For families planning a visit to China this summer, there’s a new reason to add Shanghai to the itinerary.
On July 5, Legoland Shanghai Resort will officially open as the largest Legoland park in the world — and the first in China. Designed especially for families with kids aged 2 to 12, the park brings imagination to life across eight themed lands and more than 75 attractions.
Among the highlights is Miniland, where families can marvel at an intricate Lego-built version of Shanghai’s famous waterfront skyline. The colourful display — which took more than 20 million Lego bricks and 168,000 hours to complete — is already wowing kids and parents alike.
“I think it’s best to play Lego in Legoland because I have much less Lego at my place,” seven-year-old Shen Jieqi told local reporters after a special preview visit.
Throughout the resort, Lego fans will find plenty of hands-on experiences: from building their own creations, to earning their first Lego driver’s license, to hopping aboard their first roller coaster. Parents can join in the fun too, with rides and experiences designed for the whole family to enjoy together — like the Fire Academy, where parents and kids team up on firefighting missions.
For those familiar with other Legoland parks, some features will feel comfortably familiar — lands themed to Ninjago, Lego Friends, and the popular Monkie Kid series — while others are unique to Shanghai, including attractions inspired by Chinese culture and local architecture.
Seven-year-old Lyu Xiaole, after visiting during the park’s soft opening, summed it up well: “I thought it would be huge, but it turned out to be half of the scale I dreamed … But the attractions are beyond my expectation.”
The timing of the opening is noteworthy. China’s economy has faced challenges in recent years, but domestic travel and family-focused experiences remain in demand — especially as parents look for meaningful ways to spend time with their children closer to home.
Located in Fengjing Town in Shanghai’s Jinshan District, the resort is also playing a key role in local tourism plans. New hotels, restaurants, and shops are already springing up nearby, making it easy for families to plan a weekend stay. Tickets start from 319 yuan (about $44 USD) on low-demand days, and go up to 599 yuan ($83 USD) on peak days.
And of course, for Lego fans, the on-site themed hotel will be a destination in its own right — giving kids a chance to drift off to sleep surrounded by the bright colours and playful worlds they love.
With more than 400 Lego stores across the country, Lego has already become a household name in China. Now, with Legoland Shanghai Resort, the brand is giving families an entirely new way to experience the joy of Lego — together.
In the words of John Ussher, Senior Divisional Director at Legoland Developments:
“We’re striving to build the ultimate LEGO theme park and hotel destination where LEGO possibilities come to life on an epic scale, sparking a lifetime of play, creativity, and imagination.”
