China's first Legoland resort packed on opening day despite heatwave
Entry tickets to the new resort, aimed mainly at families with children between the ages of two and twelve, quickly sold out as thousands queued to try out more than 75 rides, performances, and attractions spanning more than 300,000 square meters.
That was despite a heatwave strong enough to trigger an orange alert from Shanghai's meteorological observatory - the second-highest in China's weather alert system.
"The enthusiasm of the staff here makes us feel like the heat is okay, and we really liked today's opening ceremony gift," said 40-year-old Shanghai resident Cathy Yin of the wearable Lego mitt given out to those attending the event. "We came especially for it."
Lego enthusiasts from all over China travelled to Shanghai for the opening, leading to a surge in hotel bookings, local media said. Lego Group CEO Niels B. Christiansen said the resort would be "an integral part" of Lego's presence in China, and would "contribute to the economic vitality of Shanghai".
The strong turnout highlights resilience in experience-focused spending among Chinese consumers, even as the overall economy struggles with weak consumer demand.
Multiple visitors interviewed by Reuters had purchased an annual pass, and had attended the soft opening on June 20.
Even the extreme heat, 30-year-old visitor Tao Xiaoqing said, "didn't stop me from coming" to the opening day.
Shanghai's meteorological observatory warned maximum temperatures in the city's central and western areas were expected to exceed 37 degrees Celsius on Saturday, while other forecasters warned parts of China's eastern and central provinces are bracing for temperatures above 40 C.
"It's really hot, but it's still a lot of fun here," said 9-year-old Rocky Xu.
While most visitors were upbeat, one complained to Reuters that the long queues outside to enter the venue were poorly organized. Staff handed out bottles of water to visitors, and one person received medical attention due to heatstroke.
"Even though the sun is strong, there are plenty of air-conditioned areas and water stations inside the park, so it's still quite comfortable for a visit," said 28-year-old Shanghai resident Charlie Chen.
Legoland Shanghai is operated by a joint venture between Merlin Entertainments, which runs Legoland parks around the world, and the Shanghai Jinshan District local government.
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Reuters
15 hours ago
- Reuters
China's first Legoland resort packed on opening day despite heatwave
SHANGHAI, July 5 (Reuters) - Tourists and residents in Shanghai on Saturday braved sweltering heat for the official opening of China's first Legoland resort, the world's largest of its kind, featuring thousands of structures built with over 85 million Lego bricks. Entry tickets to the new resort, aimed mainly at families with children between the ages of two and twelve, quickly sold out as thousands queued to try out more than 75 rides, performances, and attractions spanning more than 300,000 square meters. That was despite a heatwave strong enough to trigger an orange alert from Shanghai's meteorological observatory - the second-highest in China's weather alert system. "The enthusiasm of the staff here makes us feel like the heat is okay, and we really liked today's opening ceremony gift," said 40-year-old Shanghai resident Cathy Yin of the wearable Lego mitt given out to those attending the event. "We came especially for it." Lego enthusiasts from all over China travelled to Shanghai for the opening, leading to a surge in hotel bookings, local media said. Lego Group CEO Niels B. Christiansen said the resort would be "an integral part" of Lego's presence in China, and would "contribute to the economic vitality of Shanghai". The strong turnout highlights resilience in experience-focused spending among Chinese consumers, even as the overall economy struggles with weak consumer demand. Multiple visitors interviewed by Reuters had purchased an annual pass, and had attended the soft opening on June 20. Even the extreme heat, 30-year-old visitor Tao Xiaoqing said, "didn't stop me from coming" to the opening day. Shanghai's meteorological observatory warned maximum temperatures in the city's central and western areas were expected to exceed 37 degrees Celsius on Saturday, while other forecasters warned parts of China's eastern and central provinces are bracing for temperatures above 40 C. "It's really hot, but it's still a lot of fun here," said 9-year-old Rocky Xu. While most visitors were upbeat, one complained to Reuters that the long queues outside to enter the venue were poorly organized. Staff handed out bottles of water to visitors, and one person received medical attention due to heatstroke. "Even though the sun is strong, there are plenty of air-conditioned areas and water stations inside the park, so it's still quite comfortable for a visit," said 28-year-old Shanghai resident Charlie Chen. Legoland Shanghai is operated by a joint venture between Merlin Entertainments, which runs Legoland parks around the world, and the Shanghai Jinshan District local government.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Water breaks and longer half-time for Wales in Japan
Summer tour first Test: Japan v WalesVenue: Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu Date: Saturday, 5 July Kick-off: 06:00 BSTCoverage: Watch live on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer; listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sounds; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. Wales and Japan will be given water breaks and an extended half-time period to help the two sides deal with the heat and humidity in Kitakyushu on match is being played at 14:00 local time with temperatures expected to reach 33C, while there will also be a high level of will be a three-minute break midway through each half, while half-time will be extended to 20 measures are being taken under World Rugby's updated heat and air quality guidelines, which set out the measures to be taken to support players playing in hot conditions. The half-time extension is the second most severe reading with the next step being to consider "delaying or suspending the game". How hot is too hot for World Rugby? The guidelines cover whether water breaks should be introduced, as well as measures such as extending the half-time break or if a game needs to be by Dr Grant Lynch and Dr Olly Jay of the University of Sydney, the guidelines focus on a heat stress index rather than just basic air temperature. The index runs between 0 and 250 with levels of heat stress determining what action will be Rugby uses a number of devices which measure all the elements which go into calculating the heat stress Index, including air temperature, humidity, wind speed and ground radiation. The readings are then put into the following categories:Low (0-99 heat stress index) – teams follow standard practiceModerate (100 to 149) – players take on more fluids and reduce the amount of clothing wornHigh (150 to 199) – players to have a three-minute cooling break in each half. Team also to implement cooling strategies such as iced towelsVery High (200 to 249) – half-time extended to 20 minutesExtreme (250+) – consider delaying or suspending the the extreme case of a game being suspended, the guidelines also set out exactly the conditions that need to be met for a game to begin or resume:The heat stress index must fall below 230 and remain below that level for 45 minutesWeather forecasts indicate a low risk of the heat stress Index rising above 250 for the next two hours if the game has started or three hours if it has not yet begunThe match-day doctor is happy it is safe to play. Preparations for heat and humidity Wales have turned to ice towels and freezing flannel hats to combat the extreme conditions on this thermometer has hovered around the 33C mark since the Wales squad touched down in Japan last Thursday for the two-Test series against the Brave draining humidity means the temperatures feel much hotter for Wales' players, who had eight ice baths at the side of the pitch during Tuesday's training player in the 33-strong squad was required to spend a minimum of five minutes in an ice bath and 500 kilos of ice was used in the Wales arrived in Japan, they prepared in a specially designated heat chamber at their Vale of Glamorgan training base, where they performed extensive exercises in extreme coach Eddie Jones says whoever deals with the conditions better will win the game and has previously commented he hopes for a hot day as the hosts try to "run Wales off their feet".
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Eastern China swelters under early heatwave, threatening crops and industry
SHANGHAI/BEIJING, July 4 (Reuters) - Sweltering heat enveloped China's eastern seaboard on Friday, as a high-pressure system settled over the country's most populous region, baking key agricultural and manufacturing hubs along the Yangtze River and raising fears of droughts and economic losses. Large swathes of China's economic heartland are set to roast in temperatures of 37-39 degrees Celsius (99-102 degrees Fahrenheit) over the coming week. Forecasters are warning that parts of Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, as well as the more central provinces of Hubei and Henan, could top 40 C. The subtropical high causing the heat has arrived unusually early this year. China's "Sanfu Season" - an agricultural marker thought to have been in use for more than two millennia - typically begins in mid-July and lasts through late August, sending people sheltering from intense summer heat. "It's getting hot earlier and earlier now," said Tao Sijia, a 30-year-old Shanghai resident. "I prefer the cooler weather in my childhood. The summers in my memory were cool. Now, it's pretty hot." Extreme heat, which meteorologists link to climate change, has emerged as a major challenge for Chinese policymakers. As well as scorching croplands and eroding farm incomes, higher temperatures can affect manufacturing hubs and disrupt operations in key port cities, and strain already overburdened healthcare systems. "Heatwaves in China bring drought risks, and this could be a concern in southwestern China this year," said Chim Lee, a senior analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit specialising in energy and climate change. "Sichuan is already experiencing lower-than-average rainfall, and this will have ramifications for the region's hydropower output, which in turn will affect its power exports to eastern China." However, China does not appear to be heading for a record-breaking summer, Lee said, noting that recent high temperatures in northern China and the number of hot days so far remain lower than during the same period in 2023. Still, authorities across eastern and central China issued warnings about the dangers, urging workers to take precautions as the combination of extreme heat and humidity during commutes created a heightened risk of heat stroke. "I feel very hot after walking out of the office," said Iris Chen, a 21-year-old student. "It's just the beginning of July, so it's probably not the highest temperature yet." The world's largest Legoland is set to open in Shanghai on Saturday, but the searing heat shows little sign of curbing enthusiasm for the city's newest attraction. Online searches for the theme park increased five-fold in June compared with May, while hotel bookings in the surrounding area increased by an annual 250%, data from Qunar, China's second-largest travel agency, showed. In 2022, China was hit by the worst heatwaves since 1961, with many parts of the country enduring a 79-day hot spell from mid-June to late August. No official death toll was disclosed and China does not give a tally of heat-related deaths, although domestic media occasionally report fatalities citing local authorities. In a 2023 report published in the medical journal The Lancet, heatwave-related mortality in the world's second-largest economy was estimated at 50,900 deaths in 2022, doubling from 2021. China is not alone in having to contend with the potentially catastrophic consequences of extreme heat. Earlier this week, Greek firefighters battled wildfires on the island of Crete and near Athens, as an early summer heatwave linked to the deaths of at least eight people sweeps across Europe. California has also seen conflagrations erupt well outside the traditional wildfire season in recent years, displacing tens of thousands of people. Compounding the challenge facing Chinese officials, while the east bakes, other parts of the country are struggling with torrential rain, conditions that analysts also attribute to climate change. The national meteorological centre forecast more torrential rain across parts of north- and southwest China on Friday and Saturday, with videos circulating on Chinese social media showing residents canoeing through flooded streets in the city of Chengdu.
