Legoland Shanghai Resort to open July 5

Legoland Shanghai Resort, the world's largest of its kind, will open on July 5, operator Merlin Entertainments announced Wednesday.

A photo shows Mei's Dragon Orb at the Monkie Kid Themed Land in Legoland Shanghai Resort. [Photo courtesy of Legoland Shanghai Resort]

John Jakobsen, chief strategic portfolio development officer at Merlin Entertainments, called the announcement "a major milestone" for the Shanghai resort.

"We're excited to be welcoming guests through the door upon resort opening and are getting ready to bring to life the immersive, imaginative and creative theme park experience that only Legoland can offer," he said. "Legoland Shanghai Resort will make Lego possibilities come to life on an epic scale, sparking a lifetime of play, creativity and imagination."

The Shanghai resort, located in the city's Jinshan district, includes a theme park and hotel targeting families with children aged 2-12. It houses more than 75 rides and attractions with thousands of models built from over 85 million Lego bricks across eight themed areas.

The resort is in final preparations with 24 rides undergoing testing and staffing of about 1,000 employees complete, Merlin said. The 250-room hotel is also complete, featuring more than 1,700 Lego installations, while the park's Miniland showcases Shanghai landmarks built from 45 tonnes of Lego bricks.

The resort will offer 22 daily character meet-and-greets, 11 shows and the world's first Lego Monkie Kid Live performance.

The resort's online booking system was overwhelmed Wednesday when it launched annual passes and hotel packages offering preview access.