Robert Niles
Editor
Robert Niles

New Construction Photos from Shanghai Disneyland and Universal Studios Beijing

October 9, 2015, 12:55 PM · Our colleague Stefan Zwanzger has shown us some fresh construction photos from his readers of the new Disney and Universal theme parks in China.

These aerial photos from Shanghai Disneyland show considerable progress on the park, but much work still to be done in advance of its announced opening next year.

Shanghai Disneyland

Construction has just begun on Universal Studios Beijing.

You can follow through to Stefan's website for more photos from the Beijing site, which is still awaiting clearing for most of the property. On his Twitter feed, Stefan has posted images from theme parks in Abu Dhabi, including the new Warner Bros. park and a new coaster at Ferrari World.

We've Got Lots More Information about China's New Parks:

Replies (12)

disneyversal
disneyversal
October 9, 2015 at 1:06 PM · So they're actually building Universal Beijing...
anonymous
210.6.10.143
October 9, 2015 at 5:15 PM · Disneyversal I am just as surprised too that they are actually building Universal Beijing as Universal Studios Dubai, Moscow, & Korea never amounted to much.

Plus Comcast just bought majority interest in Universal Studios Japan so I wasn't exactly holding my breath that Beijing would be built.

bet1227
Brandon Townsend
October 9, 2015 at 11:04 PM · Great pics. You can clearly see the vehicle tracks for the castle ride. I wonder how easy/difficult it will be to get a visa if one is only entering China to attend the park? Maybe Disney is working on a Magic Band visa? They can call it a Disa.
anonymous
202.156.28.12
October 9, 2015 at 11:10 PM · @Brandon, you don't need a visa, just do a transit flight through Shanghai and enjoy 3 days visa-free entry.
CalvinEggnog
Gabriel Schroll
October 10, 2015 at 1:56 AM · @Brandon - passport holders of 51 countries, including the U.S, Canada, UK, and Australia, can enter China for 72 hours, per the Wikipedia article "Visa Policy of China".

Thankfully, I have a 10-year multiple-entry visa, good for 60 days at a time. But this was a smart move for China, as they surely want those tourists' money.

Great news about both parks! Likewise, I had doubts about Universal Studios Beijing, and still cringe at the thought of the air quality up in that part of the country. But it'll still be exciting!

Who needs Dueling Dragons? China will have Dueling Theme Parks!

anonymous
66.87.123.124
October 10, 2015 at 6:09 AM · It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. But I can't help but wonder...what is it about China that's attracting Disney and Universal? I'm guessing that maybe it's because they're the most densely populated country, but are there other factors that play into it?
anonymous
96.255.242.56
October 10, 2015 at 8:47 AM · You can now get a "Tourist Visa" from the United States without any problem. No letter of invitation necessary. And it's for much longer than 72 hours. Maybe 5 days. Can't exactly remember, but did it last year.
cumpuperboy
Jaiden Cohen
October 10, 2015 at 11:03 AM · Will Hulk Beijing be like redo hulk in Orlando? Is the park in the city? Will B&M put sand in the track?
phobicgalvan
Daniel Galvan
October 10, 2015 at 4:46 PM · Your theme park dollars at work.
bet1227
Brandon Townsend
October 10, 2015 at 5:25 PM · @Gabriel - Thanks for the info. I guess it'll have to be a two day park for most then if you throw in airport transfer times, etc. I just visited HKDL and was very impressed, so am really looking forward to seeing SDL.
disneyversal
disneyversal
October 11, 2015 at 10:41 AM · @Gabriel Schroll The smog bothers me. Never been there myself, but based on others' accounts and pictures I don't think I'm visiting there any time soon.
anonymous
203.218.77.233
October 13, 2015 at 4:30 AM · If anyone here is thinking of visiting both Shanghai Disneyland and Universal Beijing on that 72 hour visa, well that is not really possible because one of the conditions of that kind of visa is you must leave China at the same checkpoint where you entered China. You're going to get another kind of visa if you want to hit both parks.

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