Cartoon characters Mickey and Minnie are seen at the launching ceremony of the creative landscapes of Shanghai Disneyland Resort in Shanghai, July 15, 2015. (Photo/Xinhua)
Shanghai Disney Resort will officially open to tourists on June 16, the developer announced early Wednesday morning.
The resort will host a multi-day opening celebration, culminating in a spectacular welcoming ceremony for the first group of guests on June 16, according to Walt Disney Co. and its Chinese partner Shanghai Shendi Group.
It is one of the largest Sino-foreign projects in the modern service industry, with investment of 34 billion yuan (about 5.5 billion U.S. dollars).
Shanghai Disney Resort will feature new attractions not seen at the five other Disney resorts worldwide, including a Magic Kingdom-style theme park with six different "lands," two themed hotels, Disneytown -- a huge shopping district, and Wishing Star Park.
"Shanghai Disney Resort celebrates China's rich heritage and is the result of years of partnership and innovation with contributions from our talented cast members and imagineers, as well as thousands of artists, designers, construction workers and suppliers from across China and around the world," said Philippe Gas, general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort.
Construction of the resort started in 2011 and is now complete. An extensive period will now follow to ensure the resort is fully operational and ready to greet millions of guests.
"The construction of Shanghai Disneyland [...] has gone through an extensive construction period and is now entering the preparation phase," said Fan Xiping, chairman of Shanghai Shendi Group.
The resort will continue to hire and train employees. Ticket fees as well as other operational details will be announced later.
