The highly anticipated Legoland Shanghai Resort, the largest of its kind in the world, is in final preparations for its official opening on July 5.
A key handover ceremony was held on Monday, where the "key" to the resort -- crafted from Lego bricks -- was officially transferred from the project team to the operational team.
Located in Shanghai's Jinshan District, the 318,000-square-meter resort is a Lego theme park and hotel destination for children aged 2 to 12 and their families. The resort features over 75 interactive rides, shows and attractions, as well as thousands of Lego models across eight immersive "lands".
Since its construction began in 2021, over 10,000 builders from more than 300 teams across 15 countries have participated in the project, taking nearly 1,300 days to craft an adventure-filled and fascinating journey for visitors.
On Monday, the resort unveiled its much-anticipated "mini world," a stunning display constructed with 20 million Lego bricks over 168,000 hours.
With a total weight over 45 tons, the miniature world allows visitors to admire the meticulously designed Lego city and appreciate the intricate details up close.
"We have introduced a brand-new lighting system for the first time. The 'mini world' features iconic landmarks in Shanghai such as the four signature skyscrapers in the Lujiazui financial district, the historic buildings along the Bund waterfront, and the classical gardens of the Yuyuan Garden," said Yang Yang, a project manager of the resort.
The resort will begin a series of internal tests from May 31 to June 19, followed by a trial operation from June 20 to July 4. After this, the resort will officially open to the public on July 5, marking a major milestone for both the city and Legoland's expansion into China.
Shanghai is becoming a key investment destination for international theme park operators, as they seek to capitalize on China's expanding entertainment and travel markets. The establishment of LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort follows the success achieved by Shanghai Disney Resort.
LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort in final preparations for official opening in July
China's traditional dragon boats are driving the economic growth of Jiujiang Town of Foshan City in the southern province of Guangdong.
Known as "the town of dragon boats" and "the place with the fastest dragon boat rowing," Jiujiang is attracting a growing number of clients and tourists with its exquisite craftsmanship of boat making and thrilling racing events.
In many dragon boat factories in the town, workers are racing against time to keep up with the rising orders from home and abroad ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival which falls on June 19 this year.
"Our annual production capacity now is up to 1,000 dragon boats. Right now, we are working overtime every day to make the boats. We have orders not only from neighboring cities but also from Southeast Asia and Europe. At the same time, we have another 500 or 600 carbon fiber paddles to deliver simultaneously. Our races and training services have been scheduled into July," said Wu Pengjian, president of a local sports equipment company.
The boats manufactured in Wu's company are specifically designed for professional 22-person races, measuring 18.4 meters long and weighing 280 kilograms.
Beyond boat making, the company also provides one-stop services ranging from equipment rentals to event operations for dragon boat races.
Wu said the dragon boat events arranged throughout the year have already boosted the local culture-tourism industry.
The massive influx of visitors brought by dragon boat races has significantly promoted local catering and accommodation businesses.
"Whenever there's a dragon boat race, many people would come to have coffee and enjoy the scenic views. Then our coffee sales will easily double those in normal times," said Lai Zicong, a local cafe owner.
Nestled next to an ecological reserve home to egrets in Jiujiang, Wu Kaining runs a distinctive homestay. She said whenever a dragon boat race is held, she will receive a flood of booking calls two weeks in advance.
"Our rooms are very popular among tourists from Hong Kong and Macao. Plus I myself am a returnee to start business in Jiujiang from Macao, I know quite well that such unique waterside environment and ecological vitality here are exactly what they prefer. Many clients have already reached out to us in advance to book rooms for the Dragon Boat Festival and the summer vacation," Wu said.
Dragon boats boost Foshan town's economy
