What is Shanghai Disneyland: Experiencing the Magic of the Theme Park

Although Shanghai Disneyland is the 6th instalment of the American entertainment franchise, it is one of the most unique amusement hubs in the theme park's illustrious history. The venue is eleven times larger than the original Disneyland Park in California and is spread out over a whopping 963 acres. Apart from its size, what sets Shanghai Disneyland apart from other global Disneylands are the uniquely Chinese versions of beloved cartoon characters and Disney highlights accessible at the park.

Getting There

Shanghai Disneyland is one of the most popular recreational highlights in all of China, and it should come as no surprise that a whopping 11 million visitors enjoyed Shanghai Disneyland in its opening year. Due to its popularity, tourists will find that the venue is one of the easiest attractions to reach via the Shanghai Metro system as Line 11 trains take passengers to the gates of this sprawling theme park. The affordable subway fares only make Shanghai Disneyland an even more irresistible highlight for travellers based at lyf Hongqiao Shanghai or any of the other hotels, resorts or shared apartments in Shanghai.

Don't Expect the American Railroad

One of the main omissions of Shanghai Disneyland is the American railway ride that is part of nearly every Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland theme park in the world. This is due to cultural reasons as the 1800s were not a pleasant period in Chinese history and although the railway represented the innovative spirit of America to its natives, the sentiment is not shared by the Chinese populace.

A Chinese Twist

Visitors who tour Shanghai Disneyland will also note that there are other classic Disneyland attractions that are missing from the theme park including the Haunted Mansion. This is due to the reverence that local culture pays to deceased ancestors, ghosts and wandering souls. The well-loved Soarin' ride has also been converted into Soaring Over the Horizon in Shanghai, which flies over Pudong instead of the Disney property as it does in other Disneylands. This is in order to highlight Chinese architecture and thriving business landscapes.

Garden of the Twelve Friends

One of the uniquely Chinese additions accessible at Shanghai Disneyland is the Garden of the Twelve Friends, which associated a favourite Disney character with a Chinese zodiac sign. This area also reflects the Chinese zodiac sign assigned to each year so the "Year of the Rat" may mean Mickey while the "Year of the Pig" might include Pumbaa from The Lion King. Apart from Chinese beliefs, this garden also pays tribute to Chinese hobbies and obsession with selfies as every visitor can snap a photo with the animal representing the year of their birth. Shanghai Disneyland also holds the honour of being the first Disneyland to have been designed according to the social media sharing habits of visitors.

Alice in Wonderland Maze

Occupying pride of place in Fantasyland, this charming enclave includes a mammoth rendering of Alice in Wonderland's Red Queen, as played by Helena Bonham Carter. Fans of Alice in Wonderland can also attend the Mad Tea Party, which is contained inside The Maze where a rigged tea table is on-site to alarm and amuse shutterbugs.

Enchanted Storybook Castle

Larger and built to scale unlike other Disneylands, Shanghai's biggest theme park is also home to the Enchanted Storybook Castle. This theme park contains a restaurant, shopping hubs, a multi-storey atrium and a stage for theatrical performances, and most visitors head to this enclosure for the walk-through diorama about Snow White.

Treasure Cove

With two massive ships sitting on its docks, Treasure Cove is an elaborate themed port where one can enjoy the Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure ride. What makes this ride one of the most coveted highlights at the theme park are the boat movements, massive screens and multiple cameos by Johnny Depp.