June 5, 2025, Beijing - As World Environment Day approaches, Universal Beijing Resort presents a lush and green natural picture with water as its companion: the sunlit ripples of Lagoon shimmer and the waterfalls of Mount Palenque cascade in majestic flow; on both sides of Universal CityWalk Beijing, tree-lined avenues and winding waterways offer moments of serene escape; across 170 hectares of verdant lawns and 86,000 square meters of public ecological wetlands, hundreds of plant species and wild birds thrive in open embrace. Over 60% of the resort’s water usage is high-quality reclaimed water for non-drinking uses, enhancing water quality while improving water use efficiency.
“Water is an essential element in shaping the environment of a green resort and is an indispensable part of our immersive blockbuster experiences. Over the years, we have made unremitting efforts to build an environment-and community-friendly resort adhering to sustainable development.“ said Joe Hoskin, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Universal Beijing Resort, “On occasion of the ongoing ‘Universal Love Month ‘which coincides with World Environment Day, we invite guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature here at Universal Beijing Resort and join us in turning our love for nature into action as we care for shared ecological home.”
Water as Link to Connect with Nature
A 2.8-kilometer landscaped waterway flanks Universal CityWalk Beijing, connecting the theme park with two resort hotels. Crystal-clear waterways and lush riverside greenery create ever-changing scenery throughout the seasons. Since the opening of Universal Beijing Resort, it has become a favorite leisure and photo spot for guests and local residents.
The landscape water system of Universal Beijing Resort was originally the channel of the Xiaotaihou River, an ancient canal. During the construction period, ecological governance was carried out to create a rich riverside landscape with diverse vegetation. In operation, the landscape water system uses ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis technologies to continuously improve water quality. Today, the clear water of the landscape water system, accompanied by green trees and blue skies, forms a beautiful scenery in the resort.
Being mindful of Beijing’s unique environmental and water resource conditions since the beginning of construction, Universal Beijing Resort embraced Sponge City principles by separating stormwater from sewage. 21 rainwater infiltration basins—holding a total capacity of 130,000 cubic meters—now capture and attenuate peak flows, optimize water reuse, and continuously recharge the local aquifer.
Making Every Drop Count
When guests walk through the tropical plants or take a rest beside the lush trees, it is difficult for them to notice that the irrigation system among the vegetation is quietly playing its role. Universal Beijing Resort’s industry-leading, fully automated irrigation system links on-site weather stations to irrigation controls, planning watering schedules with precision. Compared to traditional manual watering, this system boosts irrigation efficiency by 20 times, while fully meeting plant needs.
This water originates from the high-quality reclaimed water plant within the resort. Municipal reclaimed water undergoes advanced purification here to become cleaner high-quality reclaimed water, which is used for purposes such as greening irrigation, water feature replenishment, toilet flushing, and ground cleaning. In 2024, Universal Beijing Resort recycled over 1.4 million cubic meters of high-quality reclaimed water—equivalent to the volume of 560 standard swimming pools—supporting more than 60% of the water supply in the park.
The resort also makes every effort to save and use water efficiently and in a refined and intelligent way by widely using water-saving toilets, water-saving faucets, and recycling the tail water from ice machines, for example. At present, every building in Universal Beijing Resort can achieve intelligent water metering and networked remote management, ensuring that team members can monitor the water usage status of the entire resort in real time and promptly detect and handle abnormal situations.
Flowing Love Builds Unforgettable Experiences
Water does more than shape serene landscapes, it also brings immersive experiences. In WaterWorld Stunt Show, guests experience the thrill of a sea battle up close with front-row seats that bring every spray to life. During Universal Cool Summer, guests dance alongside their favorite characters to pulsing water-jet performances and dive into waves of refreshing excitement. The water at more than 100 direct drinking water points spread throughout the park, as well as all the water used for kitchen catering, is treated by purification devices, ensuring that it not only stays clean but also has a better taste.
Behind the rich experiences constituted by water is the continuous dedication of a professional water quality maintenance team consisting of dozens of people. Engineers in environmental science, water supply and drainage, electrical automation, and chemistry collect daily samples from more than 10 key points and run over 30 laboratory tests to guarantee every drop meets the rigorous safety and quality standards.
As the world’s first theme park resort achieving LEED Gold for Cities & Communities certification, Universal Beijing Resort keeps its waters flowing with love and responsibility. Both The Universal Studios Grand Hotel and NUO Resort Hotel have also received the “Gold Leaf Green Tourism Hotel" certification from China Hotel Star-Rating Committee, in recognition of their efforts in energy saving, water conservation, and waste disposal in hotel operations.
Babbling waters and lush greenery—rooted in the respect for nature, Universal Beijing Resort not only brings the "blockbuster world" into reality, but also coexists and integrates with the natural environment, making the real world a better place.
