China

The Great Wall of China is a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage structure that once served as the barricade of the North, now acts as a tourist attraction for millions of visitors every year, many of whom (or is it just me?) are inspired to visit based on its connection to Disney. A portion of this 13,000-mile-long wall can be seen as one of the featured locations in Soarin’ Around the World (Disney California Adventure), Soarin’ Around the World (Epcot), Soaring Over the Horizon and Soaring: Fantastic Flight. I can’t help but think of a certain song every time I see this scene. The portion of the wall seen is near the city of Miyun, outside of northeast Beijing. It’s the same filming location that was used in the Wonders of China attraction shown in Epcot’s China Pavilion from 1982 to 2003 and Disneyland from 1984 to1996. Today, Epcot’s China Pavilion shows the updated(ish) Circle-Vision film, Reflections of China, which now features the Great Wall as the bookends of the attraction where we both meet and say 再见 (goodbye) to our host, Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. Watch the below video or take a listen to this song, it’ll make you feel like you’re […]

Lujiazui is Shanghai, China‘s modern financial district. Its vibrant skyline along the Huangpu River features futuristic looking buildings such as Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower, and Oriental Pearl Tower. All of these buildings and more can be seen during the unique fireworks filled finale scene of Shanghai Disneyland’s Soaring Over the Horizon. The other versions of the ride (Soarin’ Around the World [Disney California Adventure], Soarin’ Around the World [Epcot], and Soaring: Fantastic Flight) have alternate locations for their end scenes. This colorful cityscape can also be seen in Epcot’s China Pavilion during the Circle-Vision film, Reflections of China (although the skyline has changed a bit since the film’s debut in 2003). Check it out in the video below! Set your gaze across the Huangpu River, and you will find a new China that reaches for the sky. Yet in this city of East meets West, one can still find treasures of Shanghai’s stately European influence. – Reflections of China’s host, poet Li Bai Address: Lujiazui, Shanghai, China Visitor Information: The Official Shanghai China Travel Website

Shanghai Museum of Glass opened in 2011 as a museum devoted to showcasing the history, technology, and art behind glass. In 2016, the museum added a Disney “fantasy castle” created by Spanish glassblower Miguel Arribas, co-founder of the Arribas Brothers chain of glass and crystal shops found in Disney Parks around the world. This is the largest glass-blown castle in the world! Made by Miguel Arribas, it took 500+ hours and over 30,000 glass loops. The Arribas fantasy castle is currently at The Shanghai Museum of Glass in China. #glasscastle #arribasbrothers #cystalarts pic.twitter.com/RkmQP6HWpS — Arribas Brothers (@arribasbrothers) December 30, 2017 Please note that in early 2020 the castle was damaged but is planned to be restored, so it may not be on display currently. Address: 685 Changjiang W Rd, Baoshan, Shanghai, China Visitor Information: Shanghai Museum of Glass

Temple of Heaven is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of China’s capital city of Beijing. This structure, symbolizing the relationship between earth and heaven, is just one of many religious buildings in this imperial complex situated in Tiantan Park. Epcot fans will recognize this multi-tier, round edifice as the centerpiece of the China Pavilion, replicated in half-scale as the entrance to Reflections of China (to be re-opened as Wondrous China in 2020). Address: 1 Tiantan E Rd, Dongcheng, China, 100061 Visitor Information: Tiantan Park Management Office (website only available in Chinese)