Asia
www.parkworld-online.com
Navigating Asia’s Themed Entertainment Landscape in Q1 2026
O
ver the past two years, the entertainment landscape in Asia has seen a noticeable rise in smaller-scale, media-inspired
attractions. These alternative themed entertainment products typically require lower capital investment and shorter implementation timelines than traditional full-scale theme parks. They are also highly flexible in physical form and location, for example, underutilized corners in a struggling mall, or paid zones designed to complement scenic tourist destinations. In Q1 2026, the Asian market witnessed the opening of several headline-grabbing projects. Particularly, it focuses on two newly launched attractions in China inspired by film and drama IPs originating from both global markets and homegrown Asian brands. These IP brands are supported by extensive media
content libraries and well-established fan bases, offering a distinct advantage when transforming online hits into real-world entertainment. One is iQIYI, a top Chinese streaming media platform. Several of its most popular drama series, rooted in adventure or romance stories and often enriched with elements of ancient history, martial arts, and mythology, continue to resonate strongly with young audiences in Asia. The other one is the Harry Potter franchise, which has sold tens of millions of books and generated over RMB10 billion at the Chinese box office. It influences audiences across cultures and languages.
iQIYI Land (Yangzhou) – China’s
During the first month of operation, the high-
quality interactions were particularly noted by visitors.
Staff trained as nonplayer characters
The iQIYI Land (Yangzhou) facade, a two-storey renovated industrial building situated in the Grand Canal Tourist Zone
(NPCs) actively inhabit the story worlds, interacting with participants through improvised dialogue, surprise moments, and personalized narrative cues that echo plotlines from the shows. Around half in-house performer talent pool, enabling meticulous training, performance alignment, and fan engagements that evoke emotion. Even though there are no mechanical rides, attendees can
Often compared to Netflix, iQIYI is a leading Chinese streaming platform focusing on original dramas and variety shows.
It surpassed 100
million paying subscribers as of June 2025, which opens up a ssizable potential market that can be extended from online to offline. Over recent years, iQIYI has been testing through pop-up exhibits, VR experiences, and themed retail tied to its popular online hits. The Yangzhou venue is the first ambition to expand beyond the streaming service giant to a comprehensive entertainment empire. Nestled in the scenic area of the historic canal
Shanghai, the iQIYI Land was launched on February 8, 2026, in a two-storey renovated industrial building as an indoor immersive entertainment center spanning 10,000-square-meters. Fans and visitors can enjoy a walk-through along the replica sets from popular dramas, immersive theatres, themed dining and retail, and live performances from the Mysterious Lotus Casebook or in a VR theatre staged as the mysterious ghost market from Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty.
The immersive VR theater from the 'Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty' drama series
uncover hidden plots and enjoy behindthescenes perspectives. Most importantly, it offers plenty of photo-worthy moments. Though the longevity of drama-based IPs, and how to sustain high-quality interactions at scale remain to be the key challenges for future operations.
A staff cast from the 'Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty' themed zone, engaging with a crowd of visitors
iQIYI has announced plans to roll out three
additional venues across multiple cities in the next two years. The company is expected to act as a content provider and operator, collaborating with local governments and affiliated agencies to facilitate the implementation, including handling capital investment, securing land, and related infrastructure support. The next flagship park is slated for Hangzhou in 2027, with a larger footprint of up to 60,000 sqm. Still, as a newcomer to the LBE market, iQIYI faces the challenge of expanding into multiple cities without compromising the quality of the existing venues.
Entrance to the exhibition featuring Harry Potter’s Guardian Magical Creature
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
