Burst of branded entertainment

The theme park business in China saw its biggest event of the year on Thursday when the $5.5-billion Shanghai Disney Resort opened. It is Disney's sixth park worldwide and the largest in Asia, wowing both local and foreign tourists with exotic experiences and Chinese elements.

Tens of thousands streamed into Shanghai Disneyland on its debut, an event that was nearly two decades in the making. The resort is the largest foreign investment ever for the Burbank, California-based company, as it intensifies the race to dominate China's $610-billion tourism industry.

Shi Mi has been to all five Walt Disney Co. theme park resorts around the world. With the latest Disneyland opening in his native Shanghai, he's not going to miss opening day.