Park Profile
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Chimelong
Just a few years ago it was a fishing village overlooking the South China Sea, yet soon it is predicted to become a major tourist hotspot attracting visitors from across the populous Pearl River Delta. In many ways Hengqin Island’s
transformation represents a metaphor for the journey made by Chimelong founder and owner Su Zhigang – and that’s why it’s the perfect place for Mr Su to launch his showcase RMB 20 billion ($3.2bn/€2.3bn) theme park resort. Owen Ralph visits Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
oft opened at the start of this year after a three- year construction period, the 50-hectare (125- acre) Chimelong Ocean Kingdom comprises a superlative packed marine park, 5-star hotel, international circus, plus lots more to come. The park alone features five aquarium-related Guinness World Records, in addition to Asia’s first wing coaster, two awesome water rides, a stunning LED light canopy, and striking theming and ‘iconic’ features that provide a feast for the eyes at every turn. Part of the Guangdong Province city of Zhuhai, Hengqin Island is about a two-hour drive from Chimelong’s headquarters in Guangzhou, where it already operates the Chimelong Paradise amusement park, Chimelong Water Park, Chimelong Safari, Chimelong International Circus and various resort facilities including a 5-star hotel and conference centre. But Mr Su did not choose the southern city for his new venture due to its close proximity, although of course that helps. It was more of a strategic decision based upon the area’s tourist potential, in particular Henqin Island which enjoys similar government-backed special economic and visa-free status as the neigbouring gambling metropolis of Macau (Macao) and nearby Hong Kong – both of which will be linked directly to Zhuhai via a 30km bridge/tunnel as from 2016.
TOP LEFT: Beluga show LEFT: Walrus Splash, by Mack Rides BELOW: This massive sculpture towers over the Whale Shark Aquarium and the rest of the park
Ocean Kingdom S
China’s record-breaking marine resort
“Zhuhai is one of the very best sites for tourism development in China right now,” believes Tony Sze, Chimelong Group senior counsellor. “The way we look at it is that after the construction of the bridge the three places will actually combine into one, whereby you will have the gaming industry in Macau, the commercial and shopping in Hong Kong, and then the resort in Zhuhai.”
The bright lights of the casinos might look enticing after dark, and are so close to Chimelong’s Hengqin Bay Hotel that it almost feels as though you are the opposite end of the “strip”, but there is no getting away from the fact that Macau’s status as a gamblers’ paradise leaves little scope for more family-friendly activities (even less so than Las Vegas). Hong Kong, on the other hand, already has its own very popular theme parks – Disneyland and Ocean Park. And then there’s the parks and attractions in nearby cities like Shenzhen (home town of major player OCT) and of course Guangzhou.
“Zhuhai and Hengqin Island are surrounded by attractions,” highlights Al Cross, vice-president of US- based PGAV Destinations, which acted as product strategist, masterplanner and lead designer to Ocean Kingdom. “It is close to major tourism magnets, it is relatively easy to reach, and the region is highly populated. Guangzhou alone is bigger than New York.
30
JUNE 2014
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