[Photo/Xinhua]

The construction team broke ground on a Universal Studios theme park in Beijing's east suburban district of Tongzhou, according to Beijing Construction Engineering Group.

The first phase of the project, which includes a park, two resort hotels and a Universal CityWalk retail-entertainment complex, is expected to open in 2020, according to a spokesperson with the engineering group.

Tourists will be shipped between the park, hotels and CityWalk on a manmade river.

Previous reports said the project, covering four square kilometers, has secured investment of 50 billion yuan (about $7.4 billion).

The park was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission in September 2014. It will be the sixth of its kind in the world, and the third in Asia.