MYSTERY SHOPPER
OCEAN ODYSSEY
China’s big-budget Chimelong Ocean Kingdom must learn the importance of the details if it wants to keep pace once overseas competition arrives
Jennifer Harbottle, journalist, Attractions Management W 76
hen the world’s largest ocean theme park opened in Hengqin, Zhuhai, near Macau, in 2014 [see Attractions
Management Q3 14], there was much excitement and fanfare in China. As the second “world-class” theme park in China for national developers Guangdong Chimelong Group, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom quickly began gathering accolades for being the biggest and best. It holds five Guinness World Records for its enormous whale shark aquarium. Nearly 12 months on, Chimelong
Ocean Kingdom has established itself as a major attraction. Competition however, is beginning to heat up. China is undergoing a theme park boom at the moment, with a number of established international operators either in construction or signing on dotted lines, including Disney, Universal, Atlantis and Village Roadshow Theme Parks. I paid a visit to Chimelong Ocean
Kingdom to find out if it lives up to the hype, not only as a domestic park but also as a serious international player.
n LOCATION Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is located at Chimelong International Ocean Resort on the tropical island of Hengqin, Zhuhai, China. It’s an hour from Hong Kong by ferry and 10 minutes from Macau by car. Coaches run from Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou airport. Shuttle buses and public buses serve the site
n OPENING HOURS 10am – 9pm, 365 days a year
n ADMISSION PRICES Adult tickets cost RMB350 ($56, £37, €48), and child’s tickets cost RMB245 ($39, £26, €33). The Ocean Kingdom and International Circus City Package costs RMB665 ($107, £71, €91) for adults and RMB480 ($77, £51, €65) for children for the first-class package, and RMB560 ($90, £60, €76) for adults and RMB350 ($56, £37, €48) for children on the second-class ticket
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THE OFFER A visit to Ocean Kingdom is a full day experience, especially if you plan to ride all the major rides and see the shows, parade and fireworks display which are included in the ticket price. The park’s eight themed areas include the main street entry precinct, 11 marine animal exhibits, five shows and 10 attractions, including a games arcade. For an additional charge, you can purchase a ticket to the circus performance, which is a major part of the Chimelong Ocean Resort mixed-use development. The park closes at 9pm with the
spectacular Glamorous Sky Over Hengqin fireworks. The circus performance begins at 8pm and the fireworks begin at 8:30pm, so guests with a combination ticket would miss the fireworks display.
TICKETING Tickets for Ocean Kingdom are available via numerous sites online, including the official theme park and Chimelong’s Hengqin Bay Hotel website, as well as websites for the major Chinese package tour providers. You can also buy tickets in
AM 1 2015 ©Cybertrek 2015
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