In a monumental development for China’s tourism industry and family entertainment sector, Legoland Shanghai Resort officially opened on July 5, 2025, becoming the largest Lego-themed park in the world and the first-ever Legoland resort in China. Situated in Shanghai’s Jinshan District, this 318,000-square-meter mega-resort is built with over 85 million Lego bricks and introduces more than 75 immersive attractions spread across eight creatively themed zones.
As a cornerstone of China’s expanding domestic tourism and family-friendly leisure market, the park is expected to attract millions of visitors annually and boost the local economy.
A Historic First: What Makes Legoland Shanghai Unique
The park is a historic milestone for China’s theme park landscape and a major cultural landmark for Shanghai. Designed with children, families, and Lego fans in mind, the resort offers hands-on experiences that promote creativity, problem-solving, and family bonding.
Themed lands include Lego City, Lego Castle, Miniland, and Adventure Isles, each providing interactive rides, creative play zones, live performances, and dining experiences. From earning a Lego driver’s license to extinguishing fires in a firefighter-themed challenge, kids can step into fantastical Lego adventures brought to life at a grand scale.
One of the park’s highlights is Miniland Shanghai, featuring intricate Lego-built replicas of iconic landmarks such as The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, and Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, showcasing China’s culture and architectural heritage in brick form.
Exclusive Attractions and Family Experiences
The resort’s signature icon is “Dada,” the tallest Lego minifigure in the world at 26 meters high, acting as a welcoming beacon for guests. The water-town-style boat ride recreates picturesque canals and traditional architecture, blending Chinese heritage with Lego innovation.
Other standout experiences include:
- Lego Jet Ski Racers – interactive water rides for kids and parents.
- Young Engineers Academy – where aspiring builders compete in Lego boat construction.
- Lego Friends Adventure Camp – themed after the beloved Lego Friends characters, encouraging teamwork and social play.
To ensure a deeply interactive experience, many attractions incorporate gamified elements, where guests can earn points or badges, participate in creative challenges, or unlock Lego-themed digital content.
Dining and Retail at Legoland Shanghai
Legoland Shanghai Resort also caters to culinary adventurers with six Lego-themed restaurants, each serving family-friendly meals and Lego-shaped desserts and ice creams. Several grab-and-go food kiosks are positioned across the park, ensuring quick refueling without breaking the fun.
Shopping fans will find exclusive collectibles in themed Lego stores, including limited-edition brick sets inspired by Chinese landmarks, park mascots, and special Shanghai-only releases. There are even brick personalization stations where guests can create custom Lego figures.
A Vision for Cultural and Economic Growth
According to Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of the Lego Group, the resort embodies the brand’s mission to inspire creativity, learning, and fun. “Legoland Shanghai Resort is more than just a theme park—it’s a cultural celebration of innovation and family experiences rooted in imagination,” Christiansen stated during the grand opening.
Backed by Merlin Entertainments, the Lego Group, and local government partnerships, the resort is expected to become a major catalyst for Shanghai’s Jinshan District, creating over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and boosting regional tourism, hospitality, and infrastructure development.
Legoland Shanghai and the Future of Asian Theme Parks
The opening of Legoland Shanghai marks a strategic expansion into China’s booming domestic tourism sector, which is projected to rebound to over 6 billion trips annually by 2026, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China.
This milestone comes as part of a broader push by Shanghai’s municipal government to transform Jinshan into a premier international tourism zone, incorporating coastal leisure destinations, urban resorts, and family-centered attractions.
Industry experts see Legoland Shanghai as a template for next-generation theme parks in Asia—fusing education, play, and cultural identity to elevate the tourism landscape.
Final Thoughts
With unmatched scale, creativity, and family appeal, Legoland Shanghai Resort is poised to become a year-round destination for both Chinese and international visitors. It not only redefines the Lego theme park experience but also deepens Shanghai’s position as a global tourism and cultural capital.
Whether you’re a die-hard Lego enthusiast or a family seeking meaningful playtime, this resort promises limitless brick-built adventures that leave lasting memories. From iconic Chinese landmarks in Lego to interactive rides and immersive storytelling, Legoland Shanghai sets the benchmark for future entertainment experiences in Asia and beyond.
