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Zhuhai and Macau have populations of 800,000 and 550,000 respectively. One can easily see why the government has placed so much support under it, and why they have encouraged this sort of [tourism] investment.”
Awe-inspiring
Cynics might suggest that Ocean Kingdom’s name is a amalgam of Ocean Park and Disney’s Magic Kingdom, but visitors that make their way to Henqin Island will find several awe-inspiring elements, not least the aquaria (yes, there’s more than one). “The park does contain some expected elements …of course it does,” says Cross, “but it also contains things never before attempted.”
Enter the big Whale Shark Aquarium at the back of the park and you see plaques proudly displaying Guinness World Records for world’s largest aquarium, largest aquarium tank, largest underwater viewing dome, largest aquarium window and largest acrylic panel.
“Breaking any world record is amazing, but to become the world’s largest aquarium requires phenomenal creative vision and immense engineering efforts,” says Rowan Simons, president of Guinness World Records Greater China. “The result is an incredible attraction experience.” Towering over the aquarium is a huge blue 63m-tall whale sculpture, stood upright like a fish out of water surveying the mountain that acts as a backdrop to the park. It’s more than enough to wow the Ocean Kingdom crowds, but Mr Su wants to wow them in Macau and maybe even Hong Kong too. That’s why he talks about building an iconic landmark on the top of the mountain. First he’s got to decide what it's going to be, although it’s unlikely to be anything so predictable as a Ferris wheel or observation tower (Macau already has one of those). If Chimelong Paradise in Guangzhou is an amusement park, then Ocean Kingdom is a theme park. With the accompanying Hengqin Bay Hotel, which Sze admits was built to “create a name for ourselves and show the industry how quickly we can do things” rather than with an eye to return on investment, Chimelong has elevated itself to the next level. “Ocean Kingdom is world-class, delivering a well- planned guest experience, focusing on comfort and quality,” says Cross. “It has a really unique approach that blurs the lines between thrilling rides, great shows and amazing animals. In fact, it’s one of the best efforts in Asia to create viewing interactions between people and animals.”
As for the rides, “the intention was to go for 100%
world-class manufacturers,” says Sze, “that's we have brand names like B&M, Mack and Zierer in there. We already have a very good relationship with Mack [the German manufacturer previously supplied a YoungStar coaster and Happy Sailor to Chimelong Paradise], but it's more than just a business relationship. Mr Su is good personal friends with Roland Mack and Kurt Mack-Even, and the relationship also extends to the next generation with Michael Mack and Paul Su, [Chimelong's vice-president of international business affairs].”
JUNE 2014
Parrot Coaster – Asia’s first Wing Coaster (by B&M)
“In an environment that is more and more dominated by chains, it was great to be working with another family-owned business,” notes Roland Mack, Europa-Park (Germany) founder and Mack Rides shareholder. “We spoke the 'same language' and that made it easy to work together on this great project. We were also happy to share some of our of experience in ride operations and maintenance by inviting some of the Ocean Kingdom employees to Europa-Park for a training programme last October, which was a great success.”
Animal experience Rides such as Mack's Walrus Splash and Polar Explorer are among the Ocean Kingdom attractions that feature animal interactions as an integral part of the experience. Yet although Chimelong has many wild animals at its safari park in Guangzhou, this was the group’s first experience with marine animals. “Aquarium and animal exhibit construction comes with minimums that cannot be violated,” stresses Al Cross at PGAV. “The construction and design industries in China work in a radically different way than in the West, so adapting while maintaining a clear priority on those things that must be done was a daily challenge.”
“
Ocean
Kingdom is world-class, delivering a well-planned guest experience, focusing on comfort and quality. In fact, it’s one of the best efforts in Asia to create viewing interactions between people and animals
Al Cross, PGAV Adventures
”
LEFT: The Hengqin Bay Hotel, overlooking Macau
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