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Universal Studios to open theme park in Beijing

US$3.3 billion project to feed mainland's rising appetite for amusement with 2019 opening

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Investments in theme and amusement parks across the mainland had grown over the past five years.

Universal Studios and partner Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Company have received the go-ahead from authorities to develop a US$3.3 billion theme park in the capital.

The Beijing Universal park, on a 120-hectare site in the southeastern Tongzhou district, is expected to open in 2019, according to state media.

Tom Williams, chairman and chief executive at principal developer Universal Parks and Resorts, said yesterday that Beijing Universal would probably expand to cover about 405 hectares as a resort hotel and retail and entertainment facilities were added.

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The opening of the park will follow the launch next year of Walt Disney's US$5.5 billion theme park and resort complex in Shanghai's Pudong district.

Disney's partner is Shanghai Shendi Group which, like Beijing Shouhuan, is a consortium of state-owned companies.

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Disney Shanghai and Beijing Universal represent a formidable new group of major domestic attractions that could help to drive theme park attendance on the mainland.

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