(Yicai) Dec. 20 -- Shanghai Disney Resort opened the world's first Zootopia-themed attraction to the public today, bringing to life the movie of the same name.

“Our popular Zootopia film continues to delight fans across the globe, especially in China,” Bob Iger, chief executive of The Walt Disney Company, said in a press release. “We're excited to give guests at Shanghai Disney Resort the chance to interact with the stories and characters they love in innovative new ways when they visit this spectacular new land.”

Zootopia is Shanghai Disney Resort’s eighth themed land and marks the theme park’s second major expansion since it opened in 2016. Building work on Zootopia began four years ago.

Ticket bookings for Shanghai Disney Resort surged 300 percent this past week thanks to the new attraction’s highly anticipated opening, according to data from travel agency Tongcheng. 

The Shanghai park is Disney's largest overseas investment and is a great cooperative success and a source of pride, Iger said.

The new area’s main attraction is Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, a trackless ride where visitors play police recruits and join Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps, the movie's two main characters, on a hot chase. And there is a store selling ice creams and donuts in different sizes, just like in the film.

The movie, released in 2016, grossed more than USD1 billion globally and CNY1.5 billion (USD211.6 million) in China, making it the country’s highest-grossing foreign animation.

Zootopia land will boost visitors numbers, including from abroad, Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, said at a media event for its grand opening yesterday. Shanghai Disney Land is close to a record year, having already welcomed more than 13 million guests this year, he added.

The theme park’s main visitors are families with kids and young people from cities in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces as well as Shanghai. A significant increase in out-of-town visitors is expected over the upcoming year-end break and Chinese New Year holiday in February.

Judy and Nick welcome recruits at the Zootopia Police Department.

Gazelle, voiced in the movie by Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira, signs on stage.

Visitors ride in a police car as part of Zootopia: Hot Pursuit.

Editor: Martin Kadiev