Introducing the world’s largest Legoland: Shanghai’s newest family destination
Introduction
On July 5, 2025, Shanghai welcomed the grand opening of LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort in Jinshan District, marking China’s first and the largest Legoland globally. Developed through a partnership of Merlin Entertainments, the LEGO Group, and Shanghai government entities, the sprawling resort spans a staggering 318,000 m², roughly equivalent to 45 football fields (chinadaily.com.cn).
What makes it monumental?
- 85 million LEGO bricks went into crafting more than 75 interactive rides, shows, and models (apnews.com).
- Miniland centerpiece: A jaw-dropping 20‑million-brick miniature world, complete with Shanghai’s skyline, Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, and even a Great Wall replica, took 168,000 hours to build (reuters.com).
- Dada, a towering 26-meter LEGO figure, greets guests at the entrance, boasting 136 tons of bricks and instant photo-worthy charm (apnews.com).
- Eight richly themed zones, including Ninjago, Lego Friends, LEGO Monkie Kid (a world first), Imagination/Cesidence World, and a dedicated LEGOLAND Hotel with 250 LEGO-themed rooms (chinajourneyguide.com).
Global-first attractions
- The LEGOLAND Boat Cruise winds through a replica of Jiangnan water towns and tiny Shanghai edifices, another Chinese-first with LEGO flair (apnews.com).
- Big LEGO Coaster: A 530-meter thrill named the longest roller coaster in any Legoland park (chinajourneyguide.com).
- Monkie Kid zone draws on “Journey to the West,” offering culturally immersive fun (english.shanghai.gov.cn).
Tickets & access
- Entrance fees range from ¥319 ($44) in low season to ¥599 ($84) on peak days (apnews.com).
- With 5,200 hotel rooms and capable of hosting 8,000+ guests daily, the resort aims at around 2.4 million annual visitors (ndtv.com).
- Connectivity is excellent: high-speed rail to Jinshan station plus frequent shuttle buses from downtown (en.wikipedia.org).
Cultural & economic impact
- Positioned ~50 km southwest of central Shanghai, the resort reflects China’s push into high-end experience tourism (globaltimes.cn).
- Against weak consumer spending and a property slump, it’s betting on resilient demand for “emotional and experience-driven” attractions (ft.com).
- With licensed success from Disneyland and Universal, and upcoming ventures like Peppa Pig and another Legoland in Shenzhen, the market is heating up (ft.com).
Visitor impressions
- A seven-year-old test-visitor shared, “It’s best to play Lego in Legoland because I have much less Lego at my place” (reuters.com).
- Another attendee quipped, "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" (cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com).
- Locals praised the joyful atmosphere: "staff full of passion, it has been a joyful day" (reuters.com).
The brick-built future
LEGOLAND Shanghai isn’t just a playground, it’s a strategic move in bolstering international tourism, merging LEGO’s creative heritage with Chinese cultural storytelling. With immersive attractions, world-first features, and family-friendly designs, it’ll test the consumer appetite post-pandemic while raising the bar for theme parks in China.
As Merlin Entertainments prepares for the next big build in Shenzhen and Disney rolls out new expansions, it’s clear that big-brick experiences are the future of family entertainment.
In Summary
Shanghai’s LEGOLAND Resort brings creative wonder on a monumental scale, perfect for families, LEGO lovers, and experience seekers. It’s not just about bricks and rides; it's a cultural landmark aimed to inspire the next generation of builders.
