Six Flags Breaks Ground for its First Theme Park in China

January 19, 2016, 11:29 AM · Six Flags and its Chinese partner today broke ground on a US$4.6 billion development that will include China's first Six Flags amusement park.

Six Flags China ground breaking
Workers watch the ground-breaking ceremony. Photos courtesy Six Flags

Riverside Investment Group Co. is developing the mixed-use project in Haiyan, about 45 miles south of downtown Shanghai.

"The Six Flags park in Haiyan will be a spectacular park featuring our signature lineup of record-breaking roller coasters, family rides and attractions and world-class shows — along with themed sections of the park that pay homage to the storied Chinese culture," John Odum, President of Six Flags International Development Company, said in a statement.

Six Flags has not yet announced any specific attractions for the park, which will be located on the on the coast of Hangzhou Bay. But it has released an artist's concept of the park.

Six Flags China

Six Flags China is scheduled to open in 2019. The Walt Disney Company's Shaghai Disneyland will open June 16 this year, and Universal Studios is developing a park in Beijing that is also expected to open in 2019.

This would be only the fourth existing park to be built with Six Flags branding, following the original Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Over Georgia, and Six Flags Over Mid-America, now Six Flags St. Louis. All other Six Flags parks were built by other owners and later acquired or renamed by the chain. Six Flags is also developing a park in Jebel Ali, near Dubai, that might open before the China park, making it the fifth original Six Flags park.

Replies (5)

January 19, 2016 at 4:13 PM · The real question is: Will it be included on my Great Adventure Gold Pass.
January 19, 2016 at 6:27 PM · Gutsy move for a company struggling in the U.S. and during a downshift in the Chinese economy.
January 20, 2016 at 4:59 AM · Man, everyone seems to be investing in China nowadays. Not that I can blame them; China being the most densely populated country in the world it's reasonable to believe that there is some money to be made here.

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm gonna call this park Six a Flags Over Shanghai!

January 21, 2016 at 3:25 AM · Wonder if this decision is based on the fact Disney is 45 miles up the road so a trip for overseas visitors means from 2019 you can stay longer and do both parks.
January 21, 2016 at 4:39 AM · Lol, those construction workers looks like the Isrealites embarking on their journey out of Egypt and into the Promised Land!

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