The LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort unveiled plans for its opening in 2025 at the 35th Shanghai Tourism Festival on Sept 14.

Constructed from LEGO bricks 25 times their normal size, the float showcased key highlights including the LEGO logo inspired by a traditional Chinese story, LEGO MONKIE KID, a palm tree representing the LEGOLAND Hotel and a family boat ride installation.

Joining the float were four LEGO costumed characters alongside 15 young dancers and 35 professional dancers, moving to the tune of What If adapted from LEGOLAND California.

"We feel excited and honored to participate in the 2024 Shanghai Tourism Festival and be the leading float in the parade," said John Ussher, senior divisional director of LEGOLAND Developments.

"LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort will, from next year, enrich the business of the local cultural tourism industry and provide more diversified travel options for tourists in the Yangtze River Delta region," Ussher added.

Meanwhile, DADA, a LEGO character created specifically for LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort made its public debut aboard the themed float together with the classic characters of Jester, Mike and Amy.

Another major highlight was LEGOLAND Shanghai Kids Reporters, which calls for a team of junior journalists aged from 7 to 12 to help deliver the reports on the latest developments leading up to the resort's official opening in 2025.

Throughout the festival, the LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort-themed float will also appear in major commercial hubs across Shanghai, showcasing the resort's design elements and LEGO figures.

Located in Jinshan District's Fengjing Town, LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is compromised of a theme park with eight themed lands and a themed hotel, offering over 75 rides, shows and attractions.

The project by Merlin Entertainments marks China's first international LEGO-themed resort catering to families with children aged 2-12.

All civil engineering work has now been completed, with the core buildings' main structure being completed and topped off. As the exterior and interior construction ramps up, the theme park's core ride facilities are installed, preparing for testing in the upcoming fourth quarter.

"China is the world's second-largest theme park market and is showing a continuous growth trend," said Chen Jie, general manager of LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort Ltd. "As the region's first international family-themed park IP, we are developing LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort to world-class theme park standards, aiming to become a catalyst for the continuous growth of the culture and tourism industry in the Yangtze River Delta region."

"The planning and construction of LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is benchmarked against first-rate. We hope that LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort and its surrounding area will become a new cultural and tourism landmark in Jinshan district, Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta region," Zhuang Jian, chairman of JUIG and LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort Ltd.