Universal Beijing Resort will start trial operation next spring, and formally open to the public in May, Beijing Daily reported.

The entire project is designed to cover an area of 4 square kilometers in the Tongzhou Cultural Tourism Zone, located northwest of the intersection of the Beijing-Harbin Expressway and the East Sixth Ring Road.

At present, the construction of 20 utility tunnels and 54 municipal roads is underway, said Wang Dongsheng, vice-director of the Tongzhou District Cultural Tourism Zone Management Committee.

The construction of theme park project is divided into three phases. Upon the completion of Phase 1, the park is expected to receive 12 million - 15 million visitors every year. Ride and show equipment is now being installed, Wang added.

Universal Beijing Resort earlier announced that the Beijing theme park will have seven themed areas: Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, Transformers, Metrobase, Minion Land, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World Isla Nublar, Hollywood and WaterWorld.

The project was announced in 2014 and will be the largest Universal theme park in the world after its construction is completed. Universal Studios now operates four theme parks - in Los Angeles, Orlando, Osaka and Singapore.