Honest Thoughts on Universal Studios Beijing from an Average Visitor
About Universal Studios Beijing, you’ve probably seen countless reviews and guides online—some overflowing with praise that transports you right back to your favorite movies, others tearing it down to shreds.
As an ordinary member of the peanut gallery, I visited Universal Studios Beijing during the soft opening and spent a full day riding every attraction (except some shows). This post is just a write-up of my honest impressions. I hope it offers something useful for those who haven’t been yet, and for those who have, may you find joy and a kindred spirit.
Here’s a quick look at what you’ll get: my spending and ride experience, souvenirs worth buying, and some heartfelt advice. First, my spending experience:
On the soft opening day, 8,000 visitors entered. I arrived around 8 a.m. and left around 8 p.m., logging over 12 hours and 20,000+ steps, covering all seven themed areas: Transformers, Kung Fu Panda, Minions, Waterworld, Hollywood, Harry Potter, and Jurassic World. I rode the Decepticon roller coaster three times and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey twice.
No matter how much shade people throw online, stepping inside the park still felt amazing. I believe a mega immersive theme park like Universal Studios brings joy to everyone, regardless of age or gender.
It’s hard to find another park where you can cram so many big, small, fast, and slow roller coasters into such a short time, mixed with immersive movie experiences. All day, except when walking or resting, I was basically hanging in the air.
Of course, you also need a friend who’s fully into it—her gasps and screams can instantly pull you into the scene and crank up the immersion. Maybe the secret to human happiness is simply seeking thrills~
Picture from the internet
I think the park’s layout is really smart. Whether you go clockwise or counterclockwise, you’ll alternate between an intense zone where you’re rushing from one attraction to the next and a relaxed zone where you can catch your breath. Let me highlight my two favorite areas:
Welcome to Transformers Base
My favorite area in the whole park isn’t Harry Potter or Minions—it’s the Transformers section. And the reason is simple: the Decepticon roller coaster. Here’s a photo:
Just by looking at it you can feel how terrifying it is, right? The first ride I went on that day was the Decepticon coaster. When the car launched with the sound effects, I instantly regretted it! In a mere 4.5 seconds, the car accelerates from standstill to 104 km/h, thrusting you through dives, flips, and inverted loops. The entire 90-second ride I was wailing and screaming so much that by the end, the girl next to me reached out and patted my hand to comfort me.
After that first ride, I completely relaxed and got into the park vibe. On my second round, I was prepared and didn’t close my eyes the whole time. With the upbeat, explosive music, the Decepticon set off again and I returned to my happy planet. A tip: sitting in the front row gives you an awesome view, but the line is longer; the back row is even wilder. Pick what suits you.
Another must-do in the Transformers area is the Battle for the AllSpark. I’ve done a similar ride at Universal Studios Singapore—it’s the most popular attraction there, and I bought an Express Pass just for it. It’s a 4D immersive movie experience where everyone becomes a companion of Bumblebee and fights alongside him. The effects are so realistic that my friend, whom I dragged away from the Decepticon coaster, kept shouting how cool Optimus Prime was and how Bumblebee needed to save us. She was totally immersed.
There’s also the Bumblebee Boogie, which is basically a spinning teacup ride! It feels a bit childish, but seeing an obliging Bumblebee and being tossed around in a cup still put a smile on my face. The only letdown in this area was not meeting the talkative “social butterfly” Megatron—such a missed opportunity for viral footage, so sad.
A Massive Hogwarts Alumni Reunion
If every day at mealtime you see your lunch buddy Ms. Zhang not even bothering to eat because she’s busy playing two rounds of a Harry Potter game, then you’ll know just how huge this IP is.
The entire Harry Potter area is where the most photogenic people (and the biggest crowds) in Universal Studios Beijing gather. As soon as you enter, you’ll see a sea of black robes, interspersed with a few JK-uniform outfits. It’s no exaggeration: if someone spilled a Butterbeer, it would drench nine girls in full witchy makeup, and you’d be the only Muggle dressed purely for comfort.
The wizarding world is 100% faithful to the books, so nothing that doesn’t appear in the novels is sold here. In the restroom, you might meet Moaning Myrtle; the longest line at a stall is for Butterbeer. The station master at Platform 9¾ is waiting for photo ops, and outside you can watch the Frog Choir perform.
To sum up, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey has Harry taking you on a broomstick to play Quidditch and chase the Golden Snitch. The 4D immersive effects are extremely lifelike, comparable to Disney’s “Soarin’,” and it’s quite fun. You’ll encounter some dark magic along the way, Harry keeps saving you, and Malfoy will call you a Muggle.
Some people find this ride a bit dizzying, but honestly, the queue line winds around like a game of Snake; by the time you reach the castle, you’re already dizzy. A big reminder: do not put your phone in a locker, because from the queue to the loading area, there are so many details worth photographing. I even brought my phone specifically on my second ride to linger and snap away.
In the queue, you’ll see the Mandrakes in the greenhouse, the Hogwarts architect as soon as you enter the castle, the phoenix entrance to the headmaster’s office, the moving portraits on the staircase (yes, they move!), Dumbledore’s office, the Fat Lady who breaks the wine barrel with her singing, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom (the trio appears here—the Easter egg I caught was snow falling), and finally the Sorting Hat right before you board the ride… I couldn’t help but gasp and marvel at how faithful it all was!
Opposite Forbidden Journey is Flight of the Hippogriff, a coaster so gentle it’s over before you know it—a ride you can easily skip. Later, when I walked underneath it, a train of people passed overhead without even a squeal. To be honest, compared to the Decepticon, all other coasters at Universal Studios Beijing feel just so-so.
The most jarring thing in the Harry Potter area is the Chinese spoken by the foreign staff, which really stood out at Ollivanders wand shop. When the old man spoke Chinese, I couldn’t understand; when he spoke English, I understood him and realized he’d just been speaking Chinese. Ollivander will pick one lucky guest to come up and interact; to be chosen, you first need to dress like a Hogwarts witch or wizard. One heads-up: Ollivander tends to pick kids first, so if you’re eager to be part of the show, you might want to avoid standing near children in the queue.
Some Spots to Rest Your Feet
Without a doubt, the cutest and most Instagrammable part of the park is Minion Land. Stepping into this area, with its candy-colored streets and all sorts of adorable Minions, you’ll naturally unwind. It’s very family-friendly, and all the rides are gentle. Grown-ups can take lots of fun photos here.
Kung Fu Panda Land reflects what foreigners think Chinese culture looks like, but I actually really liked this place. The color saturation in person isn’t as high as in photos. It’s an entirely indoor area, so no sun or rain to worry about, and the rides are easygoing—perfect for a little breather.
When I went, I didn’t focus much on the Hollywood area, though it’s highly photogenic. I won’t go into detail here. The Jurassic World roller coaster, VelociCoaster, wasn’t open yet, so I didn’t linger in that area either; I only rode Jurassic World Adventure, and the dinosaurs were very realistic. I saw videos of VelociCoaster on Xiaohongshu, and it looked pretty fun.
The Waterworld stunt show is also fantastic, and it’s usually packed, so get there early. The seating area is color-coded: blue means you’ll get soaked, green means semi-wet, and red means you stay dry.
Finally, there’s the parade. Just dance along with the funky, Northeast China–style grand parade! Honestly, the female performers’ good looks totally carry the whole show!
The Prices You Care About
Whether food or souvenirs, I found Universal Studios much more reasonable than Disney. Because I was busy riding all day, I didn’t feel very hungry, so I didn’t eat much—but everything I ate was delicious! A word of advice: don’t overeat, because there are too many coasters, fast and slow, and you might get queasy on a full stomach.
A smoked turkey leg at 75 yuan is huge. Add a chicken satay skewer for 35 yuan, and it’s a solid lunch for most girls.
A Butterbeer costs 50 yuan, and you can choose between frozen and a version with a souvenir mug.
The Minion-shaped popsicle is cute at 40 yuan each. It melts fast, so snap your photo with the sign opposite the stall right after you buy it!
When it comes to souvenirs, I have to say Universal Studios is a serious exercise in “spending power.” For the whole day, I spent only 167 yuan on food, but nearly a thousand yuan on goodies, even doing remote shopping for friends. After buying a fair amount, I got a sense of the pricing: keychains range from 69 to 89 yuan, plush toys from 119 to 249 yuan, luggage tags around 89 yuan, and fridge magnets—only available in Minion Land—from 89 to 119 yuan.
Here’s a sampling of souvenirs I think are worth buying:
Every area has its own specialty gift shops, so take your time hunting. If you’re feeling lazy, hit the big gift store at the exit last—you definitely won’t leave empty-handed.
Finally, Some Sincere Advice
1. Definitely buy the Express Pass.
Think about it: my day was so enjoyable largely because I didn’t wait in line. A line-free Universal Studios is truly bliss. The Express Pass comes in two types: a single-use one at 300 yuan and an unlimited one at 400 yuan. If you want to cover the park in one day, the single-use is enough. If you’re a coaster enthusiast who wants to ride Decepticon or Forbidden Journey multiple times, go straight for the unlimited pass.
There’s also a VIP experience at 1,200 yuan per person, which is actually great value. It includes your admission ticket, a fast-track entrance, Express Pass, a dedicated guide all day, reserved show seats, and some meals. I remember buying a single Express Pass at Universal Studios Singapore cost me nearly a thousand yuan on its own! With this 1,200 yuan deal, someone serves you all day, guides you through shortcuts, gives you VIP viewing for shows, and even includes snacks. When I saw these perks, I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Money is good.”
Is the correct way to tackle the park clockwise or counterclockwise? Honestly, after reading all those online guides, both have their logic, and both can fail you. When you enter, just head wherever the crowds aren’t! At Universal Studios, everyone becomes a time management master. As long as you plan reasonably and stay flexible, you’ll have a good time.
2. Transport & Accommodation.
I’ll say it again: when visiting a theme park, stay close. Otherwise, you’ll be exhausted before you even reach the park. If possible, stay at an official hotel for the early entry privilege (one hour before public opening). The Universal Studios Grand Hotel offers the best value. It’s literally above the entrance. Don’t worry that rides won’t be open during early admission—basically, you can wander around, and by the time you walk through the queue lines, they’ll be starting up. You can also take photos in an empty park without jostling for space.
If you choose a nearby hotel, check out my previous post, “A Budget Alternative: Hotels Near Universal Studios.” One important tip: set your destination for ride-hailing to the “Ride-Hailing Drop-off Point,” and do the same when going home, or security might turn you away.
3. Do a Little Homework.
Before you go, watch, re-watch, or brush up on the movies—it’ll make your visit even more fun.
Download the official Universal Beijing Resort app and make a reservation. Enroll your face in advance to enter via facial recognition, and you’ll also need the app to check wait times.
Get your Beijing Health Kit ready and take a screenshot. You’ll open it countless times throughout the day for staff checks.
I suggest waking up early and eating breakfast before heading in.
Bring sunscreen (no spray allowed), sunglasses, a power bank, an umbrella/raincoat, tissues, a light jacket… after all, the wizarding world doesn’t have Muggle gear like this.
Bring your own water bottle; there are refill stations. One bottle isn’t enough.
Wear comfortable shoes—you’ll be walking 20,000 steps or more.
Jokes and teasing punctuated the whole day, but the joy was undeniably real. From the settings to the staff, you can feel their dedication. Team members will show you how a Hedwig plush can hoot and flap, or lend you their broom and wand for photos. Leaving the park, I saw a female staff member holding a bunch of balloons, smiling and saying goodbye—like something out of a dream.
Thank you for sticking with me through this very long post. Whether or not you love Universal Studios, I wish you a wonderful day~
Some images from official website
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