Just weeks after opening its first theme park in mainland China, it has emerged that Disney is already planning another according to the Chongqing city government, which said it is bidding to host a future Disney park.

The local authority in southwest China said that Disney had been planning to build a second park even before it started construction on the recently-opened Shanghai Disneyland.

“Currently, we are actively preparing for a project to participate in the bidding,” said the local government, which is one of several locations in western China being considered for the development. “It is possible that our municipality will receive the project.”

Among the interested parties, Sichuan province is also reportedly involved in the bidding process, though the government has denied these reports.

The new Disneyland Shanghai resort is a joint venture between Disney and the state-owned Shendi Group, which owns a 57 per cent stake in the attraction, with Disney earning a 43 per cent share of park revenue.

The US$5.5bn (€5bn, £3.8bn) attraction – the largest foreign investment ever made by Disney – features its biggest castle, two hotels and six themed lands: Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Treasure Cove and Fantasyland.