Chimelong Ocean Kingdom

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
珠海长隆海洋王国
Slogan 全球领先的海洋主题乐园
World Leading Ocean Theme Park
Location Chimelong International Ocean Resort, Fuxiang Bay, Hengqin, Zhuhai, People's Republic of China
Theme Marine
Owner Chimelong Group
Operated by Chimelong Group
Opened 29 March 2014
Operating season Year round
Visitors per annum 7.5 million (2015 operating year[1]
Area 8
Rides
Roller coasters 1
Water rides 2
Website zh.chimelong.com/oceankingdom/

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is a theme park situated in Hengqin, Zhuhai, People's Republic of China. It is designed by PGAV Destinations.[2] The park broke ground on 28 November 2010[3] and soft-opened on 28 January 2014.[4] The grand opening occurred on 29 March 2014. The first phase of the park cost RMB 10 billion to build.[3] It is part of the Chimelong International Ocean Resort, which aims to become the "Orlando of China".[2] According to TEA and AECOM, it is the 13th most visited theme park in the world in 2015, with 7.5 million visitors. [1]

Rides and attractions

Roller coasters

Name Type Manufacturer Area Opened Image
Parrot Coaster Wing coaster Bolliger & Mabillard Amazing Amazon 2014
Polar Explorer Water coaster Mack Rides Polar Horizon 2014
Walrus Splash SuperSplash water coaster Mack Rides Mount Walrus 2014

Themed areas

There are eight themed areas inside the park, each representing a part of the ocean.

Ocean Avenue

Dolphin Cove

Amusement rides

Animal exhibits

Amazing Amazon

Amusement rides

Animal exhibits

Ocean Beauty

Amusement rides

Animal exhibits

Whale Shark Aquarium

Polar Horizon

Amusement rides

Animal exhibits

Beluga Theatre

Fun Zone

Amusement rides

Animal exhibits

Mount Walrus

Amusement rides

Animal exhibits

Hengqin Ocean

Entertainments

Journey of lights - Night time parade designed by Miziker Entertainment.[7]

Killer Whale Breeding Center

Opened in March 2017, the facility is home to 9 Killer Whales, 6 currently living at the center and 3 temporarily held at another facility. All the Killer Whales came from Russia and will live here until their new home opens next year. There are 5 males and 4 females.

Killer Whales: Grace (F), Orpheus (M), Nukka (F), Tyson (M). Other's names have not been made official yet.

Awards

In 2015 Chimelong Ocean Kingdom won the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement over 169 international candidates, marking the first time the award was given to a Chinese theme park.[8]

Criticism

Samuel Hung Ka-yiu, chairman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, said, "Ocean Kingdom seems to have imported everything. They are doing everything wrong. They are doing everything you don't want them to do".[9] Examples include polar bears confined in small areas demonstrating "repetitive pacing, swaying, head-bobbing or circling"[10] and skin disorders in penguins kept in a sub-tropical environment.

Further criticism arises from a recent trade of orcas between China and Russia.[11] In 2013 Russia captured wild orcas in the Sea of Okhotsk,[12] two of which have been sold to China. "Now, a conservation group monitoring the capture of killer whales says it has discovered that Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) permits were applied for by Russia and granted for two wild-caught killer whales, also known as orcas, to be exported to China."[9] Ocean Kingdom refuses to comment on whether they plan to display orcas in future but there are currently 50 aquariums in China, none of which have orcas on display.

Attendance

2014 2015 Worldwide rank
5,504,000[13] 7,486,000 [1] 13

See also

References

Coordinates: 22°06′00″N 113°31′48″E / 22.1001°N 113.5300°E / 22.1001; 113.5300

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