Lego has opened its first Legoland resort in China, the largest and most expensive Legoland in the world to date. Located in Shanghai’s Jinshan district, the 318,000-square-meter theme park cost $550 million and features over 75 attractions across eight themed zones, built with more than 85 million Lego bricks.
The Danish toymaker hopes to tap into Chinese families’ strong focus on education.
“Lego has seen tremendous growth in China,” said John Jakobsen of Merlin Entertainments, which operates Legoland. The park includes miniature recreations of the Bund, a Lego-themed hotel, and large indoor displays of Shanghai landmarks.
While smaller than the Shanghai Disney Resort, the park marks the beginning of Lego’s broader expansion in China, with additional locations planned in Shenzhen and Sichuan.
Lego operates over 480 stores in China and runs a major factory near Shanghai. In 2024, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 12.4% of the group’s global revenue, according to Nikkei Asia.
Ticket prices reflect confidence in the brand, with opening-day adult admission set at 549 yuan (USD 76.60). The resort is majority-owned by a local state enterprise, with Kirkbi and Merlin Entertainments as minority shareholders.
Source: Nikkei Asia
