Nickelodeon Theme Park to Launch in China

FOSHAN: Sanshui New Town Management Committee, Hong Kong Elite Global Group and Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) are kicking off construction on the Foshan Cultural and Ecological Coastal Project, which includes Nickelodeon Cultural Resort, China’s first Nickelodeon theme park.

The estimated RMB 11.9 billion ($1.71 billion) development project will span approximately 3 million square meters, with around a third of the space dedicated to Nickelodeon-themed attractions. It is anticipated to open in 2020 and attract 6.7 million tourists in the first year. Nickelodeon Cultural Resort will incorporate Foshan’s cultural tourism while leveraging Nickelodeon’s iconic brand power.

Ron Johnson, the executive VP of Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) for VIMN, remarked: “We are thrilled to be part of this incredible initiative and groundbreaking [ceremony] today. As the first Nickelodeon-themed attraction in China, we will give kids and families in Foshan and across China the opportunity to interact with iconic and beloved characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, through this world-class entertainment destination. On-the-ground experiences like this offer kids and families an opportunity to experience and interact with the characters that they love in new, meaningful ways.”

Governmental officials from the Sanshui district of Foshan City stated: “In 2015, Foshan set an aim to build a ‘culture-oriented’ city and deployed an innovative cultural developmental strategy to promote our city value. This cultural and ecological coastal project is a perfect match for our goal to make culture and tourism a strategic industry. We look forward to the completion of the project, which we believe will bring huge benefits to the state’s economy. In the meantime, we will give full support to Viacom International Media Networks and Elite Global Group for the successful implementation of their innovative plans.”

Elite Global Group added: “We are thankful for the support we gained from the government. They have been very welcoming to our project and everything went as planned and scheduled. The groundbreaking ceremony today signifies the beginning of our win-win project for the local economy in Foshan and Guangzhou as well as the tourists in China.”