Madame Tussauds launched its new venue in Beijing on Thursday at Qianmen Street, a landmark pedestrian street near Tiananmen Square.

A wax figure of Jackie Chan is on display at Madame Tussauds Beijing on Thursday. The wax museum will be officially open to public on May 31, 2014. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

Hong Kong actress Carina Lau and China's real estate tycoon Pan Shiyi were invited to the launch and preview event, where their own wax figures were displayed.

Craig Dunkerley, head of openings for the Asia and Europe regions of Merlin Entertainments Group, which owns Madame Tussauds, said, "Beijing is China's capital, an international city full of cultural atmosphere and energy with endless potential. This is a perfect place for Madame Tussauds to open the new venue, and Merlin Entertainments is honored to be part of the city's extensive tourism strategy and put brand new experience and international flavor into it."

The new Madame Tussauds may incorporate more China flavor. The attraction includes many familiar faces for Chinese people, including Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang, comedian Zhao Benshan, retired basketball icon Yao Ming, Kung fu megastars Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, the country's first astronaut Yang Liwei and rock star Cui Jian. The venue also includes international stars such as actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, and singers Michael Jackson, Madonna and Lady Gaga.

Although U.S. President Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Karl Marx, founding father of Communism, were included, no wax figures of Chinese leaders have been installed, nor of a Chamber of Horrors, one of the most popular sections installed in many Madame Tussauds venues around the world, including Shanghai. Dunkerley said they would add more figures as they move forward.

The Beijing attraction is the fourth Madame Tussauds to open in China. The previous three are located in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Wuhan.

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