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Construction Update June 19, 2014
The Universal Studios Beijing project has been in limbo for quite some time, following my last visit in 2009. But now it's back, with a bulldozer.
The visual similarities between the Disney Shanghai site and the Universal Beijing site in the early stages of construction – well, destruction – are staggering, with vanishing villages in which the winds of change blow through the thinning hair of old Chinese men on bicycles. This time it's not a 86-year old cartoon mouse that takes it all over, it's a 74-year old bird, a woodpecker on life support.
I always try to get into the heads and souls of the villagers vacating their familiar, old world, to make way for these glorious globalization extravaganzas. Unfortunately, I tend to get polite and entrepreneurial answers, since they suspect me to be part of the (relocation package) game. I wouldn't expect a guy with a silly roller coaster hat to be part of anything.
As evident from the photos, the site today looks almost identical to the Shanghai Disney site back in 2010, so the announced 2018 opening date may prove realistic.
The Universal Studios Beijing site in June 2014
Charming countryside roads
My Chinese-speaking friend Angela and our driver
A wall in the middle of nowhere
In one year or two, you'll find the Universal site offices here
Provisional separating wall
Separating today from tomorrow
Now entering future Universal Studios territory
Soil being prepared
Remaining village on site
Demolition in progress
Vanishing village
Woody Woodpecker merciless.
Interior design
Santorini in Greece? No, it's a former school on the Universal grounds.
Woman on bicycle
The cyclist's shadow
Wall in the woods
Construction Update February 20, 2009
The plans for a Beijing Universal Studios theme park were announced just hours after I had already booked my flight to China. I instantly went to inspect the future site in the south-eastern suburbs of Beijing. Universal Studios Osaka, Seoul and now Beijing? It looks like there will be a (welcome) overdose of Jurassic Park rides in North East Asia.
The locals in the villages of the Tongzhou district (the proposed location of the park) were very warm-hearted and friendly but didn't have a clue what I and my local assistant were talking about.
Rural China
The future Universal Studios Beijing site?
Sheep
Pylons in Beijing's suburbs
Dwellings on location
The approximate location of Universal Studios Beijing
Dwelling number one
Dwelling number two
Dwelling number three
The shadow of The Theme Park Guy
I wonder if these people have heard about the Universal Studios project
Local dwellings
Friendly, curious and warm villager
Local village
Village in Beijing's Tongzhou suburb
Beauty
Future Universal Studios Beijing site
Rural China isn't booming
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