Universal Plans $3B Beijing Theme Park

Universal Studios will open a $3.26 billion, 300-acre theme park in Beijing that will feature a Universal-themed hotel and retail and dining outlets, the company said. Steven Spielberg reportedly will help design the park. An opening date will be announced later, the company said, although some reports say the facility will make its debut in 2019. The park will be owned by a consortium of four state-owned companies and Universal Parks & Resorts. The project is the latest in a number of multibillion-dollar amusement parks planned in China. Universal’s rivals, including Six Flags, DreamWorks Animation, and Walt Disney, already are building parks in the country, which is seen as a booming market for the ventures.