China to have the first Universal theme park

With an investment of more than 20 billion yuan ($3.26 billion), China's first Universal theme park will be built in Beijing's Tongzhou district. It will cover an area of 120 hectares and is expected to open in 2019, China Business News reported Tuesday.

The information was announced by Duan Qiang, president of Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co Ltd, and Tom Williams, chairman & CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts, at Universal Beijing Theme Park Announcement Ceremony Monday.

Universal would add "Chinese elements" to the theme park and due to Beijing's long winter, more indoor activities will also be built, said Tom Williams at the event.

Compared to other theme parks in China, Universal is better at taking advantage of modern technology, converging movie themes and stories into its parks, Professor Dai Bin, head of China Tourism Academy said Monday.

Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co Ltd and Universal Parks & Resorts, a theme park division of US-based NBC Universal, are co-investors.

This project was approved by National Development and Reform Commission on Sept 25 after 13 years of planning, according to the report.

Books sold by kilogram in Chongqing	Bite into this kid-shaped fruit