BY CHRISTOPHER NILGHE
Shanghai Disneyland became
the newest Disney Park when it opened its gates on June 16 , 2016 , after construction began in 2011 . It ’ s the first Disney Resort to open in mainland China and the second in China overall .
While it ’ s a Disney Park with plenty of recognizable attractions and characters , many aspects of Shanghai Disneyland differentiate it from the other Disney Parks .
What makes this park so unique , and why should you add it to your travel checklist ? Here ’ s what makes this modern Disney Park “ authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese .”
SHANGHAI DISNEY RESORT I mentioned that Shanghai Disneyland is the first Disney resort in mainland China . You may be saying , “ Wait , what about Hong Kong Disneyland ?”
Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005 , which makes it the first Disney Park in China , but Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People ’ s Republic of China — it is excluded from the mainland in a political sense . That makes Shanghai Disneyland the first park in mainland China . Ah , semantics .
Shanghai Disney Resort is located in Pudong , which is on the eastern side of Shanghai . It includes one park , an
ABOVE : The entrance to Shanghai Disneyland may resemble a train station , but unlike at other Disney Parks , there is no train . PREVIOUS PAGE : Notice the Mandarin additions to the familiar " Toy Story " signage . PHOTOS BY TDR EXPLORER