iQiyi is Opening a Theme Park, “iQiyi Land”
So, have you heard? The Chinese videostreaming giant iQiyi is diving into the world of theme parks! They’re set to open “iQiyi Land” later this year in Yangzhou, a city in Jiangsu province, which is just a quick high-speed train ride from Shanghai. If you’re thinking this is just another park, think again!
What’s the Buzz About iQiyi Land?
This isn’t your average theme park; it’s going to be packed with all kinds of attractions inspired by their popular shows and films. Here’s what you can expect:
- Immersive Theater: Dive right into the action of the stories you love.
- Interactive Film Sets: Step into the scenes you know and love.
- Virtual Reality Experiences: Feel like you’re part of the universe!
The park aims to cater to the growing appetite for experiential entertainment in China, which has seen some sluggish retail sales lately.
Why Now?
With the pandemic behind us, there’s a big surge in tourism and entertainment spending. The theme park sector is expected to rake in over 480 billion yuan (that’s about $67 billion) this year, welcoming more than 500 million visitors. So it’s no wonder iQiyi is jumping on this bandwagon.
And if you think iQiyi is just starting out, they’re actually building on their success in VR attractions. They’ve already made a name for themselves with VR experiences that have proven quite popular, like their interactive adventure for the show “Strange Tales of the Tang Dynasty: To the West,” which pulled in over 100,000 visitors in just its first year.
The Competition Heats Up
iQiyi isn’t alone in attracting thrill-seekers to China. Legoland is opening a resort in Shanghai this summer, and Warner Bros. is rolling out a “Harry Potter Studio Tour” in 2027. Even the local toy giant, Pop Mart, launched “Pop Land” in Beijing last year, becoming the hottest spot in the area.
These moves show that the competition in the entertainment domain is fierce, but it’s also opening up new avenues for creativity. With the evolving technology around VR and AI, parks are becoming more compact, interactive, and packed with content that can be rolled out quickly.
As the excitement builds, iQiyi’s stock is already showing some positive movement, bouncing up nearly 3% after the announcement. It’s clear they’re betting big on what could be the future of entertainment in China.
So, if you find yourself in Yangzhou when “iQiyi Land” opens, you’re going to want to check it out. Who knows? It might just redefine family fun in China!
