Hello Kitty has been a worldwide phenomenon for decades, but the character is so popular in China that a dedicated theme park has just been built in her honor. The complex is expected to attract more than a million visitors each year and is due to open to the public on New Year's Day.

Cutting the ribbon to mark a milestone for a cartoon character adored by millions worldwide. This is the inauguration ceremony for the Hello Kitty Park west of Shanghai, opening just in time to celebrate the cartoon character's 40th birthday.

Hundreds of invited guests lined up to get their photo with a whole host of characters featured by Japanese company Sanrio, who created Hello Kitty in 1974.

The park is located at Anji and cost more than US$215 million to build.

Dancers perform during an inauguration ceremony of a Hello Kitty amusement park in Anji, Zhejiang province November 28, 2014. With an investment of $325 million, Hello Kitty Park will be China's first large scale amusement park scheduled to open to the public on New Year's day. According to state media, there are nearly 60 theme parks being built across China right at the moment. [Photo/REUTERS]

"Hello Kitty Park is the first in China. But why did we choose to build it here in Anji? Because Anji is a good name. In Chinese it means both peaceful and auspicious," said Frank Liu, MD of New Insight of MGMT. Company for Hello Kitty Park.

The site in Anji is the third Hello Kitty theme park in the world. The two others, Puroland and Harmonyland, are both in Japan and attract millions of people each year.

Organizers hope the Chinese park will replicate that success.