Shanghai Disney Resort to open on June 16

　　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 - Shanghai Disney Resort will officially open and welcome its first guests on June 16, the Walt Disney Company and Shanghai Shendi Group announced Wednesday.

　　The resort will host a spectacular welcoming ceremony for the first group of tourists, part of a multi-day grand opening celebration, according to the developers.

　　Construction of the resort, the sixth of its kind worldwide, started in 2011 with an investment of 34 billion yuan ($5.5 billion).

　　The Shanghai Disney Resort will feature attractions unseen in five other Disney resorts worldwide, including ones based on Marvel comics and Star Wars, and others inspired by Chinese culture, according to a previous plan.

　　Cartoon characters are seen at the launching ceremony of the creative landscapes of Shanghai Disneyland Resort in Shanghai, July 15, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

　　The new Disney flagship store in Shanghai is the company's first in the Chinese mainland, May 20, 2015.[Photo by GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY]

　　An aerial photo taken on Oct 9, 2015 shows the Disney Park in Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]