, performances, and catering.
In addition to the Universal Theme Park, a global city boulevard integrating various retail, catering and entertainment facilities and the world’s first global-themed resort hotel will be built to form a core part of the Beijing International Tourism Resort. The resort eventually covers an area of 400 hectares. According to preliminary assumptions, in the future, theme parks will be the core, other tourism and holiday industry projects and cultural and creative industry projects will be planned in a larger area around it, and finally a Beijing International Tourism Resort will be built with tourism and cultural creativity as the main content. Follow-up development is also under planning and research.
The relevant person in charge of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission said that the construction of the Beijing Global Theme Park project will speed up the implementation of the Tongzhou New Town plan. The construction and improvement of supporting facilities such as municipal facilities, traffic road networks, and environmental greening around the cultural tourism area where the project is located will be accelerated and improved. At the same time, the rail transit plan connecting the urban area and the southern part of Tongzhou New City is being researched and will further improve the global theme park and the new city. The convenience of residents’ transportation.
Opening hours
Beijing Universal Theme Park, it is expected that around 2020, Beijing residents will be able to experience the amusement projects of top theme parks at their doorsteps.
On the afternoon of February 16, 2020, the 22nd press conference was held on the prevention and control of pneumonia caused by the covid-19 in Beijing. According to Chu Junwei, deputy secretary of the Tongzhou District Committee of Beijing, Beijing Global Theme Park will ensure that the construction of the Beijing Global Theme Park will be completed by the end of 2020 and will open normally in May 2021.
Sign the agreement
On the morning of September 13, 2015, New York local time, the signing ceremony of the “Joint Venture Agreement” for the Beijing Universal Theme Park and Resort Project was held at the New York headquarters of Comcast NBC Universal Group. Municipal Standing Committee Member and Executive Deputy Mayor Li Shixiang attended the signing ceremony. The signing of the “Joint Venture Agreement” is a new milestone for the Beijing Universal Theme Park and Resort Project, laying a solid foundation for the project to enter the substantive stage of operation. After the “joint venture agreement” is signed, the Chinese and American parties will establish a joint venture company as soon as possible, quickly start various preparatory work, speed up the project development process, and complete the park as soon as possible.
Municipal Standing Committee Member and Executive Deputy Mayor Li Shixiang witnessed the signing of the “Joint Venture Agreement” between the two parties, and with Comcast Group Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, NBC Universal Group CEO Stephen Baker, Global Theme Thomas Williams, Chairman and CEO of Parks and Resorts Group, had a meeting.
Park Traffic
According to the previous environmental assessment announcement of the East Extension Project of Metro Line 7, the East Extension of Metro Line 7 will continue to extend eastward from the existing Coking Plant Station, the terminus of Line 7, and cross the Fifth Ring Road into Tongzhou District, reaching the planned Universal Studios. city. It is reported that the east extension project is planned to start within this year, and strive to be put into use before the opening of Universal Studios in 2019. In addition, the relevant person in charge of the Tongzhou District Planning Bureau has revealed that the Batong Line is planned to be extended to the resort area, and the subway will satisfy more than half of the outflow of passengers.
Combined with the rail transit station, a bus hub station that can accommodate 5 bus lines is planned to be built within 4 square kilometers of the resort. In terms of parking, the first phase of the core area plans to support a 20-hectare three-dimensional parking lot that can meet the demand for 10,000 parking spaces. The long-term supporting 40 hectare parking lot within 4 square kilometers of the resort can meet the demand for 18,000 parking spaces. In addition, in terms of road traffic, the Sixth Ring Road and Beijing-Shenzhen Expressway will be transformed, and two overpasses will be built on the Sixth Ring Road and Beijing-Shenzhen directly to the resort.
Development prospects
After completion, it is expected to become a new engine of economic development
After the completion of the Beijing Global Theme Park project, it is expected to receive more than 10 million tourists annually, with a peak of 15 million and an average annual operating income of about 8 billion yuan.
By convention, the income of 1 yuan theme park can bring 7 yuan indirect income, which means that the indirect income will reach tens of billions. The global theme park is very likely to become a new engine for the economic development of Tongzhou and even Beijing.
The second is to promote the commercial development of Tongzhou. In addition to the shops in its own park, the Universal Theme Park is bound to attract more businesses to settle in the surrounding area. The annual reception volume of tens of millions of people will create a huge demand for catering, accommodation, leisure, shopping and other aspects of tourists from all over the country and even around the world.
According to analysis, in the face of the triple pressure brought about by the continuous economic slowdown and the rapid development of online shopping, the physical retail industry is constantly being hit. In order to break through the predicament, the physical retail industry is trying to regain its decline by adjusting its structure and increasing experiential consumption. The introduction of a global theme park is expected to help it successfully break through. At the same time, the consumption level of local residents will be enriched.
Development history
On May 11, 2021, after evaluation by the market supervision department, Beijing Global Theme Park will successfully obtain the authorization to repair large-scale amusement facilities in the park.