Although China's first Disneyland theme park is scheduled to open on Sept. 12th, the Hong Kong Disneyland with an area of 126 hectares is far from satisfying Walt Disney Co.'s ambition to extend its territory in China.

It is reported that the project for Disneyland's Shanghai theme park has taken shape and the park is expected to open to the public in 2012 at the earliest.

According to a reliable source, Shanghai reserved a 500-hectare site located in Chuansha Town in Pudong, three times bigger than the one in Hong Kong.

The information obtained from the planning administration office of Shanghai Pudong Planning Administration Bureau also proved such news to a certain extent.

However, after having consulted leaders of the bureau, the informed source cautiously indicated that they were not in a position to disclose any detailed plan at the moment and further information will be published on the bureau's official website.

As to the location of Shanghai Disneyland, spokesman of Chuansha Town said on the phone that related information must be announced by the senior management.

As to the issue whether Shanghai Disneyland could be completed in 2012, spokesman of the Walt Disney Co. just emphasized that they are focusing on the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Disneyland right now.

The reporter, however, learned from an informed source of Hong Kong Disneyland that the first batch of Disneyland theme park designers and planners who went to Hong Kong from the United States are leaving for Shanghai for relevant preparation.

(Chinanews.cn August 4, 2005)