Theme parks turn summer into playtime paradise

SHANGHAI — With classrooms empty in the summer break and sun high, families are flocking to theme parks, making them some of China's hottest destinations.

This year, theme park bookings have surged by 70 percent year-on-year, according to data from the Chinese travel services platform Qunar.

At the newly opened Legoland Shanghai Resort, visitors are greeted by a 26-meter-tall Dada, the iconic giant LEGO figure, surrounded by colorful and dazzling attractions that create a fairy-tale experience.