Shanghai Disney Resort has hired more than 300 Chinese professionals since it began recruiting one year ago, and plans to hire a total of 500 by year's end.

The resort is expected to employ at least 5,000 when it opens in 2015 in the Pudong New Area, theme park officials said.

Most of the current hires are highly skilled professionals specialized in engineering, creative design and other fields required for construction of the park.

Jobs are open to professionals from home and abroad, but most hires are expected to be from China due to the resorts' localization strategy.

Language proficiency in spoken and written English and Mandarin is required for most jobs.

Shanghai Disneyland, Disney's first theme park on China's mainland, is expected to attract about 7.3 million visitors a year.