Fans of Universal Studios Beijing rejoice! For there is a new, much cheaper, annual pass that will grant you exclusive Annual Passholder (AP) benefits, discounts and more, only on sale until Mar 31, 2024.

The Annual Pass – Light retails for RMB 988, which means you’ll get your money’s worth (and more) if you just visit the park twice in the year. If you truly maximise your pass by visiting, shopping and dining at Universal Studios, it’ll give you access to benefits well beyond that price. Here are five reasons to get the Annual Pass – Light, while you still can!

1. 183 Days of Access! 

The Annual Pass – Light gives you access to the park for no less than 183 days, mostly Mondays through Thursdays, though all Sundays in March were also included. The current calendar only shows access dates up to May, but this will be updated in time.

2. Exclusive Ticket Discounts

If you want to visit during the black out dates, you’ll get half price off black out day tickets up to 8 times a year. Plus, if you have friends and family who want to tag along, you’ll get 10% off their tickets, up to 4 times a year.

3. Exclusive Annual Passholder Entrance

Avoid the looooooong line just to get into the park by going through your exclusive AP entrance (to the right of the  entrance gates)!

4. Exclusive Events Access

Annual Passholders of the Light pass will be granted preemptive access to attend seasonal events such as Universal’s Cool Summer shows, Halloween’s Freaky Farm, Christmas and other special Annual Passholder-only events.

5. Dining and Shopping Discounts 

You’ll get 5% off dining at selected Universal CityWalk restaurants as well as enjoy 5% off presale of special Universal souvenirs and merchandise.

The Annual Pass – Light is only on sale until this weekend, Mar 31, 2024, so go into the Universal Studios Beijing app now and buy it before it’s gone!

Images: Unsplash, Universal Studios Beijing

KEEP READING: Mar 27-Apr 9: Fun Easter Events for Kids and Families

Aside from Golden Week in October, the other reason that this month may hold special significance for lovers of dress-up, sugary treats and the spiritual realm is that it’s Halloween season! Undoubtedly one of the biggest Halloween events here in town is the Scares @ Universal Studios, which just opened last Saturday to huge crowds of screaming fans.

From now until Nov 11, Scares @ Universal brings you some wonderful time-limited specials every Thursday through Monday. From their autumn-themed pumpkin and fall leaves decorations to unique character meet & greets such as Minion Monsters and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, whether it’s day or night. But  the real thrills do start after dark (officially 6pm) when the Scare Zone brings forth the Pumpkin Demon as well as the Freaky Farm maze! Check out our walk-through video of the maze below!

(Please be warned that the video contains flashing lights in a dark environment.)

Ticket-wise, there are no additional charges for enjoying these special treats as they are all available to any standard day ticket holder. There are also purely evening tickets after 5pm available (prices starting from RMB 212) during this time. But do take note that the Freaky Farm maze does require pre-booking for the time slot of your visit, and this booking will only work when you are physically on the Universal Studios site itself. This geo-fencing requirement is meant to help with crowd control. Also, please note that the official guidelines recommend that kids below 13 may not be suited to enjoy the Freaky Farm, though we did see kids below that age inside the maze. Kids below 16 have to be accompanied by an adult.

Scares @ Universal will also include extended opening hours for Universal CityWalk, so don’t forget to stop by the restaurants and shops afterwards to check out their limited edition Scares @ Universal food and merchandise too!

Images: Starcy Chen, Universal Studios Beijing

It’s hard to believe that Universal Studios Beijing officially opened on Sep 20, 2021, almost one whole year ago now. It seems like just yesterday when my family walked through the hallowed gates onto Hollywood Boulevard and my then-6-year-old’s jaw dropped in awe. I can still remember jumping up and down in excitement when we spotted the colorful Minion Land from afar, and my kid still drools at the memory of corn dogs at the stands in Jurassic World. And I’m sure we all remember the spectacular photos when Hogsmeade was covered in real snow last winter.

Especially due to travel restrictions, Universal Studios has been a great escape for us when we couldn’t leave Beijing. Even though pandemic protocols saw the entire resort close down for almost two months earlier this year, the park has been receiving great crowds since it reopened at the end of June, in hopes to meet its target maximum capacity of 110,000 visitors.

In celebration of its first year anniversary, Universal Studios is offering special discounts on their admission tickets.

A three-visit General Admission Ticket, valid for use between Sep 13 to Nov 30 of this year, will start from RMB 635 for children and RMB 845 for adults. In comparison to the General Admission ticket for one visit, which starts from RMB 395 for kids and RMB 528 for adults, you don’t need to be a math genius to work out it’s quite a bargain! The special anniversary prices also extend to the 1.5 Day tickets, which start from RMB 635 for kids and RMB 845 for adults.

If you’re thinking of getting the 1.5 Day tickets, then you must be considering staying the night in one of the two on-site hotels at Universal Beijing Resort. Check out our previous article comparing the Nuo Resort Hotel and Universal Grand Hotel here.

In line with the anniversary celebration, the park is offering a staycation deal, available for purchase only this September, though you can use it from Sep 13 to Oct 29 (except during Golden Week). Starting from RMB 3,414, the Double Package offers two 1.5 Day tickets, a one-night stay at the Nuo, access to their Executive Lounge with breakfast for 2 adults and 1 child between 3-11 years, and other exclusive benefits. The Family Package, starting from RMB 3,890 offers all that plus one 1.5 Day ticket for a child.

Download the official Universal Studios BJ app from the App Store to check out all the details of these packages and more. There’s even a quiz you can play to win anniversary prizes such as a 99.9% off ticket coupon, as well as limited edition anniversary merchandise and in-park products. Scan the QR code in the poster below for more details!

Check out our family-friendly guides to each Land in Universal Studios here!

KEEP READING: Inside Universal Beijing CityWalk’s Chocolate Factory

Images: Uni You, Universal Studios Beijing App

When you first enter Universal CityWalk you are immediately drawn to the iconic Universal Studios globe spinning in the center of the plaza, but as you pose for a pic you might notice a looming chocolate factory to your left. Trust me when I tell you the inside of that building is just as Insta-worthy and way tastier.

I was at Universal CityWalk with Beijing’s reigning Foodie Queen, Ana Lourenco, in search of fun and unusual snacks, and our first stop was The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. Whenever I’m at Universal I’m impressed by the consistent attention to detail and the unique experiences to be had in each building. Toothsome is no different. The second you walk inside you are transported to a steampunk chocolate fantasy.

Greeted by Professor Dr. Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome and her robot sidekick Jacques, we were ushered into an incredible glass and steel atrium overlooking a lovely open patio perfect for kids to play in. Upstairs is an undeniably cool bar leading to an outdoor patio with a view of the Hollywood Hotel and a breeze of a lake.  It’s an ideal spot for a summer brunch.

Our group got a selection of drinks both of the alcoholic and child-friendly variety, and just the selection of unique beverages would make this a place worth stopping at for a rest. The Toothsome signature Chocolate Coke (RMB 32) was surprisingly refreshing, and the Chocolate Stout (RMB 68) got good reviews from the beer-lovers at our table.  We passed around several cocktails and mocktails from the extensive drink list (RMB 88-108) including the Something for Nothing, Panoplies Fancy, and Breath of Fresh Air, all of which were lovely and made me happy I had a few hours to sit, sip, and enjoy.

As we looked over the menu I was a little uneasy about some of the menu items. I have a major sweet tooth, but a lot of the savory items had a cocoa twist and I was worried it would be too much. Surprisingly, it works! I’m not going to lie, we ate a lot between us.

There are definitely some not-to-be-missed items. The Crispy Chocolate Chicken Wings (RMB 88) were by far my favorite thing on the menu, and I would happily have made a whole meal out of them. We shared all of the flatbreads, and I was a fan of the BBQ Chicken and the Wild Mushroom (RMB 98 each). I tried bites of several of the sandwiches and burgers, and surprisingly my favorite was the Cranberry Herb Vegetable Press (RMB 108). The Gong Bao Shrimp (RMB 138) had a nice kick without being too spicy.

But then it was time to get serious. We opened the dessert menu. Our table shared a light and fluffy Nutella Crepe and a Strawberry Waffle (RMB 78 each) and then decided the milkshakes were calling our names! Everyone got a different one so we could try them all (RMB 88-98 each) I opted for the Coffee milkshake, which was my favorite, but the Peanut Butter Cup milkshake, which is their seasonal specialty, won rave reviews, and a few die-hard sugar fanatics thought the Confetti Cake was the best possible way to celebrate your birthday.

Which got me thinking, “This is a pretty great place for a casual birthday dinner!” There is a kids menu and the shakes can be made in a mini kid-friendly size. There is plenty of outdoor space for the little ones to run around in, and the costumed characters and ongoing fun of CityWalk will keep kids engaged as parents enjoy good food and drinks in a novel environment!

Finally, long past the point of full, we walked out through the candy shop. I was incredibly tempted by the rows of chocolates for sale, but one more bite would have sent me into a diabetic coma, so we headed back out to the street to try and get a few steps in.

Wandering around outside I realized how many great restaurants and amusements are available without even entering the park. A place called Cutie Cones offers ice cream cones within ice cream cones – it’s very meta. Neon Street Hawkers is an indoor food court filled with different types of southeast Asian street food and stalls along the thoroughfare sell everything from classic caramel popcorn to corn juice (I’m still not sure what that is) and seasonal treats like Singaporean pineapple tarts that I have on good authority are the best in Beijing. And that’s before we get to all the other sit-down restaurants offering interesting experiences, like The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar’s fusion of burgers and sushi – “Burgushi!”

You don’t need to buy a ticket to the park to experience any of these fantastic attractions, and a 30 to 40 minute Didi ride makes it feel like a little vacation from Beijing without risking your health kit status. So next time you are considering a lazy afternoon brunch, consider changing up your usual routine and checking out Universal CityWalk.

Find it:
1 Universal City Walk
环球大道1号
Tel: 4008778899

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Images: Ana Lourenco, Julie Wolf

With Universal Studios Beijing’s grand opening a few weeks behind us, people have been buzzing about the new amusement park left and right. And for what it’s worth, it’s safe to say that the hype is totally worth it.

My visit to Universal Studios happened just two days prior to the official opening and it was mind-blowing, to say the least. My sister and I spent the entire day there, arriving around 9am and leaving at 7.30pm.

Unfortunately, for an entire hour and a half, we took a seemingly endless stream of photos in front of the rotating Universal Globe. One useful tip – allocate a specific amount of time to take photos in there, because spending nearly two hours just taking pictures was the last thing we had anticipated.

As for the park itself, however, we started off strong with the rides and decided to try the infamous Decepticoaster in Transformers Metrobase first. All the stories are true. This ride is for devout thrill-seekers, a group I’m proud to count myself among.

It was definitely the best ride to kick off the day and boost my adrenaline, which got me excited about the rest of the rides. Unfortunately for my sister, the Decepticoaster converted her from a thrill-seeker to a person in deep need of therapy.

The entire day, she was reluctant to try other rides, so to slow things down a little, we headed to the Raptor Encounter located in Jurassic World. Although watching the showman interact with the dinosaur was a lot less frantic than the previous ride, the diversion served its purpose.

Still thoroughly traumatized and hesitant to try another ride, I was finally able to convince my sister to go on the Flight of the Hippogriff at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Personally, the ride was an eight out of ten. Nothing too extreme but still fun and exciting, in its own right.

Next, we headed to Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness and tried all sorts of rides, from the Carousel of Heroes to the multifaceted Journey of the Dragon Warrior. The entire place really lives up to its name. There is so much to do and so much to see there.

And again, be warned, the iridescent lights and soothing background music will force you to indulge in another endless photo and video shoot. Do not fall victim to this! Unless you plan on visiting the theme park a second time, taking pictures at one spot for much too long is not the best idea.

Our next stop was to Minion Land, where we went on the Loop-Dee Doop-Dee three times in a row. Although the name sounds quite silly, it was short and lovely, and definitely made it to my list of top five rides. Another ride that I really enjoyed was the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. As a huge fan of virtual reality, the ride unquestionably did it for me. Unfortunately, the wait time was half an hour so doing it a second time was a no-go.

Sing on Tour was our last stop. If you loved the movie, then you’ll doubtlessly love the musical performance. Some of the songs were mashups of other popular songs like Shake it Off by Taylor Swift and all the choreography was impressively synchronized.

After the live performance, my sister and I were famished. On our way out, we headed to Mel’s Drive-In where we ate cheeseburgers and French fries for dinner. Although the food was incredibly overpriced, we enjoyed our time at Universal Studios, and hope you do too!

KEEP READING: Universal Studios’ Hotels: Which Is the More Family-Friendly Choice?

Images: Courtesy of Jenny Andrea

It’s already their biggest theme park in the world, but Universal Studios Beijing – which just opened its doors to the public on Sep 20 – is slated for even more development over the next few years including more rides, more shows, and more themed lands! But until then, the resort currently offers two hotels, the Universal Studios Grand Hotel and the Nuo Resort Hotel.

Having had the opportunity to stay at both, I wanted to do a quick comparison of the two so that families can decide which is a better fit for their needs. That said, we were upgraded to a suite at NUO and stayed in a standard room at the Grand Hotel, so comparing these two is a bit like comparing apples to apples made of 18-carat gold. But I’ll do my best…

We first stayed at the NUO Resort Hotel prior to the opening of Universal Studios and, as mentioned, were allowed to upgrade from the standard room to the suite. NUO is China’s first homegrown luxury hotel brand and its landmark hotel, the NUO Hotel Beijing, was awarded LEED platinum-level certification for its environmental design. I was told that the NUO Resort Hotel should be similar in that regard.

In terms of distance, the NUO is just slightly further away from the park, which was a deliberate decision to create some space between the hullabaloo of Universal Studios and the hotel. Our stay at the NUO was much quieter and, dare I say, serene. Do note that we stayed there before the park had opened though.

To make up for the distance, NUO provides a shuttle bus service that runs every 15 minutes, from 11am-1pm, and brings visitors to the entrance of CityWalk. We were quite happy to walk from the resort to the park through the VIP Experience entrance – a perk of staying at either hotel, along with early park admission.

At NUO, our suite had large windows that offered a fabulous view of the park. We stayed up to see how late the lights of Super Silly Fun Land are illuminated, and in the daytime, could see the Decepticoaster making its dizzying turns, but thankfully heard no screams of delight or terror.

We ate the buffet breakfast at Café Royal, which was very good with even better service. I mean, they served two different kinds of bacon – soft and crispy – to please everyone! The manager himself made a cup of off-the-menu hot chocolate for my son. Kids between the ages of 3 to 11 enjoy a special price for the buffet breakfast.

With 400 rooms, a pool, and a spa (where you should prepare to pay through the nose for a massage), the NUO feels more like an intimate and relaxing getaway compared to the sprawling Grand Hotel, which has neither of those facilities but holds twice as many rooms and is poised for way more action.

We stayed at the Grand Hotel the day before the Grand Opening of Universal Studios, which, as you might imagine, meant much larger crowds and a lot more commotion. Truth be told, the Grand is probably always buzzing with activity, considering it is positioned between CityWalk and the entrance of Universal Studios so that you can look right into the park.

View of the Grand Opening queue to get into the park, from Universal Studios Grand Hotel

We stayed in a standard room on the fifth floor of the East wing. It was clean and adequate, but the view of the neighboring building’s rooftop left much to be desired. The room proudly displayed a mural of the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, and screenshots from Jurassic World so you feel safe under the watchful eye of raptor-whisperer Chris Pratt. Unfortunately, it sounded like Pratt and his raptors were out hunting in the Grand Hotel that night, as loud thumping footsteps kept me up till late.

We grabbed a bite at the Red Dragon Lounge, an experience that reminded me why we shouldn’t expect to have a proper meal at a place with “lounge” in its name. The best thing I can say is that they were very obliging and accommodated my son’s request for a cold-cut platter even though it was off-menu. Breakfast at The Lotus Garden was a lot better, though there was only one choice of bacon. Nevertheless, I was thrilled to see the Despicable Me characters greet us with hearty waves at the door and happily pose for photographs with guests.

One last note of comparison, the Kids Club. In both hotels, they were rather small, but the Grand Hotel’s had a more kid-friendly atmosphere, maybe because there were actually kids hanging out. It was packed with toys and games and there were at least three staff members ready to play. Plus, there’s even a schedule of activities running every hour from 9am-6pm, some of them free and others beginning at RMB 50. Both Kids Club will put movies (can you guess which studios’?) on as a fallback for keeping your kids entertained, but hands down, the Grand Hotel wins in this respect.

All in all, if you’re looking to enjoy Universal Studios but want to return to a tranquil space to recuperate, the NUO Resort Hotel is the one you want. But if you want to be in thick of it and just steps away from all the action of the park and CityWalk, then the Universal Studios Grand Hotel is the one for you.

KEEP READING: How To Skip The Queues At Universal Studios

Images: Courtesy of Universal Studios, Vivienne Tseng-Rush 

Jingkids brings you the inside scoop on Universal Studios Beijing, before it’s open to the general public. We’ve gone through each of the lands inside the park and provided tips to make the most of your visit to Universal’s largest theme park ever! Check out our WeChat official account to see them all!

With 16 rides plus 14 shows and attractions at Universal Studios Beijing, unless you plan on spending more than a day there, you’re going to need to make some tough choices and prioritize your time. Shows may fall to the bottom of the list when faced with the appeal of popular thrills like the Decepticoaster that takes you on a 360° loop-de-loop at eye-tearing speeds, rare photo opportunities with extinct creatures (Raptor Encounter), and the siren song of the numerous corn dog and ice-cream stands. However, some shows are certainly just as thrilling as going on a Forbidden Journey (but minus the motion sickness if you’re prone to that), so we’re here to tell you which three shows are not to be missed and totally worth queuing up for.

*Grab a map which contains the show schedule on the day you visit, as it is subject to change.

The Untrainable Show: Truly a spectacle of singing, live stunts, gorgeous costumes and props, plus top-of-the-line animatronic dragons, the Untrainable Show is the best of its kind that I have ever seen. Featuring our favorite characters from the How To Train Your Dragon series (all three films being impressive as they are), the Untrainable Show blends live-action and cutting-edge technology to transport you to the cold, cut-throat world of the Vikings. And I mean that quite literally, because the Universal Majestic Theater where the show is held, is really cold. Pro Tip: Cover up before going in.

The show is meant to take place between the first and second How To Train Your Dragon films, as Stoick is still alive. He revisits his troubled relationship with his son and the protagonist of the films, Hiccup. This time, they’re fighting over another dragon, which has resisted all their attempts to tame it, rendering it “untrainable.” Of course, our heroes eventually discover how to train this new dragon, which looks an awful lot like Valka, Hiccup’s mother’s dragon from the movies.

The Untrainable show is a visual treat, utilizing incredibly realistic video projections to simulate fire and ice. Technology and live-action blend together seamlessly, immersing audiences in all the action of a battle between the Vikings and Ice Dragon. The clever use of sketch-art drawings projected on the stage also help to relate the harrowing tale in the flashback sequence. Paired with spot-on choreography for the dance and stunt numbers, this show is a non-stop thrill ride in its own right.

The Untrainable Show takes place every hour between 2-4pm in the Universal Majestic Theatre in Hollywood.

SING On Tour: You probably already knew that a show called SING is going to boast some pretty powerful vocal performances, but one of the best things about this live show is the wonderful costumes and make up that help to create the anthropomorphic characters we came to know so well from the animated film. And indeed, movie magic comes to life and you can just about believe a piano-playing gorilla or leather jacket-clad porcupine is performing onstage.

With such a great soundtrack thanks to the movie, the show is a super fun pop music party that everyone can sing and dance (in your seats) to. SING On Tour also builds up to a climactic moment when a special guest – or should I say guests – makes a surprise appearance and saves the show. I won’t spoil the surprise for you but just look up when the moment comes! This is one show parents with young kids will definitely want to prioritize.

SING On Tour takes place every 30 minutes at the theater in Minion Land. 

WaterWorld Stunt Show

You may not have watched the film, or maybe you’re sorry that you did, but there’s no denying the WaterWorld Stunt Show at Universal Studios Beijing is one of the most popular shows at the park. There were thousands in the queue when we went to watch it, and judging from their audible gasps and applause throughout the show, it was worth the close-to-an-hour’s wait. Aside from the stunts and special effects, I was most impressed that the expat performers had memorized their Chinese scripts and were acting decently in a foreign language. If you’ve watched the WaterWorld show at any other Universal Studios, know that this is by far, the largest arena the show takes place in. Remember to stay out of the splash zone – designated by the blue seats – if you aren’t splash-proof.

The WaterWorld Show runs at 11am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 4pm, and 5.30pm.

KEEP READING: (WeChat link to other Universal posts)

Images: Universal Beijing Resort, Qi Shu 

The long-anticipated grand opening of Universal Studios Beijing is scheduled for the second half of 2021. And while most of us have been raving about how to purchase tickets, recently, rumors started swirling that there are actually ways to nab them for free.

A TikTok claiming there are ways to gain free admission to Universal – posted by username @xiaoyushuoyu44 – went viral and left many viewers wondering if they too can get the coveted freebies. She notes that technically speaking, the only people able to gain access are workers, however, “employee privileges” extend well beyond managing its finances or cleaning up the place. Workers have had the honor of previewing exhilarating rides, watching all the shows, “testing” the hotel rooms, and tasting food at various restaurants around the park. So, is there a way for us impatient people to volunteer for the hard, but admirable work of testing out these experiences? Xiaoyushuoyu44 enlightens her followers on all the benefits that come with being a “worker,” but is scant on any details about actually achieving this temporary position. So with a heavy heart, I bring you the news that no, it is not possible to gain early access to Universal Studios Beijing.

But don’t worry! I’ve done the research for you and this is some of what we know so far.

“Besides similar movie-themed attractions in other countries, the Beijing location will also feature traditional and modern Chinese culture, according to Beijing Daily.”

Universal Studios strives to provide a high-tech experience for visitors, with a built-in intelligent park digital system. With support from Alibaba, the theme park will feature a state-of-the-art facial recognition system for visitors to buy tickets, gain park entry, rent lockers, make reservations, shop, and more.

Top three rides to try: Clone of Raptor Encounter, Transformers: Battle for the AllSpark, Decepticoaster

Suggested Duration: Four to six hours

Best time to visit: Early morning or early afternoon. Night if you’re hoping to catch a specific show.

Accommodation Nearby: NUO Resort Hotel, The Universal Studios Grand Hotel

Address: Liyuan Town, Tongzhou District. A new metro station that will connect Batong Line and Line 7 to Universal Studios is currently under construction.

Aside from following Jingkids for all the latest developments, you can also visit headout.com to find out when tickets are made publicly available.

KEEP READING: Still Waiting for Universal Beijing To Open? Check Out These Local Theme Parks First!

Universal Beijing Resort made its official opening announcement tease yesterday with an exuberant video on their WeChat official account.

While details of the park’s exact opening date is still under wraps, we’re anticipating nothing less than perfection when it comes to the company that brought us the Minions, Transformers, and the entire Jurassic Park franchise to name just a few.

Universal Beijing Resorts are still keeping the details of their attractions a secret, but they haven’t been shy about reminding us of the epic rides at their other parks across the globe.

Transformers The Ride in 3D

Enter the world of Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Bumblebee as they battle it out for Earth’s survival.

Jurassic Park in Japan

Sit on the edge of your seat as you’re transported into Jurassic Park. Feel the adrenaline as you escape the grasp of death from the almighty T-Rex!

Go Behind The Scenes

Go behind the scenes and see how famous movie scenes were created at Universal Studios Hollywood. This classic ride takes you behind the scenes of heart-pumping classics like Jaws and Psycho.

As for now Universal Beijing Resort have created jobs for Tongzhou residents and are working tirelessly to bring the park together. We can’t wait for their doors to officially open!

Photos: Universal Beijing Resort Official WeChat Account