Soon, Chinese customers won't have to travel abroad to experience the thrills at world-famous theme parks such as Disneyland and Legoland. Both are finding new homes in Shanghai later this year.
For many Chinese theme park visitors, they simply can't wait for the parks' doors to open.
"I really want to visit Universal Studios' theme park in Beijing.
I will definitely go the Shanghai Disneyland. I visited the Hong Kong Disneyland before. I grew up reading Disney stories so the park is packed with childhood memories.
I'd say Legoland. You can build lots of things with LEGO. If those can be part of a theme park, it'll be amazing."
Much of the anticipation comes from the fact that more and more Chinese customers find theme park visits are increasingly affordable and desirable.
A new industry report shows Chinese customers' demand for theme park visits is increasing, with per capita GDP exceeding 7-thousand U.S. dollars in 2015.
Tourism expert Liu Simin believes foreign entrants like Disney and Legoland will inspire a boom in China's theme park market.
"Domestic amusement parks such as Happy Valley, Fantawild and Chimelong are leading China's theme park market. The market is growing rapidly and the international brands are eyeing the growth part. I think domestic brands can learn a lot from international brands after they enter China."
Liu Simin also says Chinese theme parks need to work on their creativity and brand influence.
"In terms of IP creation, Chinese theme park operators still have a long way to go. Some Chimelong's new theme park projects in Zhuhai and northern Guangdong are using the "park plus resort" business mode, just like international brands. However, their scale and brand influence still lag behind."
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions estimates that the number of theme park visits by Chinese customers will surpass 320 million a year by 2020, overtaking the figure in the United States.
The resurgence in the industry is said to be partially due to a change of heart by the Chinese government in 2013, when it lifted a ban on approvals for new theme park projects that had been imposed in 2011.
