Universal Beijing Resort Begins Stress Test
Universal Beijing Resort™ is a widely anticipated theme park destination featuring several all-new attractions along with the best Universal rides, shows and attractions from around the world – plus specially created experiences designed to reflect China's cultural heritage. The initial phase of Universal Beijing Resort™ will include the world-renowned theme park – Universal Studios, and Universal CityWalk retail, dining and entertainment complex as well as the first-ever Universal-themed resort hotel and the first Nuo-branded resort hotel of Beijing Tourism Group.
Universal Beijing Resort is owned by Beijing International Resort Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. and Universal Parks & Resorts, a business unit of Comcast NBCUniversal.
Approved by the Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. was founded for the purpose of supporting Universal Beijing Resort in its investment, development, operation and management. Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. is owned by five Beijing state-owned companies, including Beijing Tourism Group, one of China's largest tourism companies.
Universal Parks & Resorts, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, offers guest around the world highly immersive themed entertainment experiences. Universal's theme parks are known for immersive experiences featuring highly thrilling and technologically advanced film- and television-based attractions. Guests of all ages enjoy encounters and adventures with some of the very popular characters and well-established brands in entertainment. Universal Parks & Resorts currently owns and operates Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan and has a license agreement with Universal Studios Singapore.
Universal Beijing Resort has resumed pre-opening stress tests after the park's rides and amenities had been suspended for several months.
The intensive testing which resumed on August 20th, will include partners, employees, and families of the projects during the construction, the resort said.
The resort has not officially announced when the park will formally open its gates, but said on its official WeChat account on Thursday that "it is believed that in the near future, the resort will surely become a source of happiness for you."
The resort said earlier that it will move through multiple stages of preparation before the opening, including the pressure tests, and trial operations.
The tests not only include ensuring safe operation of rides and attractions, but also the park's capacity for hosting large crowds, or encountering extreme weather, according to Song Yu, chairman of Beijing Tourism Group earlier.
The anticipation surrounding the opening date has become a hot topic online, with fans anxious to get hold of test tickets. The Global Times discovered a ticket is available with the price of 2,600 yuan ($400) at Xianyu, a digital second-hand and resale marketplace under Alibaba Group.
But the studio said on its official WeChat account that the company has never sold tickets to the public.
According to the local tourism bureau, seven themed scenic spots including Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, Transformers Metrobase and Minion Land will be scattered throughout the park, Chinese cultural elements will be a primary highlight.
Beijing will become the fifth city in the world that is home to a Universal Studios theme park.