Universal in Beijing: what to expect and what not to expect from the park.
The famous Universal Parks chain is located in various cities and countries. We visited the one in Beijing.
💖 Harry Potter fans are the first to come here, as the park features an installation of the real Hogwarts. Yes, the building is truly impressive in its scale, and once inside, it's like stepping into a magical realm: brick walls, narrow corridors, living paintings, and catching the Snitch with Harry in 3D. Fans can also visit the wand shop, where Garrick Ollivander will offer one of his unique wands to a patron, reciting a text in Chinese and English. This area also features another ride, somewhat reminiscent of a children's "crazy train"—perfect for those afraid of "grown-up" rides. Incidentally, people also line up to fill a bottle of drinking water from a tap or take a photo of Hagrid's house.
💖 Another area worth visiting is the Transformers area. This is where you'll find a real roller coaster with several loops. Adrenaline junkies will appreciate it 200 points 🔥. Important: you must put absolutely everything in the locker.
This area also features a first-person 4D installation, "Transformers Battle." And for those who enjoy a relaxing spin, they can check out a similar ride in Bumblebee.
💖 The "Kung Fu Panda" zone, or Po for short, is perfect for a quiet break from the hustle and bustle and lunch at a noodle shop. By the way, the noodles here are truly delicious, and the portions are huge. There are also children's carousels and an underground boat ride through Po's village, which tells the story of how he saved it from a dragon.
💖 Minions. I guess I expected something more from them. In reality, it's a bright, colorful area with minions located in various areas, cafes, and a game inside the building. No ado or childish excitement.
💖 Jurassic World isn't worth mentioning, except for Word Adventure—a driving tour with animatronics from the film "Jurassic Park." You can also fill a bottle with drinking water on this attraction.
In Moscow's Dream Island park, this area—a Mowgli of dinosaurs—is much more interesting.
💖 Upon exiting, you can stop by the "Hollywood" zone, taking pictures of retro cars along the way, which showcases visual special effects, like how a film is made.
Tips for tourists:
💡The park opens at 9:30 AM (time may vary depending on the season), so it's best to arrive an hour early. Of course, this won't save you from waiting in line, but you'll be among the first to visit the locations.
💡Everyone heads to the Harry Potter area first. We did the same, entering Hogwarts practically without a line. Overall, the queue time remained the same all day (about 40 minutes, 240 minutes on weekends).
💡It's best to visit on weekdays, avoiding weekends, school discounts, and local holidays. This way, you're guaranteed to avoid the huge lines at the attractions. Or, you can buy a "skip-the-line" pass.
💡A passport is essential! Without it, you won't be allowed into the park, as there are no physical tickets, and the information is stored in the system using your passport. Therefore, it's important to bring your passport with you and avoid making mistakes when booking your trip.
💡It's best to purchase tickets in advance on trip.com.
💡You can download the Universal app, which shows a real-time map of the park, familiar landmarks, and ride wait times.
💡Bring water with you. Some locations have taps with drinking water you can fill up with.
P.S. Personal locker:
How to use.
In the top right corner, select the language: English. There are two buttons on the screen. The top one rents the locker, and the bottom one opens the locker (you can open it multiple times).
After pressing the top button, you'll need to take a photo from close up, create a password, put all your things in, and close the locker. It's simple)))
P.S.S. Those who enjoy amusement rides and roller coasters will find this place a bit boring. The park is suitable for Harry Potter fans, families with children, and those who enjoy a more relaxed ride.
P.S.S. The video review of Universal is posted on YouTube.
#touristnote