Universal Beijing Resort (UBR) celebrated a monumental milestone – the grand opening of the Universal Studios Beijing theme park, Universal CityWalk Beijing and two spectacular hotels, namely The Universal Studios Grand Hotel and NUO Resort Hotel. The widely anticipated grand opening brings together Universal’s most popular experiences and affords them a Chinese cultural infusion. This vacation destination will welcome guests from China and abroad into an immersive blockbuster movie world.
The End of 20 Years Preparation & Construction, the Beginning of a Brand-New Journey
Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts; Song Yu, Party Secretary and Chairman of Beijing Tourism Group; and Tom Mehrmann, President and General Manager of Beijing International Resort Co., Ltd. Theme Park and Resort Management Branch, along with other invited guests attended the grand opening ceremony. Representatives of the constructors and partners of the Universal Beijing Resort project and Team Members of the resort witnessed this important historic moment. Afterwards, the first group of guests visited Universal Beijing Resort to enjoy blockbuster fun and celebrate the momentous opening day. The official opening of the resort marks the establishment of a new cultural tourism landmark in Beijing and caps off the culmination of 20 years of preparation and construction, turning the page on the beginning of a brand-new journey.
“The grand opening of Universal Beijing Resort is an important moment for Universal Parks & Resorts. Universal Beijing Resort has been 20 years in the making and marks an important milestone for Universal Parks & Resorts, our partners and everyone associated with this project,” said Williams. “We are grateful for the guidance and commitment this project has received from all levels of government. As for me, I have personally looked forward to this day for over 20 years and to now see our dream fulfilled is a source of great pride and satisfaction to me and our entire team.”
Representing a major investor in Universal Beijing Resort, Yu said, “In the process of cultural integration of world cultures, the establishment and opening of Universal Beijing Resort has brought a different charm to Beijing, a thousand-year-old capital, and has also brought the advantages of the Beijing sub-center with more vitality. I believe that Universal Beijing Resort is set to have a bright and promising future and champion the expansion of the tourism industry in the capital city as a beacon of entertainment and service.”
The widely anticipated opening ceremony integrated classic big screen inspiration and demonstrated the extraordinary charm of the blockbuster movie world offered by Universal Beijing Resort. The grand opening ceremony was held in the Universal Majestic Theatre of the Hollywood land within the park and kicked off with opening music comprised of a medley of film scores.
The introduction was followed up with the “In a Universal Soundstage” performance. Next, two major players of the big screen, Steven Spielberg and Zhang Yimou, welcomed in the opening of Universal’s newest park with a video greeting, wishing Universal Beijing Resort success and guests a good time. The Universal theme song, “This is Universal,” was then performed by Tan Weiwei.
Williams, Yu, and other distinguished guests together snapped down the clapperboard signifying the official opening of the highly anticipated Universal Beijing Resort for guests, ushering in a new cultural and tourism landmark in Beijing created by teams working together in China and throughout the world.
Showcasing a unique experience of “Where Movies Come to Life” with a connection between classic film scenes and reality, four film actors including Li Bingbing, who appeared in “Transformers: Age of Extinction”; Liu Haoran, who voiced Hiccup in the Chinese release of “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”; as well as William Chan and Guan Xiaotong, also visited Universal Beijing Resort as invited special guests, to interact with characters to recreate classic movie scenes.
On the grand opening day, tens of thousands of guests visited Universal Beijing Resort to explore authentic movie scenes offered throughout the seven themed lands of Universal Studios Beijing and experience the rich selection of rides and attractions, shows and entertainment, themed dining and merchandise options as well as other extraordinary elements exclusive to Universal Beijing Resort. These include the first Kung Fu Panda themed land in Universal’s theme parks, the world’s first Transformers themed land, the world’s first WaterWorld themed land, the world’s largest Minion Land and a brand-new experience within the first Jurassic World Isla Nublar themed land. Furthermore, the Hollywood themed land with its magnificent Untrainable show, and the highly acclaimed The Wizarding World of Harry Potter land attracted guests with their immersive experiences.
