Fosun hopes to build 7-star hotel near Shanghai's Disneyland

Fosun International Ltd hopes to build an Atlantis brand hotel in Shanghai near the coming Disneyland, which would make it the first seven-star Atlantis luxury hotel in the city.

"We are in serious talks with Atlantis headquarters on the project," said Liang Xinjun, vice chairman and chief executive of Fosun, a Shanghai-based real estate and investment conglomerate.

Atlantis executives "are really interested in building it near Disneyland," Liang added.

Liang revealed the proposed project during a discussion on establishing Shanghai as a top tourism destination globally at the 12th

Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which will close on Wednesday.

Shanghai will need more construction and investment along with Disney to boost its tourism industry, Liang said.

Fosun announced in October it would build a US$1.6 billion Atlantis resort on China's Hainan Island, co-developed with South Africa's Sun City casino tycoon Sol Kerzner.

The Hainan resort would become the China's first Atlantis brand hotel and the world's third one, following hotels in Dubai and the Bahamas.