Skip to main content

China Leisure launches first FEC with Nickelodeon Playtime in Shenzhen

News
Nickelodeon Playtime_Shenzen SpongeBob

The first Nickelodeon branded location-based entertainment outlet in China opened in December at OCT Happy Harbour in Shenzhen.

Nickelodeon Playtime was developed by China Leisure Development Co together with Viacom International Media Networks and experience designer JRA. It is a RMB 30 million project ($4.6m).

The indoor facility, which features intellectual property including PAW Patrol, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), reflects the brand’s mission of making the world a more playful place. The latter two IPs have particularly good local recognition according to China Leisure president, Linda Dong.

Spread over two floors, the 1,800-square-metre family entertainment centre offers “many experiences big and small,” says Dong. “Many are playground attractions, but we’ve put a story through all of them.”

Nickelodeon Playtime TMNT

Interactive IP-led experiences

One of the signature attractions is a multimedia experience developed by Holovis for the SpongeBob zone. Guests are given fishing nets and asked to catch jellyfish on three walls, together with SpongeBob and Patrick. The game is as repeatable as it is colourful.

In the TMNT zone, kids become ninjas in training and complete a number of challenges. Such as Raphael’s drop slide challenge, Michelangelo’s halfpipe challenge or Splinter’s ninja dojo training. In the PAW Patrol zone, a focal point is the lookout tower and its 4-metre slide. Children can also activate the lights, sirens and other interactive features in Marshall’s fire truck and Chase’s police car.

Nickelodeon Playtime Paw Patrol

Much of the theming was carried out by China Leisure’s own team. Retail and food & beverage opportunities are also featured.

Whilst the mixed-use OCT Happy Harbour development boasts around 1 million square metres of retail space, Nickelodeon Playtime has a modest 1,500 sq m footprint, with experiences spread over two floors. Capacity, therefore, is limited, and families are encouraged to book in advance for a three-hour time slot.

Dong says that there have already been some “very successful, really beautiful premium products” in the local FEC market. “The difference between us and them is we are all about immersive play; really immersing guests into the world of their favourite characters.”

Nickelodeon playtime retail store

10 new FECs across China

China Leisure is also a partner in the 28,000-square-metre Nickelodeon Universe at the upcoming Mall of China.

However, the scope of the indoor theme park, first announced in 2018, means it is taking longer to develop than Nickelodeon Playtime. Designed by FORREC, it was originally due to open in December 2020. Like the mall, it suffered delays earlier in the year due to the coronavirus. Mall of America/American Dream owner Triple Five is part of the development team, along with the Jiayuan Group.

Nickelodeon playtime role play

A family firm, China Leisure plans to develop up to 10 FECs around the country over the next three to five years. Many of these will be allied to shopping centres.

“We will work with top tier IPs to bring their brand and product into the Chinese market,” says Dong. “Given where commerce is heading, I see there being a lot of demand for projects like ours as attraction anchors.”

The company’s next project, in Beijing, will be built in partnership with Hasbro. Construction will start soon, and it could open before the end of 2021. JRA is on board again in a design capacity.

Share this
Owen Ralph

Owen Ralph

Feature writer Owen Ralph has covered theme parks and attractions for over 20 years for publications including blooloop, Park World, World’s Fair, Interpark, Kirmes Revue and Park International. He has also served on boards/committees with IAAPA and the TEA. He grew up just 30 minutes from Blackpool (no coincidence?)

More from this author

Companies featured in this post

More from this author

Related content

Your web browser is out of date. Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site.

Find out how to update