Disney has set a new opening date for its first theme park in China, which will open on 16 June later this year.

The US$5.5bn (€5bn, £3.8bn) theme park and resort – the largest foreign investment ever made by the company – will feature the tallest Disney castle in all of its parks, two hotels and six themed lands: Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Treasure Cove and Fantasyland.

Work on the project started in 2011, with an opening date originally scheduled for December 2015 and then the first quarter of 2016. The delay was down to a decision by Disney and its Chinese partner, the Shanghai Shendi Group, to invest a further US$800m (€739m, £553m) to add more attractions.

Disney CEO Bob Iger recently said that the company was confident ahead of the launch of the park, praising growth in the Chinese theme park market.

The Chinese government has done its best to welcome the attraction to Shanghai in recent months, granting a special trademark to crackdown on unauthorised and counterfeit Disney properties, while also shutting down more than 150 industrial sites heavily polluting the atmosphere near the park. The government has also introduced a tourism zone, new agriculture, public services and eco-friendly sectors around the park site.

“We are extremely excited to announce our opening date of June 16. Both shareholders and the joint venture board of directors agree this is the optimal time to welcome our first official guests to the resort,” said Philippe Gas, general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort.

“Shanghai Disney Resort celebrates China’s rich heritage and is the result of years of partnership and innovation with contributions from our talented CastMembers and Imagineers, as well as thousands of artists, designers, construction workers and suppliers from across China and around the world.

"Our special thanks go to the joint venture shareholders and the local government who provided tremendous support to the project along the way.”