The long gestation of Universal Studios Beijing theme park rumbles on, with its opening delayed until 2021.

Negotiations between Universal and Chinese authorities began as long ago as 2001, in the now almost unimaginably different pre-Olympic era. Final permission was granted in 2013 and a site was purchased in up-and-coming Tongzhou, now also home to some of the city’s administrative functions. However, progress has been slow, and a recent announcement promised the park would finally open in 2021.

The announcement came from local authorities rather than Universal, as did the earlier opening date of 2019. Universal are playing their cards very close to their chest; we approached them to contribute to an article on Beijing theme parks, and they did not respond. www.universalbeijingresort.com celebrates the completion of the site’s project management, though even on their own website the quotes used come from another source.

However, construction has begun on some of the attractions, as documented on theme park fan websites like www.themeparx.com. They carry pictures of the site and are able to identify some of the rides from their skeletal form. www.themeparkuniversity.com reports that there will be areas themed around Harry Potter, Transformers, Kung Fu Panda, and, erm, Waterworld.

Theme park watchers speculate that there is a sudden urgency to construction so that the park can open in time to benefit from visitors to Beijing’s Winter Olympics in 2022. However, the company behind it is saying nothing.

Universal Studios Beijing is not the only theme park in development which is keeping mysteriously silent. We also approached the company behind the Peppa Pig attraction due to open this year and the Legoland Discovery Center. They did not respond to requests for news about opening dates.

All this leaves Beijing, when it comes to theme park thrills, sadly lagging behind Shanghai, though we say it through gritted teeth. While southerners rejoice in the biggest Disneyland in the world (though of course, Disney World in Florida makes it look like one of the Seven Dwarves), we take a look at the alternatives Beijing has to offer:

Happy Valley
This attraction, situated near the East Fourth Ring Road, is thrillseekers’ best bet for real rollercoaster action.

Weekdays 9.30am-8.30pm, weekends 9am-8.30pm. All ages. RMB 260 (kids under 1.4m RMB 195, under 1.1m free). Xiaowuji Bei Lu, East Fourth Ring Road, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区东四环小武基北路北京欢乐谷.

Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park 
Beijing’s oldest theme park, opened in 1986, Shijingshan will please younger kids, though some of its rides are looking rather tired.

Weekdays 9am-5pm, weekends 9am-6pm. All ages. RMB 10 (from April 1), RMB 5 (kids half price), free for kids under 1.2m. 25 Shijingshan Lu, Shijingshan District. 石景山区石景山路25号

Crab Island Resort
This distinctly Chinese park offers quirky attractions like indoor fishing (for real fish).

8am-6pm. All ages. Free entrance (entertainment facilities need to be paid on site). 1 Xiedao Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区蟹岛路1号.

Additional reporting by Wendy Xu
Photos: www.universalbeijingresort.com

We found a real petting zoo in Shunyi, inside Crab Island, a family holiday park. This petting zoo although hidden in the middle of a very strange and eerie holiday park in Shunyi, I was pleasantly surprised by the activities on offer. A group of new friends took us to explore this wonderful place, home to goats, cows, geese, sheep, chickens, pigs, and of course monkeys and camels. The petting zoo itself is like any other in the world, the smells are “interesting” and it looks like it was built using random wooden pieces from the forest. The only difference in is that this Beijing farm has some camels, monkeys and the fact that your children are also likely will become an attraction of their own, but that is just something new we are getting used to here in China.

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When we entered the petting zoo in Crab Island for RMB 10, we had the option of taking a goat or sheep on a walk for RMB 20, but instead chose to let our kids ride a wild pony for the same price. The kids had an absolute blast and the sweet farmer made some good cash the day we came.

Most of the people that know me, know that I am not a fan of animals. I don’t like the smell, the hairs, and the behavior. But I make exceptions when it comes to my daughter, who is an animal friend like the rest of my family. She loves feeding animals and riding horses, the joy radiating from her face makes my heart warm inside. I like to pretend I am not scared when she feeds the goats and geese, but I am always happy we leave farms with all ten fingers intact. Motherly love makes you do funny things.

I was surprised at how happy and well fed these animals were and yes the petting zoo stinks just like any other petting zoo in the world, although maybe a bit extra after all the cabbage we fed the animals. It’s an ideal spot if you want to feed, pet and be close to animals, something that is I hope not possible in the big Beijing zoo.

Crab Island 蟹岛绿色生态度假村
Daily 8am-1am. 1 Xiedao Lu (take Weigou Exit off Airport Expressway and follow signs), Chaoyang District (8433 5566/5588) www.xiedao.com (Chinese only)朝阳区1号 蟹岛路 (苇沟出口)

Ecological Science Park (petting zoo) 科普中心
RMB 10. Daily 8am-6pm. (8432 5158)

Pictures by Pauline van Hasselt and Tanya McHendry

Pauline van Hasselt has just started working for beijingkids. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of this year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.