Universal Beijing Resort Expands Trial to Let Competition Winners Take a Spin on Rides

Universal Beijing Resort will begin trial operations and extend invitations to selected guests starting Sept. 1, the resort announced Tuesday, as the official opening date remains a mystery.

The Universal Studios Beijing theme park, the Universal CityWalk Beijing entertainment complex and two hotels will be open to “invited-only guests only including resort partners and selected winners from marketing activities,” the resort said in a press release.

The park will operate in accordance with pandemic prevention and control measures, which means guests will have to show a valid health code, have their temperature taken and wear a mask, the press release added.

The trial follows three months of internal stress tests that opened the park to friends and family of employees and resort partners, Caixin has learned.

An employee at the resort’s guest service center said it is unclear how long the trial operation period will last and when the park will officially open to the general public.

Most of the construction was completed in December last year, with the resort originally slated to open this Spring. But it was postponed partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the employee said.

During the trial period, lucky guests will get to test out selected rides, attractions, shows and dining services on designated dates, the resort said.

Located in the capital’s eastern district of Tongzhou, the park will be the fifth Universal Studios theme park in the world and the third in Asia, after Osaka and Singapore.

The new theme park is operated by Beijing International Resort Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co. Ltd. and Universal Parks & Resorts, a business unit of Comcast NBCUniversal.

Contact reporter Kelsey Cheng (kelseycheng@caixin.com) and editor Heather Mowbray (heathermowbray@caixin.com)

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