LEGOLAND Shanghai opens: The largest playground in the world!

LEGOLAND Shanghai opens: The largest playground in the world!

On July 5, 2025, LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort opened, the largest LEGOLAND in the world and the first of its kind in China. The new theme park, designed specifically for children aged 2 to 12, offers a comprehensive range of over 75 rides, performances and interactive attractions. With eight themed zones, including a miniland made from over 20 million Lego bricks, the park aims to attract both local and international visitors. Visitors can admire famous landmarks and historical sites in miniature, including a stunning replica of the 10.1-meter-tall Shanghai Tower made from more than 344,000 Lego bricks.

How china.org.cn reports, the opening of the LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is an important step for the Chinese culture and tourism industry. These sectors are considered important growth engines in China's increasingly consumer-oriented economy. The government has prioritized boosting consumption and domestic demand and is supporting new forms of cultural industries.

A new leisure offer and economic growth

The LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is part of an effort to woo foreign investors with better services and support. Successful examples of foreign-funded theme parks in China, such as Shanghai Disney Resort and Universal Beijing Resort, show that demand for themed excursions and adventure travel continues to grow. In the first quarter of 2025, China recorded a total of 1.79 billion domestic trips, up 26.4% year-on-year, while tourism spending was 1.8 trillion yuan ($209.7 billion), up 18.6%.

Shanghai alone welcomed nearly 1.26 million foreign tourists during the same period, an impressive 61.9% increase year-on-year.

Attractions for the whole family

The attractions at LEGOLAND Shanghai include the Junior Driving School and the Junior Flight Academy, which are specially designed for younger guests. There are also 22 daily meet-and-greets with popular Lego characters and 11 themed performances. The resort's restaurants, such as Pigsy's Food Court and Lego City Restaurant, offer a unique experience with Lego tableware and Lego-shaped ice creams.

One of the park's highlights is the exclusive Legoland Creative World, which features a facade made of 95 giant Lego bricks, 750 times larger than standard bricks. It is also home to Dada, the world's largest Lego minifigure, standing at 26 meters tall and weighing 136 tonnes. Another highlight is the Big Lego Coaster, the longest roller coaster in a LEGOLAND at 530 meters, which goes around large Lego sculptures.

In addition, the park offers a Jiangnan Water Tour, the first Jiangnan-style Legoland boat tour, and presents the premiere of the “Battle for Flower Fruit Mountain” live show. The indoor attractions, such as the Miniland Light Show and the Shanghai Dreamscapes projection experience, round off the diverse offering.

The opening of the LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is not only a significant event for the local economy, but also a signal for the positive development of the tourism industry in China. With 4,300 activities organized by local authorities in July-August and a budget of 570 million yuan for subsidies, it shows its commitment to further promoting tourist reception. The economic turning point is supported by a target growth of around 5% for 2025.