LEGOLAND Shanghai marks fastest LEGOLAND Resort globally to hit 2 mln visitors

Celebrating its first anniversary on Sunday, LEGOLAND Shanghai announced that it has become the fastest LEGOLAND Resort worldwide to reach more than 2 million visitors.

As China's first LEGOLAND Resort, it also posted the highest first-year visitor growth of all LEGOLAND Resorts globally. Families with children remain the Shanghai resort's core audience, accounting for over 80 percent of visitors.

Beyond the Yangtze River Delta, the resort is also drawing visitors from regions including Beijing, south China's Guangdong Province and Shandong Province in east China. The theme park's most popular ride, a high-speed roller coaster, saw more than 900,000 riders in the past year.

Festivities included unveiling a 2.7-meter-tall Lego brick birthday cake at the center of the park. Despite the summer heat, the celebration drew crowds from across China as well as many international tourists.

"We love it here. In August, it will be two years that we live in China. I think LEGOLAND is maybe more for younger kids, adults and teenagers as well," said a French visitor.

"My nephew is a fan [of] LEGOLAND. This is his first time in China and his first time in LEGOLAND," said a Brazilian visitor.

According to park management, the resort's first-year performance exceeded expectations, with both attendance and guest feedback ranking among the best of all LEGOLAND parks. Ticket revenue and in-park spending now each account for half of earnings, underscoring the vitality of China's consumer market and fueling continued foreign investment.

"We have passed already 2 million visitors, which is more than we expected. But more importantly, LEGOLAND Shanghai has received fantastic feedback from our guests. We are very confident in the future, so we're already planning big investments to move forward," said John Jakobsen, chief strategic portfolio development officer of Merlin Entertainments, the resort's operator.

Spanning 318,000 square meters, LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort, located in Shanghai's Jinshan District, was the 11th LEGOLAND Resort globally and was the largest LEGOLAND park at the time of its opening.

LEGOLAND Shanghai marks fastest LEGOLAND Resort globally to hit 2 mln visitors

Hamas on Sunday rejected Israeli allegations that it is rebuilding its military capabilities in Gaza, accusing Israel of using such claims to justify what it described as continued military actions and violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza remain committed to the ceasefire agreement, calling on mediators and guarantor states to ensure Israel complies with its obligations under the deal.

His remarks came after Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that Israeli military officials assessed that Hamas is preparing for a possible new round of fighting by recruiting new fighters, rebuilding underground infrastructure, including tunnels and military facilities, and producing hundreds of explosive devices and rockets each month.

The report added that some Israeli military officials advocate resuming operations in Gaza, viewing Hamas's rebuilding efforts as an increasing security challenge.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Oct 10, 2025. Its first phase included an exchange of prisoners and detainees between the two sides, the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from some areas of Gaza.

The United States announced in mid-January the start of the second phase, which focuses on Gaza's demilitarization, reconstruction, transitional governance, and full Israeli withdrawal.

Hamas accuses Israel of using military claims to justify violations in Gaza