The world's largest LEGOLAND opened its doors in Shanghai on Saturday, drawing large crowds despite the sweltering heat and marking a fresh highlight in China's booming culture and tourism market.
Located in the city's Jinshan District and spanning 318,000 square meters, LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is China's first Lego-themed park. It officially opened after a month of trial operations, coinciding with the launch of this year's Shanghai Tourism Festival.
Families and tourists from across China flocked to the park on opening day, with some saying it was nearly impossible to get a ticket.
"I kept clicking, clicking and clicking," said one visitor, describing the difficulty in securing a reservation.
Even international visitors shared in the excitement and were seen in the long queues.
"I really enjoy Chinese theme parks. I was really excited to get a ticket for the opening day of LEGOLAND," said an American park visitor.
Data from China's travel site Qunar.com shows that theme park bookings for this summer holiday have surged by 70 percent year on year, indicating robust demand for domestic leisure and travel.
In Shanghai alone, LEGOLAND has already emerged as one of the top five most popular attractions for July. Hotel bookings in the district have increased 3.5 times compared to the same period last year, showing a clear spillover effect on the local economy.
"We're already hearing from the Jinshan government that it's appealing to more people to come to this region. We're already seeing hotel sales have increased, so it will impact tourism locally in China," said Fiona Eastwood, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, which operates all LEGOLAND parks worldwide.
Industry insiders believe this momentum is part of a broader trend.
At an amusement exhibition held in Shanghai in late June, Jakob Wahl, president and CEO of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), said the popularity of theme parks reflects the resilience and dynamism of China's economy.
"People want to have a good time. People want to have fun, and people want to go out with their friends, with their family, with colleagues to really have a good time and forget about the daily issues of life. And this is where we see China developing really, really well," said Wahl.
Shanghai is fast becoming a hub for international theme parks. Besides LEGOLAND, a Harry Potter Studio Tour and a Peppa Pig theme park are also set to open in the city.
Nationwide, China is now home to about 400 theme parks, making it the second-largest theme park market in the world.
With summer vacation already underway, demand for immersive entertainment is expected to remain strong across the country.
Opening of LEGOLAND in Shanghai draws joyous crowds
The 36th extraordinary session of the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) concluded on Thursday in London, with member states split over who should be held accountable for the closure of the Hormuz Strait.
As a specialized UN agency, the IMO's responsibility is to safeguard global shipping safety and the rights and interests of seafarers. At the meeting, all parties had obvious differences regarding the root causes of the situation and the wording of the documents.
According to data provided by the IMO, since the outbreak of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, at least seven seafarers have been killed in attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz area, with several others seriously injured. Around 20,000 seafarers remain stranded aboard ships in the region.
Some countries urged condemning the actions of certain country that led to the blockade, while others believe that the root cause of the current maritime tensions in the Middle East lies in the military action launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, and that unilaterally blaming one country is neither objective nor comprehensive.
Multiple representatives emphasized that the IMO should not serve as a platform for political confrontation. They called for balanced, neutral language in resolutions and urged the organization to focus on pragmatic measures within the framework of IMO regulations to safeguard maritime corridors.
Iran's delegate pointed out that the IMO must not become a tool for political pressure, and any coordination on navigation security must involve Iran.
The Russian delegate warned that current international maritime declarations appear biased and one-sided, which hinders efforts to ease the crisis. He called on the IMO to adopt a more balanced stance.
China's delegate echoed the need for inclusive and impartial language, proposing that the resolutions reflect a constructive consensus rather than unilateral accusations. The Chinese side also suggested that language condemning or opposing military actions that lead to the escalation of tensions in the Strait should be added to proposal.
The IMO Council highlighted the urgent need to address the peril faced by numerous stranded commercial ships. It encouraged exploring frameworks, such as maritime safety corridors, as an emergency humanitarian measure to facilitate the voluntary evacuation of ships from high-risk zones to safer waters.
Regarding the U.S. proposal to provide naval escort operations, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said that naval escorts are not a long-term sustainable solution to the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, and only an end to the conflict can prevent shipping from becoming collateral damage.
While acknowledging that the root causes of the crisis lie beyond the IMO's mandate, he said he would continue to work with countries engaged in diplomatic efforts to address the situation.
Over the past few days, U.S. President Donald Trump has urged European countries and other allies to join naval escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz. However, European powers have largely rebuffed the request, citing concerns that direct military involvement would escalate regional tensions and risk drawing them into a wider conflict.
IMO members divided over accountability for closure of Hormuz Strait
