Beijing to build Universal Studios

BEIJING - Construction on a Universal Studios theme park will begin in Beijing's east suburban district of Tongzhou this year, district director Yue Peng said in a work report.

The Beijing Universal Studios was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission in September 2014 and is expected to be completed in 2019.

The park, which covers 2.02 million square meters of floor space, is set to attract a total investment of 50 billion yuan ($7.98 billion).

The upcoming Universal Studios, the sixth of its kind in the world, will feature a Universal CityWalk retail-entertainment complex and the world's first Universal-themed resort hotel.

Chinese elements have been incorporated in the planning to boost the city's tourist appeal to foreign visitors, according to the culture and tourism administration bureau of the district.

Universal Studios theme parks around the world

World's oldest and most famous Universal Studios theme park in Los Angeles offers a collection of rides, shows, food and beverage and merchandise shops all at one place. The latest attraction - Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem - features a family friendly simulator adventure through the Minion training facility, which opened on April 12, 2014.

The giant theme park, operated by US cable company NBCUniversal, was the first to allow the public to experience action-packed entertainment and take a behind–the-scene look at movie making.

Universal Studios operates four theme parks - in Los Angeles, Orlando, Osaka and Singapore, with the fifth scheduled to open in Beijing in 2019.

Besides similar movie-themed attractions in other counties, the Beijing location will also feature traditional and modern Chinese culture, according to Beijing Daily.

View of Universal Studios'theme park in Los Angeles, Oct 2, 2012. It is a must-see for visitors from all over the world to have an ultimate Hollywood experience. [Photo/IC]