Universal Beijing Resort
Find your own magic wand here
Universal Studios Beijing is the third Universal Studios theme park in Asia and the fifth in the world. It officially opened on September 20, 2021. The park features themed areas such as Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, Transformers Metrobase, Minion Land, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World Isla Nublar, Hollywood, and WaterWorld, offering a fantastic attraction for visitors exploring Beijing.
The whole park is elaborately decorated as a Halloween horror world. Dim lights and weird sound effects are intertwined together, making people feel like they are in a horror kingdom full of magic and mystery. The scary haunted house is full of realistic special effects and frightening scenes, which really test the courage and guts. The performance program also adds a lot of fun to the night Halloween.
Table of Contents
Highlights
Transformers Metrobase (Chinese name: 变形金刚)
The entire area is designed with a Cybertronian style and a high-tech feel, featuring robots like Megatron, Bumblebee, and the Decepticons. Notably, there is also a full-sized, 1:1 statue of Optimus Prime, which is truly impressive.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (哈利波特魔法世界)
For Harry Potter fans, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Beijing is worth spending an entire day exploring. The centerpiece is Hogwarts Castle, standing 47 meters tall, making it the second tallest structure in the park. Additionally, the area features Hogsmeade Village, Hogsmeade Station, the station shops, and the Hogwarts Express.
Jurassic World Isla Nublar (侏罗纪世界)
With the help of a trainer, you can try to tame the impressive and towering Velociraptors. Just when you think you’ve got them under control and are about to take a happy photo, they might surprise you by sneaking up behind you with their mouths open. The staff will be on hand to help with the photo.
Minion Land (小黄人乐园)
Minion Land at Universal Theme Park Beijing is designed to resemble Gru’s underground laboratory, where the Minions work and live. You’ll find adorable Minions everywhere you look. It’s said that there are 142 Minion sculptures throughout the park, and the area resembles the park Gru walks through in Despicable Me.
We saw all the shows at Universal Studios , and our only regret is that we didn't see the float parade. The line for each program was really long. The line was really long for each program. It took 10 minutes to play the program and 1 hour to queue up. The rides were really realistic and immersive. There are several theme parks, and the background music of each park is the corresponding theme music, which is very immersive. It is also super crowded with tourists on holidays, but highly recommended.
Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness (功夫熊猫)
This is Universal’s first theme park area dedicated to “Kung Fu Panda.” Stepping into the Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness feels like entering a dreamy Eastern paradise. In the Valley of Peace, where Po the Panda lives, you’ll find charming features such as quaint bridges, flowing streams, the Emerald Palace, and Panda Village, all beautifully illuminated with colorful lights. The Wisdom Tree is the park’s iconic attraction, featuring four light shows.
WaterWorld (未来水世界)
“WaterWorld” is one of the most popular attractions at Beijing Universal Theme Park, known for its impressive water stunts. When you enter the “WaterWorld” theme area, you’ll find a magical atmosphere, with even the restrooms featuring sounds of ocean waves. The main draw here is the stunt show, where visitors are immersed in thrilling “water battles.” The show includes jet ski stunts, high-speed dives, intense gunfire, dramatic explosions, and sensory-overloading plane crashes.
Hollywood (好莱坞)
Hollywood is located at the entrance to the Universal Resort’s project area. Stroll among the tall palm trees and immerse yourself in classic Hollywood scenes.
How to Get to the Universal Beijing Resort
By Bus
- Bus 589 and T116: Both routes can take you to Universal Beijing Resort. You need to get off at the “Universal Resort Station” and then walk about 7 minutes to reach the security checkpoint at the entrance of Universal City Avenue.
By Subway
- The Universal Resort Station on Beijing Subway Line 7 and the Batong Line is now open. Visitors can walk about 7 minutes from Exits B, C, or D to reach the security checkpoint at the entrance of Universal City Avenue.
Attraction Information
Hours
- The usual operating hours are from 09:00 to 21:00. City Avenue has slightly longer hours, from 08:00 to 21:30, and even extends to 22:00 on weekends, giving visitors more time for activities and shopping.
Admission
Universal Beijing Resort will implement a four-tier ticket pricing structure for single-day tickets, including off-peak days, regular days, peak days, and specific days. The ticket prices are as follows:
- Off-Peak Day Ticket: 418 yuan (approximately $58)
- Regular Day Ticket: 528 yuan (approximately $74)
- Peak Day Ticket: 638 yuan (approximately $89)
- Specific Day Ticket: 748 yuan (approximately $104)
The resort will provide a 90-day rolling price calendar to help visitors plan their trips in advance. Guests can visit the official website of Universal Beijing Resort for more information.
- Children under 3 years old can enter the theme park for free.
Prohibited Items
- Glass items (such as water bottles and lunch boxes), except for medical needs, infants, or special dietary requirements.
- Stools and folding chairs.
- Pets and animals, except for trained service animals for individuals with disabilities (service animals must be leashed). Please note that some attractions may not allow service animals.
- Bags or containers exceeding 56 cm in length x 36 cm in width x 23 cm in height.
- Fishing gear, kites, remote-controlled devices, or other remote-controlled recreational equipment (such as drones).
- Photography equipment, lighting gear, videography equipment, tripods, and related tools that may interfere with the safety and daily operations of the resort.
General Amenities
- Visitor Service Center
- Free restrooms
- Medical Station
- Stroller and Wheelchair Rentals
- Designated Smoking Areas
- ATM
- Power Bank Rental Service
luggage Storage
- Lockers are available at the entrance of Universal Studios and in each themed area. The fees are 80 yuan per day (approximately $11) for large lockers and 60 yuan per day (approximately $8.50) for small lockers.
- If you stay at a hotel near Universal Studios, you can usually store your luggage at the hotel front desk for free.
Each themed area has roller coasters, immersive experience programs, and interactive programs, especially for adults. My visit coincided with the opening of the Halloween theme, and the three thrilling haunted houses as well as the Halloween parade were simply fantastic. I also bought my much desired wand at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, haha!
Nearby McDonald's/KFC
- KFC (Gaolou Jindian) 肯德基(高楼金店)
No. 101-2, 1st Floor, Building 163, Yirui Dongli - If you’re unsure about how to order at a nearby Chinese restaurant or if you’re not used to the local Chinese cuisine, you can temporarily solve your dining needs by heading to the nearby KFC.
Nearby Police Station
- Wenjing Police Station文景派出所
Approximately 290 meters southwest from the intersection of Dagao Lizhuang Road and Qunfang South Street, Tongzhou District, Beijing - In China, the number to call the police is 110. If you have an emergency and need help, you can dial 110 at any time. Local police will usually arrive within minutes and will provide assistance with great care and responsibility.
Practical Travel Tips
- You can bring an empty water bottle, as there are drinkable water stations throughout the park.
- The butterbeer slush is generally tastier.
- Avoid all weekends, summer vacations, and holidays, as these dates tend to have heavy crowds.
- Most attractions have both outdoor and indoor queue sections, so don’t be fooled by the short outdoor lines.
- The park opens at 9:00 AM, but you can enter at 8:45 AM and wait outside from 8:30 AM.
- Keeping an eye on the weather forecast is crucial; outdoor attractions may close during strong winds in winter. It’s best to visit on clear, sunny days.
- On weekdays, a regular ticket may be sufficient; however, during peak times or holidays, purchasing an Express Pass can reduce wait times. Be aware of the different rules for Express Passes, as some allow only a single use.
- The parade starts at 5:00 PM, and the light show begins at 7:30 PM. (Starting times may vary daily, so check the official website for updates.)
Attraction Surprises
Parade Float (花车巡游)
The parade at Universal Beijing Resort typically starts at 17:00, but the exact time may be adjusted periodically. The parade lasts about 50 minutes, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Choosing a Magic Wand (挑选魔法杖)
Wands are available in two types: interactive and non-interactive. Interactive wands have built-in sensors that allow users to cast spells in designated areas, triggering magical effects such as opening books in display windows, moving flowers, blooming blossoms, and flying dinosaurs, giving visitors an immersive experience of the movie’s magic. Non-interactive wands lack these features but are designed based on film characters, showcasing unique appearances and characteristics. Prices range from 300 to 450 yuan (approximately $42 to $63).
Light Show (灯光秀)
The light show at Universal Beijing Resort takes place daily from 19:00 to 20:00, with three performances, each lasting 20 minutes.
How Visitors Rate the Universal Beijing Resort
Local tourists from China
Here are some recommendations:
WaterWorld is a must-see! The performers are so dedicated, and the entire show is absolutely thrilling; I felt it was worth at least half the ticket price! Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey had the longest wait time in the park, taking a full three and a half hours. While it didn't disappoint, the wait felt incredibly long.
As for dining:
Luo Xia Restaurant offers stunning views and is perfect for photos at any time of day. Pig Head Bar, located in the Hogwarts marketplace, serves drinks and snacks, making it a nice spot to relax and recharge after taking pictures. My biggest regret is that the long lines meant I didn’t have time for attractions like Jurassic Park. Overall, Universal is a lot of fun, but it’s better suited for kids over 10, as younger children will find most attractions limited to the Minions and Kung Fu Panda areas.
Next, I noticed there was a shorter line for Transformers, so I went for that one, and it almost scared me to tears—it was intense! By the time I got off, my legs felt shaky. Overall, it’s a good place to take kids, but it was really crowded, and getting photos was tricky with so many people around. I’d recommend going in a cooler season; otherwise, you might regret it!
The battle for the ember was incredibly immersive, and the Jurassic Adventure offered a fantastic experience! The Kung Fu Panda ride was also good. I rode the Flying Eagle at night, which was enjoyable, but the one-hour wait for less than a minute of fun felt a bit disappointing. I’ll definitely leave some room for improvement for next time!
Minion Land is a laughter paradise, entertaining for both kids and adults. The park also offers a variety of delicious food, with themed restaurants perfect for snapping photos while you dine—you won't want to stop! In short, every corner is filled with surprises and joy. If you visit Beijing, you absolutely must check this place out; you’ll regret it if you don’t!
