China’s theme park industry is entering a golden era, fueled by soaring domestic demand and significant investment from both local and international players. Just before Legoland Shanghai Resort officially announced its July 5 opening, its mini-program crashed due to overwhelming traffic, highlighting the immense potential of the “happiness business.”
In 2023, China’s amusement park economy reached nearly 60 billion yuan, and by 2028, it’s expected to exceed 110 billion yuan. This growth solidifies China’s position as a top destination for global theme park investment.
International giants are racing to expand their presence. Shanghai Disneyland unveiled plans for its first Marvel-themed attraction and is building a third themed hotel. Hong Kong Disneyland will also expand its Marvel zone and introduce new Pixar-themed entertainment. Universal Beijing Resort is preparing for its second phase of development, and construction at Legoland Shenzhen is accelerating. The world’s largest Peppa Pig outdoor park and the Harry Potter Studio Tour are both scheduled to open in Shanghai in 2027.
Domestic brands are rising rapidly too. Fantawild launched nine parks in just eight months last year. Pop Mart is redesigning two-thirds of its City Park in Beijing and preparing for the second phase next year. Across the nation, more than 50 new theme parks are in development or set to launch this year, covering diverse themes from cinema and gaming to winter sports, marine worlds, forests, and water-based attractions.
Despite this rapid growth, there’s still vast potential. As of September 2023, the market penetration of theme parks in China was only 27 percent, far below the 68 percent average in developed countries. This gap points to enormous room for expansion. Over the next five years, China’s theme park industry is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 7.2 percent, with many cities aiming to transform these attractions into iconic local landmarks.
The impact of these parks extends far beyond ticket sales. They are reshaping regional economies and redefining the business of fun. “China offers an excellent business environment,” said Siegfried Boerst, managing director of Legoland Resorts in China. “Legoland Shanghai Resort has a series of world’s firsts to fulfill the growing demand. All this will help boost the regional economy, create job opportunities, and enhance Shanghai’s competitiveness in the international tourism market.”
As of October 2024, there were 385 theme parks operating on the Chinese mainland, with 87 classified as large or super-sized—each occupying over 600 mu (40 hectares) or backed by investments exceeding 1.5 billion yuan. The future looks bright for China’s theme park industry, promising endless fun and excitement for visitors and significant opportunities for investors.
