Madame Tussauds will open its 16th signature wax museum worldwide and fourth location in China in Qianmen on May 31, Chinese media reported Thursday.
Located at 8 Qianmen Jie, about 200-250 meters south of the Qianmen subway station, Madame Tussauds’ Beijing location will feature both Chinese and foreign figures, including historical figures, movie and music stars, including Beijing rocker Cui Jian, and sports celebrities.
Owner and operator Merlin Entertainments gave Beijingers a preview in January with statues of Leonardo Dicaprio and Johnny Depp standing in front of the future Madame Tussauds’ site. Based on promotional photos on the Beijing location’s website, visitors can also expect to see Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Jackie Chan, Albert Einstein, Fan Bingbing, Kate Winslet, and Yao Ming appearing as wickless candles.
The Beijing site is being built in partnership with property developer SOHO China. “Merlin is one of the world’s most successful and biggest visitor attraction operators and we are delighted to be working with them to bring one of their best known and loved global brands, Madame Tussauds, to Beijing. It will bring a new dimension and international flavor to the Qianmen and Beijing, and we look forward to working with Merlin on more projects in the future," said Pan Shiyi, chairman of SOHO China, and one of the Beijinger‘s 20 Most Interesting People in 2013. No word yet on whether Pan, also a popular blogger, will get waxed.
Based in the UK, Merlin Entertainments has announced its intention not only to expand the Madame Tussauds brand in China but also to bring or expand its other brands here, including Sea Life marine parks and Legoland Discovery Centers.
Tickets are RMB 170 for adults, RMB 120 for full-time students with ID, and RMB 110 for children (up to 1.3 meters) and seniors (65 and over). Advanced bookings can be made by phone.
This post first appeared in thebeijinger.com on May 22, 2014.
Photo courtesy of thebeijinger.com via China Daily
