(Yicai Global) Sept. 22 -- The grand opening of Universal Studios’ new theme park in Beijing, the third in Asia after Tokyo and Singapore, was a wet one. However, the rain did not put off the crowds who flocked to the resort when it threw open its doors on Sept. 20 after 20 years in the making.

Tickets for the opening day sold out within one minute of going on sale on China’s biggest online travel site Trip.com and another 10,000 tickets were sold for future dates within three minutes, according to Shanghai-based Trip.com. All rooms for the first day at the resort’s Universal Studios Grand Hotel were booked within half an hour.

The 200,000 square-meter park, backed by California-based film production company Universal Pictures, Beijing Tourism Group and the Beijing Cultural Investment Group, boasts seven themed zones, namely Hollywood, Transformers Metrobase, Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, WaterWorld, Jurassic World Isla Nublar, Minion Land the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Prices range from CNY418 (USD65) in low season to CNY638 in peak season.

The stage throngs with actors dressed as famous movie characters performing original soundtracks during the opening ceremony.

Legendary directors Steven Spielberg and Zhang Yimou send their best wishes by video link.

Chinese pop star Tan Weiwei belts out the resort’s theme song This Is Universal.

Big smiles can be seen on the faces of tourists rushing to enter the theme park despite the wet weather.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Kim Taylor