Busy debut of China's inaugural Legoland park amid intense heatwave conditions
Legoland Shanghai, the first Lego-themed amusement park in China and the largest in the world, officially opened its doors on July 5, 2025. Spanning over 318,000 square meters (78.5 acres), the park welcomed thousands of eager visitors, showcasing a strong public interest despite the scorching temperatures that marked a heatwave across the city.
### Visitor Experience
Despite the **scorching heat**, with temperatures forecasted to exceed 37 degrees Celsius in Shanghai's central and western areas, many Lego fans and families braved the weather to be among the first to experience the new park. Visitors reported a positive overall impression, describing the park as a "fairyland of Lego," which suggests the heat did not overshadow the novelty and appeal of the park.
However, the heatwave likely posed challenges in terms of comfort and the need for adequate shade, hydration, and cooling facilities to ensure visitor safety and enjoyment. Some rides and attractions, such as the LEGO Monkie Kid Flower Fruit Mountain Adventure, had not yet opened but were still under testing at launch time. Performances featuring Legoland characters and thematic immersive experiences helped maintain visitor engagement despite the weather.
### Economic Contribution
The opening of Legoland Shanghai is set to capitalise on a booming domestic tourism sector, which saw domestic tourist spending increase by 18.6% in the first quarter of 2025 despite slower overall economic growth in China. The park was developed through a joint venture involving Merlin Entertainments, the LEGO Group, and the Shanghai government, representing an investment of around £500 million.
Legoland Shanghai contributes both directly, by creating jobs and attracting tourists, and indirectly, by boosting local businesses such as hospitality, retail, and transportation. Government subsidies encouraging domestic travel and local marketing initiatives support the park’s role in stimulating the local and national economy.
### A Successful Launch
Staff at the resort distributed bottles of water to visitors, and one person required medical attention due to heatstroke. Despite these challenges, the strong turnout at the resort highlights resilience in experience-focused spending among Chinese consumers, even as the overall economy struggles with weak consumer demand. Lego enthusiasts from all over China travelled to Shanghai for the opening, leading to a surge in hotel bookings. Entry tickets to the resort quickly sold out.
In summary, while high temperatures from the heatwave presented physical discomfort challenges for visitors, the grand opening of Legoland Shanghai attracted large crowds enthusiastic to explore the world's biggest Legoland park, underlining its strong appeal. The park's launch contributes significantly to economic growth by tapping into expanding domestic tourism in China, generating jobs, and adding a major new leisure destination in Shanghai.
- The scorching heat during the opening week might have made the experience less comfortable for visitors at Legoland Shanghai, but the park's allure was still overwhelming, as shown by the high attendance rates and the quick selling out of entry tickets.
- As Legoland Shanghai attracts both domestic and international visitors, it not only serves as a significant tourist attraction, but also stimulates the local economy by boosting businesses such as hospitality, retail, and transportation industries, capitalizing on the growing domestic tourism sector in China.
