China gives Disneyland the nod

After a decade of stalled talks, the Chinese government has finally agreed to let Disney build its famous theme park in Shanghai. The amusement park will be the first one on mainland China, with another one already open in Hong Kong.

The government officials announced their decision just a few weeks before the planned visit of the US president Barrack Obama, and it is widely thought that the US president’s impending visit opened the doors to the decision. Chinese officials insist that the new park will not be a competitor to the one in Hong Kong, and it will reportedly be built tailored to match the cultural aspects of the Shanghai region.

The Disney company, after its myriad works in the US, will now build its fourth park outside the country–after Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong. The construction costs are estimated to be 2.17 billion pounds for a four-square mile park.

This new adjustment marks a very important milestone for the Walt Disney Company in mainland China, and of course will mean mainland Chinese nationals will no longer need to make the hop-over to Hong Kong to enjoy the world-famous Disney experience.

Shanghai is one of China’s most cosmopolitan cities, and is widely believed to be the perfect location for a park of this size.

The final intricacies are yet to be hammered out, and after 10 years of strained talks, the Disney executives must once again get together with the Chinese government officials to reach the necessary agreements on details. The first stage to be built will be the Magic Kingdom portion of the park.