China| Walking in Shanghai Disneyland2

Shanghai Disneyland (Chinese: 上海迪士尼乐园; Pinyin: Shànghǎi díshìní lèyuán, Shanghainese: Zaon-he Diq-zy-nyi Loq-yoe) is a theme park located in Chuansha New Town, Pudong, Shanghai, China, that is part of the Shanghai Disney Resort. The park is operated by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products and Shanghai Shendi Group, through a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and Shendi.[2] Construction began on April 8, 2011.[3][4] The park opened on June 16, 2016.[1] The park operated in its first half-year with a visitor attendance of 5.60 million guests.[5]
The park covers an area of 3.9 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi), costing 24.5 billion RMB, with Shendi group holding 57% and Disney holding the remaining 43%. The park currently has eight themed areas: Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle, Tomorrowland, Toy Story Land, and Zootopia.
History
Preparations
The Chinese government approved the resort on November 4, 2009.[6] The Walt Disney Company announced on November 5, 2010, that it had signed an agreement with Shanghai Shendi Group to build the resort and park in Shanghai, with a planned opening in 2015.[7] On April 7, 2011, groundbreaking began at the Shanghai Disneyland Resort site.[8] On June 29, 2013, construction on the Enchanted Storybook Castle began.[9]
Construction
Major construction work started on April 8, 2011, targeting a spring 2016 opening.[4] The resort was planned to cover an area of 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi) and it was expected to cost RMB 25 billion (US$3.66 billion).[10] The project is financed by several large Chinese state-owned enterprises in Shanghai forming a joint venture with the Walt Disney Company.[10] "The first-phase of the project will be to the South of Huanglou Area, an area in Chuansha Town, the southeast suburbs of Shanghai's Pudong area; the second phase will extend further southwest," an urban developer from Shanghai stated.[citation needed] DeSimone Consulting Engineers were the structural engineers behind the construction work.[11]
A satellite view of the resort in 2018.
On March 8, 2013, the company announced that the park would open in late 2015.[6] On February 2, 2015, the opening date was pushed back to early 2016.[12] On January 12, 2016, the park's opening date was announced as June 16, 2016, its final opening date.[1]
The cost was initially estimated at 24.5 billion yuan (US$3.7 billion) for the theme park and an additional 4.5 billion yuan (US$700 million).[6] That rose to around US$5.5 billion before delays,[13] which was partly due to more attractions opening to the public on the first day, which added US$800 million to the cost.[14][15] In addition to the attractions and two hotels, a high-speed rail system is being built to get visitors to and from the site.[15] Disney owns 43% of the property, and the state-controlled Shanghai Shendi Group owns the remaining 57%.[6]