Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is a theme park situated in Hengqin, Zhuhai, People's Republic of China. It was designed by PGAV Destinations. [2] The park broke ground on November 28, 2010[3] and soft-opened on January 28, 2014.[4] The grand opening occurred on March 29 of that year. The first phase of the park cost RMB 10 billion to build.[3] It is part of the Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort, which aims to become the "Orlando of China".[2] In 2023 the park hosted 12.52 million visitors, making it the sixth-most visited theme park in the world and the most visited theme park in the world that is not a Disney or Universal park.[5] Among its attractions are a wide range of amusement rides and animal shows, as well as one of the world's largest oceanariums with a total of 48.75 million litres (12,880,000 US gal; 10,720,000 imp gal) of water. The theme park has achieved five Guinness World Records.[6] Rides and showsRides
Shows
Themed areasThere are eight themed areas inside the park, each representing a part of the ocean. Ocean Avenue
Dolphin CoveAmusement rides
Animal exhibits
Amazing AmazonAmusement rides
Animal exhibits
Ocean BeautyAmusement rides
Animal exhibits
Polar HorizonAmusement rides
Animal exhibits
Hero IslandAmusement rides
Animal exhibits
Mount WalrusAmusement rides
Animal exhibits
Hengqin Ocean
EntertainmentsJourney of Lights - Nighttime parade designed by Miziker Entertainment[9] TransportationThe resort has been served by the Zhuhai Changlong railway station on the Zhuhai–Zhuhai Airport intercity railway since 18 August, Awards and recordsIn 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.[10] The ocean park holds the Guinness world record for being the largest aquarium in the world, it also had the largest aquarium window in the world according to the Guinness World Records, a single acrylic panel measuring 39.6 by 8.3 metres (130 by 27 ft). The Journey of Lights parade won the 2018 Thea Award for outstanding achievement - live show.[11] CriticismSamuel 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".[12] Examples include polar bears confined in small areas demonstrating "repetitive pacing, swaying, head-bobbing or circling"[13] and skin disorders in penguins kept in a sub-tropical environment. Further criticism arises from a recent trade of orcas between China and Russia.[14] In 2013 Russia captured wild orcas in the Sea of Okhotsk,[15] 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."[12] Ocean Kingdom refuses to comment on whether they plan to display orcas in the future, but there are currently 50 aquariums in China, none of which have orcas on display. Attendance
See alsoReferences
External links
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