(Yicai) Sept. 17 -- On the occasion of its upcoming fifth anniversary, Universal Beijing Resort said it will build Asia's first indoor themed ride for the Fast and Furious franchise and launch the "Nighttime Spectacular at the Lagoon" show to enrich the park's themed entertainment content and evening experience.

The Fast and Furious project, inspired by Universal Pictures' film series that has grossed USD7 billion at the global box office, will incorporate the movies' signature speed and action into immersive environments, storytelling, and ride experiences, allowing visitors to take a "fast and furious journey at the park," the Universal Beijing Resort announced yesterday. The nighttime show will blend lights, music, stories, and interactions at the Lagoon, a lake in the central area, recreating visitors' daily experiences across the resort's seven themed lands.

The number of visitors at Universal Beijing Resort has been increasing each year since opening on Sept. 20, 2021, more than doubling in 2023 from the previous year and adding a further 8.6 percent in 2024, logging the biggest growth among the world's top 15 theme parks, according to data from the Themed Entertainment Association.

The Universal Beijing Resort continues to drive economic development around it, Lin Huanjie, head of the Institute for Theme Park Studies in China, said in an interview with Yicai. Theme parks' revenue of CNY1 (15 US cents) can boost a city's comprehensive income by CNY18.80 (USD2.80), especially when based on international intellectual properties such as Disney, Lego, and Universal Studios, Lin pointed out.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev