Core Viewpoint - The closure of the Madame Tussauds wax museum in Beijing on October 1 marks the second closure of a Tussauds location in China within six months, following the closure of the Chongqing museum in May. Currently, only the museums in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Wuhan remain open in China [2][3]. Background of Madame Tussaud - Madame Tussaud, originally named Marie Grosholtz, was born in 1761 in Strasbourg, France. She learned wax modeling skills from a doctor and wax sculptor named Curtius. At the age of 16, she created her first wax figure of the famous writer Voltaire, gaining recognition [3]. - After marrying engineer François Tussaud, she became known as Madame Tussaud. In 1802, she took her wax figures to London, where she eventually opened the first permanent Madame Tussauds museum in 1836 [4]. Current Challenges - The Madame Tussauds brand has seen a significant decline in profitability, particularly in the Chinese and UK markets, leading to a decrease in brand value [5]. - The museum's appeal has diminished as experiential consumption has become mainstream, with alternatives like concerts, theme parks, and immersive experiences drawing visitors away from static wax figure displays [5][6]. - The high operational costs, including expensive rent in prime locations and the costly maintenance of wax figures, have contributed to the financial struggles of the museums. For instance, the production cost of a high-quality wax figure is approximately 1.5 million RMB [7]. Strategic Response - Merlin Entertainments, the parent company of Madame Tussauds, has been restructuring its business in response to market changes. This includes the closure of the Beijing and Chongqing locations, as well as previous closures in San Francisco and Istanbul [8]. - The company is focusing on expanding its theme park operations, particularly Lego-themed parks, which attract millions of visitors annually. The first Lego park in China opened in Shanghai in July [10].