Ocean Park Hong Kong

Ocean Park Hong Kong

Main entrance in 2018
Location	Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
Coordinates	22°14′45.1″N 114°10′33.3″E
Status	Operating
Opened	10 January 1977 (1977-01-10)
Owner	Ocean Park Corporation
Theme	education, conservation, entertainment
Slogan	Connect people with nature
Attendance	2.4 million (2022–2023)
Area	91.5 hectares (226 acres)
Attractions
Total	59
Roller coasters	2
Water rides	1
Website	www.oceanpark.com.hk/en

Ocean Park Hong Kong
Traditional Chinese	香港海洋公園
Simplified Chinese	香港海洋公园
Cantonese Yale	Hēunggóng Hóiyèung Gūngyún
Literal meaning	Hong Kong Ocean Park
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiānggǎng Hǎiyáng Gōngyuán Hakka Romanization Hiong1gong3 Hoi3yong2 Gung1yen2(or yen3) Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Hēunggóng Hóiyèung Gūngyún Jyutping Hoeng1 gong2 hoi2 joeng4 gung1 jyun2

The Culture Show

Musicians performing at the Ocean Theatre

Some of the rides of the Marine World. This part was formerly called "Headlands Rides".

Ocean Park Hong Kong, commonly known as Ocean Park, is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park and amusement park situated in Wong Chuk Hang and Nam Long Shan in the Southern District of Hong Kong. It is the second largest theme park in Hong Kong, after Hong Kong Disneyland, as well as the largest theme park in Hong Kong by area. It is also the second oldest theme park in Hong Kong, after the defunct Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park, which closed on 31 March 1997.

Opened on 10 January 1977, Ocean Park became popular, but 28 years later, it was unprofitable and widely expected to close due to the new Hong Kong Disneyland. However, the Park responded with a HK$5.5 billion development plan that saw it expand to over 80 attractions and rides, and steadily grow visitor numbers to 7.6 million in 2014, making it the world's 13th most visited theme park, and one of the largest theme parks in Asia. Half of all visitors now come from mainland China, in growth that parallels rising mainland tourist visitor levels to Hong Kong over the same period.

Covering an area of 91.5 hectares (226 acres), the park is separated by a large mountain into two areas, The Summit (Headland) and The Waterfront (Lowland). These areas are connected by a 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) cable car system and the Ocean Express funicular. To ascend the Headland, which comprises several hills, visitors can use Hong Kong's second longest outdoor escalator. The theme park has various attractions and rides, including four roller coasters, and also animal exhibits with different themes, such as a giant panda habitat, rainforest and polar displays, as well as an aquarium featuring the world's largest aquarium dome. Between 1979 and 1997, Ocean Park was most famous for its signature killer whale, Miss Hoi Wai/Susie Wong.

As well as being an amusement park, Ocean Park Hong Kong aims to merge entertainment and education, including conservation advocacy. However, it has been criticised by wildlife advocates for practices including the wild capture of large sea animals, such as dolphins and orcas, and the presentation of shows featuring such animals performing.

Ocean Park is also renowned for holding the largest Halloween events in Asia.

History and development

Ocean Park was opened on 10 January 1977 by Sir Murray MacLehose, Governor of Hong Kong. It was constructed as a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club with HK$150 million of funding, while the land it occupied was provided for free by the Hong Kong government. Between 1982 and 1984, the Jockey Club invested a further HK$240 million into developing facilities at Tai Shue Wan and thrill rides at the park's "The Summit" area.

Ocean Park ceased to be a Jockey Club subsidiary on 1 July 1987, becoming its own statutory body with a government-appointed board. The Jockey Club established a HK$200 million trust to ensure the park's continued development. At present, Ocean Park is managed by the Ocean Park Corporation, a financially independent, non-for-profit organisation.

In 2003, businessman Allan Zeman, known for leading the creation of Hong Kong's popular Lan Kwai Fong entertainment district, was appointed chairman of Ocean Park, a position he held for 11 years till 2014. During his chairmanship, Zeman increased the park's attendance from 2.95 million to 7.73 million, and turned a HK$4 million deficit to a HK$127.2 million surplus. He was dubbed "Hong Kong's Mouse Killer" by Forbes magazine in 2007 for holding off competition from Hong Kong Disneyland.

In 2005, the same year that the park's rival Hong Kong Disneyland opened, Ocean Park unveiled a HK$5.5 billion redevelopment plan, under which older features at the park were to be rejuvenated and new areas developed. The number of attractions more than doubled, from 35 to over 80. "The Lowland" was redeveloped as a new area called "The Waterfront", while the old "Headland" became "The Summit", with polar and rainforest exhibits. A area dedicated to thrill rides and named "Thrill Mountain" was opened, and the children's area was refurbished as "Whisker's Harbour".

The first of the new developments, Amazing Asian Animals, showcasing some of the Asia's endangered creatures, including giant pandas, red pandas, Chinese giant salamanders, Asian small-clawed otters and the Chinese alligators, and Ocean Express, a funicular train system capable of transporting 5,000 visitors per hour between the Summit and the Waterfront, were launched in 2009.

In January 2011, Aqua City was opened. The zone features the Grand Aquarium, designed by St. Louis-based PGAV Destinations, displaying some 5,000 fish from over 400 species, and the world's first and only 360° water screen show Symbio.

In June of the same year, the Rainforest, an integrated theme zone featuring over 70 exotic animal species, was opened.

In March 2012, the new attraction zone Old Hong Kong opened, evoking the streetscapes and spirit of Hong Kong between the 1950s and the 1970s from various perspectives. In April, the newly refurbished Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures opened. In July, the final element of the redevelopment, Polar Adventure, opened, featuring animals such as penguins, Pacific walruses, spotted seals, northern sea lions, snowy owls and Arctic foxes, aiming to highlight some of the conservation issues they face.

In July 2014, a 20,000 sq ft (1,900 m²) shark aquarium opened at the former Atoll Reef site and was named Shark Mystique.

On 19 February 2019, the park opened its first hotel, The Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel.

2019–2023: Financial struggle and recovery

This section needs expansion with: a chronology of the park's financial struggles and recovery in recent years, including the park's attempts to remodel. You can help by adding to it. (June 2024)

In January 2020, the park sought HK$10 billion from the government for a major upgrade, following a 14 per cent decline in visitor numbers and a cash-flow crisis. The government was ready to support the move, but both pro-Beijing and pro-democracy legislators expressed concerns.

On 21 September 2021, Ocean Park opened to the public its brand new water park, named Water World. Occupying an area of 55,740 m² (600,000 sq ft), Water World is located near the main park on a hillside in Tai Shue Wan and charges admission separately from the main park. It is Asia's first all-season water park. It offered 27 indoor and outdoor attractions at opening, when it operated at half capacity (4,500 visitors) due to social distancing measures under the COVID-19 pandemic. The water park was originally planned to open in 2017 and had an estimated cost of HK$2.29 billion (US$294.2 million), which ultimately increased to HK$4 billion (US$531 million) following years of delays. It is the first major project of Ocean Park's revamp.

In October 2021, Ocean Park posted a deficit of HK$31.8 million (US$4 million) in the financial year ending 30 June 2021. It had earlier received HK$1.45 billion of government funding intended to support the park amid closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In December 2023, Ocean Park posted a surplus of HK$118.5 million (US$15.18 million) in the financial year ending 30 June 2023, following years of deficits. The number of visitors to Ocean Park and its Water World had a 45 per cent year-on-year growth, up to 2.4 million. This turnaround was attributed to the gradual recovery of tourism in Hong Kong, following the full reopening of the city's borders in February 2023 after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visitor growth

The park's expansion steadily grew visitor numbers to 7.6 million in 2014, making it the world's 13th most visited theme park, and one of the largest theme parks in Asia. From this high, visitor numbers declined to around six million in 2016 against the background of declining tourist arrivals in Hong Kong and competition from Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort in Zhuhai. In January 2017, the Ocean Park saw a 30% surge in visitors, credited to a new rapid transit line, big discounts and an early Lunar New Year holiday, but in 2019, lower numbers of mainland tourist arrivals, due to social unrest and continued competition from Chimelong, sunk attendance to 5.7 million.

Attractions

Ocean Park now comprises two main attraction areas: the Waterfront and the Summit, subdivided into seven attraction zones: Amazing Asian Animals, Aqua City, Whiskers Harbour, Marine World, Polar Adventure, Thrill Mountain and the Rainforest.

Rollercoasters

Name	Type	Opened	Territory	Manufacturer	Height Restrictions	Track Length	Description
Arctic Blast	Powered Coaster	2012	Polar Adventure	Mack Rides	1 m (3 ft 3 in)	Unknown	A Mack Rides powered family coaster which opened in 2012. The coaster has an arctic and blue theme.
Hair Raiser	Floorless Coaster	2011	Thrill Mountain	Bolliger & Mabillard	1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)	850 m (2,790 ft)	The first and only roller coaster to be manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard in the park, and known for its views of the South China Sea. Some say the smiley face in the Entrance is based on Luna Park Sydney in Australia. The coaster features one vertical loop, one dive loop, one zero-g roll, and finally an immelmann.

Water Rides

Name	Type	Opened	Territory	Manufacturer	Height Restrictions	Description
The Rapids	River rapids ride	2010	Rainforest	Intamin	1.2m (3 ft 11 in)	The Rapids opened in the Rainforest in 2010 as part of the park's expansion. Riders are able to interact with visitors in the Emerald Trail, as they may get wet by the water guns by the Trail. During the queue line, various bird species are also shown.

Flat Rides

Name	Type	Opened	Territory	Manufacturer	Height Restrictions	Current Status	Additional Information
Wild Twister	Top Scan	2019	Marine World	Mondial	1.37m (4 ft 6 in)	Operating	Top scan ride. This flat ride is the first ride introduced in over 9 years, with the latest one being Arctic Blast. It's also the last ride to be built in the park in a long period of time as the park no longer invest on rides and closes down a large amount of old rides.
The Flash	Ultra Max	2011	Thrill Mountain	Mondial	1.37m (4 ft 6 in)	Operating	An Ultra Max ride that opened in late 2011 along with other rides in Thrill Mountain.
Rev Booster	Music Express	2011	Thrill Mountain	SBF Visa Group	1.3m (3 ft 3 in)	Operating	A Music Express ride that opened in late 2011 along with other rides in Thrill Mountain.
Whirly Bird	Star Flyer	2011	Thrill Mountain	Chance Rides	1.22m (~4 ft)	Operating	A Star Flyer ride that opened in late 2011 along with other rides in Thrill Mountain.
Bumper Blaster	Dodgems	2011	Thrill Mountain	I.E. Park	Driver: 1.45m (4 ft 9 in) Rider: 1.2m (3 ft 11 in)	Operating	A Dodgems ride that opened in late 2011 along with other rides in Thrill Mountain.
Sea Life Carousel	Gallopers	2009	Aqua City	Wood Design Amusement Rides	Unaccompanied: 1.07m (3 ft 6 in)	Operating	An Ocean-themed Carousel. Manufactured by Wood Design Amusement Rides.
Flying Swing	Waveswinger	1997	Marine World	Zierer	1.22m (~4 ft)	Operating; Closing soon	The Flying Swing opened at 'Headlands Thrills', the former name of the area 'Marine World'. This ride will be closed down soon due to increasing maintenance cost and will be transformed into a yoga activities space.
Ferris Wheel	Ferris Wheel	1994	Marine World	Chance Rides	Unaccompanied: 1.52m (4 ft 12 in)	Operating; Closing soon	A Chance Rides Ferris Wheel. This ride will be closed down soon due to increasing maintenance cost and will be transformed into a yoga activities space.
Crazy Galleon	Pirate Ship	1984	Marine World	HUSS	1.22m (~4 ft)	Operating; Closing soon	The oldest flat ride still standing in the park (excluding other attractions). This ride will be closed down soon due to increasing maintenance cost and will be transformed into a yoga activities space.

Transport Rides

Map of transport

Name	Type	Opened	Territory	Additional Information
Ocean Express	Underground Train	2009	Aqua City; Rainforest	An Ocean themed train ride that transports guests to the other side of the park within just 4 minutes. Screens and special effects are in place during the ride.
Shuttle Bus	Shuttle Bus	1977	Aqua City; Polar Adventure	Only operates if one of the main transportation rides (Cable Car and Ocean Express) is closed.
Cable Car	Gondola lift	1977	Aqua City (Old Hong Kong); Marine World	One of the Park's most iconic attractions. Transports guests between the two tiers of the park (The Waterfront and The Summit).

The Summit

Marine World

The now-defunct Dragon rollercoaster

This area was formerly known as two distinct areas: Marine Land and Headlands Rides.

• Pacific Pier – Mimics the rocky habitat of harbour seals and California sea lions on the Northern Californian coast.
• Chinese Sturgeon Aquarium – Yangtze River Exploration – The 3,500 square-metre freshwater aquarium houses Chinese sturgeons along with other native species of the Yangtze River, closed in 2019.
• Ocean Park Tower – closing soon
• Sea Jelly Spectacular – Opened in 2006. Southeast Asia's first standalone sea jelly exhibit.
• The Dragon – Arrow Dynamics Custom Looper, first rollercoaster to feature a Sidewinder. Closed in February 2021, not reopening soon.
• The Abyss – A turbo drop ride, closed since 31 August 2021
• Flying Swing, closing soon.
• Wild Twister – A Mondial Ventura
• Crazy Galleon – A Huss Pirate ship, closing soon.
• Ferris Wheel – closing soon.
• Marine World Games Zone
• Garden of Joy
• 180 Laboratory - A haunted attraction set in a hidden laboratory where players have to shoot designated targets to eliminate as much mutated creatures and pathogens as possible. Similar to laser tag. Opened on 15 September 2023.
• Demon Grove - A haunted attraction set in an abandoned Japanese courtyard filled with yōkai. Opened on 15 September 2023.

Thrill Mountain

Thrill Mountain and Polar Adventure areas.

Thrill Mountain – Hair Raiser

Thrill Mountain was opened in December 2011 and occupies 222,800 sq ft (20,700 m²). The area is carnival-themed, and features five rides and eight booth games.

• Hair Raiser – A floorless rollercoaster built by B&M with four inversions.
• Whirly Bird – A chair swing ride that soars 30 m (98 ft) into the air
• Bumper Blaster – Bumper cars that can carry two in each car
• Rev Booster – A spinner ride
• The Flash – A swing ride that goes upside down, with a top speed of 60 km/h (37 mph), at a height of 22 m (72 ft) up into the air

Polar Adventure

South Pole Spectacular – Penguin

Polar Adventure was opened on 13 July 2012. The area features the North Pole Encounter, South Pole Spectacular and Arctic Fox Den, as well as the Arctic Blast roller coaster.

The attraction's carbon footprint is reduced through environmental technology, including a ventilation system that recycles residual cool air to cool down the Life Support System (LSS) and plant room area before being discharged, which it is claimed reduces electricity consumption by a third.

• Arctic Blast – A steel "roller coaster" located in the Polar Adventure with various dips and side turns. It is suitable for the whole family.
• North Pole Encounter – visitors can meet Pacific walruses and spotted seals, and other animals from the North Pole including Steller sea lions and snowy owls. The animals can also be viewed via an underwater tunnel.
• South Pole Spectacular – It is home to three penguin species: king penguins, southern rockhopper penguins and gentoo penguins. The viewing chamber, glass-panelled floors, walkways and balconies overlooking the water allow visitors to see the penguins from different angles.
• Arctic Fox Den – visitors can see Arctic foxes here to learn about their behaviour and the impact of humans on their habitat.

The Rainforest

Rainforest – The Rapids

The Rainforest was opened on 14 June 2011. Dozens of avian, terrestrial and aquatic animals living inside buttress roots accompany visitors on their immersive exploration of biodiversity. Prepare to be soaked on The Rapids, as water guns and sudden drops will get you wet from head to toe.

• The Rapids – A family river rapids ride along a rushing river that surrounds the themed zone.
• Expedition Trail – A walk-through rainforest exhibits where, visitors can meet some of the world's most striking tropical species, including Linnaeus's two-toed sloths, kinkajous, capybaras, toco toucans, green anacondas and more.
• Rainforest Why Zone – Trainers explain about rainforest animals in the wild and in captivity.

The Waterfront

The Grand Aquarium

Old Hong Kong

Aqua City

Aqua City was opened on 26 January 2011 and occupies around 200.000 square feet. It features:

• Grand Aquarium – Inside the Grand Aquarium, visitors can get up close to some 5,000 fish from over 400 species, such as the scalloped hammerhead and reef manta ray. Strolling through the Reef Tunnel and Panoramic Ocean Gallery, visitors can see the world's largest viewing dome in an aquarium, at 5.5 metres in diameter, and a 13-metre acrylic viewing panel, one of the largest in the world. It also features the world's first and only 360° water screen show Symbio! and Hong Kong's only restaurant inside an aquarium.
• Sea Life Carousel – Hong Kong's largest carousel, 15.1 metres across, with 61 carriers in 13 different designs inspired by endangered sea animals, holding up to 81 passengers.
• Old Hong Kong – Offers an immersive experience of culture, history, and delicacies of Hong Kong between the 1950s and the 1970s. It features a replica of Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier's clock tower and its signature toll, a manually retrofitted heritage tramcar and rows of tong lau-style apartment buildings. Visitors can also try more than 70 types of local street food and beverage that evoke the flavour of old Hong Kong. The area also provides a wide array of classic booth games.
• Waterfront Plaza – Features a lively carnival setting with a rotating mix of shows, magic and other acts performed by clowns, acrobats and jugglers. This area sets the backdrop for many of Ocean Park's festive events.

Amazing Asian Animals

• Giant Panda Adventure – A purpose-built habitat that houses 2 rare giant pandas - Ying Ying, and Le Le as well as red pandas. It also houses the critically endangered Chinese giant salamander.
• Panda Village – displays Asian small-clawed otters and a variety of Asian bird life in a woodland setting.
• Gator Marsh – A wetland setting, featuring endangered Chinese alligators from the Yangtze River.
• Goldfish Treasures – A goldfish pavilion featuring the latest and rarest varieties such as the Black Oranda and Blue Phoenix Eggfish. Explains the history and importance of the goldfish in Chinese culture.
• Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures – home to two golden snub-nosed monkeys, Le Le and Qi Qi, from Sichuan. Le Le and Qi Qi's offspring, Lokie (born 2017), is the first golden monkey born in Hong Kong and also resides there. The exhibit also acts as a resource centre on the care and conservation of this species. Pandas Jia Jia and An An also once lived there until their deaths.
• Emerald Trail – A verdant garden featuring natural settings with flowers, tall trees, stone bridges and gentle pools.

Whiskers Harbour

Whiskers Harbour, previously called Kid's World, features attractions for younger children, over an area 14,200 square metres.

• Balloon Up-up-and-away – A hot air balloon-themed Ferris wheel for very young visitors.
• Clown a Round – This merry-go-round has clown cars for younger kids to whirl around in.
• Frog Hopper – A kid's version of a thrill ride. Young visitors strap into the mechanised 'frog', hop high into the air and land back on their feet.
• Merry-go-round – A classic children's merry-go-round with gilded fairytale horses.
• Bouncer House – An inflatable, fully padded, covered house for children to bounce around in.
• Whiskers Harbour Playground – A safe, child- (and parent)-friendly haven for kids to run around and explore slides, see-saws, tunnels and jungle gyms.
• Interactive Shadow Play – Kids get to play simple spelling and skill games on interactive multimedia screens. Correct answers are rewarded with audiovisual presentations.
• Animal Story Corner – Children can explore interactive educational displays about different land, air and sea animals, and what makes each of them distinct.
• Whiskers Harbour Games Zone – The area offers over twenty classic arcade games.
• Toto the Loco – A small train that takes young visitors through a mini forest to meet clowns playing accordions, cellos and violins.
• Little Meerkat and Giant Tortoise Adventure - A newly opened display that shows meerkats and Aldabra giant tortoises in a theme of the African Savannah

Former attractions

Former attractions of Ocean Park include:

• Atoll Reef. It was located in Marine Land (now Marine World). Closed in early 2011 after 34 years of operation, many of the animals were transferred to the new Grand Aquarium. It was converted into Shark Mystique, which houses several species of sharks.
• Middle Kingdom. Opened in 1990, this area featured traditional Chinese culture and heritage along with buildings resembling traditional Chinese buildings. It closed in 2001, but the Middle Kingdom Restaurant was in operation until 2007.
• The Bird Paradise area, located in Tai Sue Wan near Adventure Land, closed down in 2013. It contained The Aviaries and Flamingo Pond. Plans are underway to redevelop this area into Water World.
• Space Wheel: A HUSS Enterprise. Formerly located in the Adventure Land section of the park.
• Bungee Trampoline – A trampoline that allows visitors to jump really high while strapped in bungee harnesses. Formerly located in the Thrill Mountain section of the park.
• Eagle – A HUSS Condor.
• Mine Train (越礦飛車) – A steel "mine train" roller coaster perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking Aberdeen Harbour.
• Raging River (滑浪飛船) – A log flume-type water ride that took passengers through "tropical waterfalls", narrow ravines and finished by shooting them down a slide at almost 60 km/h.

Animals

Ocean Park houses 6,515 animals as of 30 June 2023 (most of which being fish), down from the 12,344 animals during the same time in 2014.

The park has had success breeding rare shark species, the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, sea lions, seahorses, penguins, green anacondas, red-handed tamarins, pygmy marmosets, and several species of sea jellies. Endangered birds and butterflies have also been hatched and reared at Ocean Park.

Giant pandas

Amazing Asian Animals – panda Ying Ying

Giant Panda at Ocean Park

Red Panda at Ocean Park

In 1999, a pair of giant pandas, a male named An An (安安) and a female called Jia Jia (佳佳), were given to Ocean Park by China. The pair were given permanent homes in the "Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures" area.

In 2007, two more pandas were given to Hong Kong to mark the 10th anniversary of the city's 1997 handover. The pair of two-year-old pandas, a male called Le Le (樂樂) and a female named Ying Ying (盈盈), arrived at Ocean Park from the China Conservation and Research Centre in Wolong, Sichuan province. After quarantine, they made their first public appearance in the "Giant Panda Adventure" area on 1 July 2007. A new compound was prepared at the park to house them on their arrival.

In August 2015, Jia Jia became the oldest breeding panda in the world at the age of 37. In October 2016, her health condition began to rapidly deteriorate, exhibiting weight loss and a lack of interest in food and fluids. The panda experienced age-related health deteriorations in previous years, and had high blood pressure, arthritis, and cataracts in both eyes. On the 16th, having been found unable to walk, she was ultimately euthanised to prevent suffering. At age 38 (about 114 years old in human terms), Jia Jia was the world's oldest giant panda in captivity. The species' average life expectancy is below 20 years in the wild, but can be higher under human care.

In 2019, Ocean Park said that should the 14-year-old panda pair Le Le and Ying Ying not give birth to a cub some time soon, the park would consider sending them back to the Wolong National Nature Reserve or into the Sichuan wild.

Dolphins

In May 2001, Ocean Park became the first in the world to successfully breed dolphins via artificial insemination. See § Artificial insemination.

In July 2009, Domino and Dumisa, two dolphins from Bayworld in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, arrived at Ocean Park. The dolphins, a father and daughter pair, were separated to ensure that they do not mate with each other. They formed part of Ocean Park's breeding programme.

As of January 2024, the park houses 19 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, following the death of its oldest male, Molly, at the age of 40.

Killer whale – Miss Hoi Wai

Hoi Wai was a female killer whale, captured near Iceland in 1977 and kept at Ocean Park from January 1979 to April 1997. Miss Hoi Wai was about 5 metres (16 ft) long and weighed about 1,800 kilograms (4,000 lb). She died from an emergency intestine infected wound in 1997. In Hong Kong, Miss Hoi Wai (海威小姐) is still considered an icon and celebrity to this day. She was kept with Prince, a male killer whale who lived at the park from April 1989 until his death in July 1991. They produced no offspring.

Chinese sturgeons

In 2008, to mark China's hosting of the Summer Olympics, Ocean Park was gifted five rare Chinese sturgeons (symbolising the five Olympic rings) by the Chinese government. The Chinese sturgeon is rarer than the giant panda, and is considered a national treasure of China. Two of the sturgeons were bred by the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute and three by the Beijing Aquarium.

The five sturgeons made their public debut on 20 June 2008. However, one of them died four days later, after being bitten by a barracuda. On 14 July 2008, it was announced that Hong Kong would receive another five sturgeons from the Chinese National Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Association in time for the Olympics opening ceremony on 8 August, to complement the four fish already in site. The park's management opted to house the new arrivals in its existing shark aquarium, thus removing its sharks from public viewing. A second sturgeon died from an infection on 12 December. A third one died from an injury and two more were found to be ill in January 2009. The two sick fish were returned to the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute for expert care.

In December 2019, Ocean Park returned to mainland China the last batch of six Chinese sturgeons.

Animal encounter programmes

Ocean Park runs a series of programmes called "Get Closer to the Animals" which offer supervised access to its resident animals, from swimming with dolphins to learning to be a panda keeper. Holders of a diving certificate can even enter the Grand Aquarium, while an overnight camp within its dome offers a drier way to view the underwater world. There are behind-the-scenes tours of many facilities, often including the chance to get close to animals such as penguins, seals and other polar animals.

Animal mascots

Ocean Park introduced a waving sailor sea lion named Whiskers (known as Wai Wai in Chinese) as its major mascot in 2000. Subsequent members of the Ocean Park 'family' include James Fin (a shark), Jewel (a butterfly/fairy), Swift (a dolphin), Chief (a parrot), Professor (a turtle), Later Gator (a Chinese alligator), Redd (a red panda), Goldie (a goldfish), Tux (a rockhopper penguin), and four giant pandas: An An, Jia Jia, Le Le and Ying Ying.

In 2015, the older mascots were replaced by a newer set of mascots known collectively as "Whiskers & Friends". The mascots are now depicted in a more simplistic style. Some of the older mascots such as Whiskers and Redd remain mostly unchanged. However, brand new mascots (which are mostly rebooted designs of older animal mascots) are introduced as well. These new mascots include Fluffi (an Arctic fox), Mark (a shark), Justin (a dolphin), Dougie (a rockhopper penguin) and Bao Bao (a giant panda). Though the older mascots are no longer acknowledged by the park itself, traces of them can still be spotted on numerous rides, attractions and objects around the park, with a few notable examples being the Arctic Blast roller coaster, the Flying Swing and the waste containers in Marine World.

Internal transport

Ocean Park cable car

Ocean Park features a 1.5-kilometre (0.93 mi) long cable car system connecting the Waterfront and the Summit in an eight-minute journey, with the views of the South China Sea. It has a capacity of 4,000 passengers per hour with 252 cable cars on two pairs of ropeways. Each car can hold six passengers.

Ocean Express funicular railway

Hong Kong's second-longest outdoor escalator system, at 225 metres (738 feet) long provides the main link between facilities at Tai Shue Wan and the Summit. (The longest system is the Central–Mid-Levels escalators).

The "Ocean Express‌" funicular railway system between the Summit and the Waterfront can carry 5,000 people per hour on its three-minute journey. This themed ride uses multimedia effects to simulate the feeling of travelling into the depths of the sea.

Future developments

Adventure Zone (2025–26)

A plan for an adventure zone to replace the Park's Adventure Land area first emerged in 2020, when the Park asked the HKSAR for HK$10.6 billion to fund its long-anticipated expansion plan, which includes replacing Adventure Land with Adventure Valley and replacing Raging River with a luge track. When this plan was suspended and replaced by the rebirth plan, the concept of Adventure Valley was retained and presented as 'Adventure Zone', but now built and operated by an external operator instead of internally. Some key attractions in the area include a 'X-Raycer', an Alpine Coaster, Ziplines and Tubing. Construction for the area is set to start in 2024 and the area will be completed in around 2025.

Tai Shue Wan Pier

Along with Adventure Zone, the construction of a pier at Tai Shue Wan was also proposed in the rebirth plan to better connectivity between the Resort and the Southern District. A temporary pier, funded by the Park opened on 8 August 2023, provided ferry service to and from the Resort during the first few months of its debut. A permanent structure is set to replace the existing temporary pier, with construction starting in 2025 and completion later in the decade.

Research and conservation

Ocean Park conducts education and research into animal conservation, by operating observatories, laboratories, an education department, and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK), a fund that advocates, facilitates and participates in the conservation of wildlife and habitats, with an emphasis on Asia, through research and education. In 2013/2014, the foundation funded 44 conservation projects, covering 30 species in 12 countries with a total of HK$13 million (out of the Park's total turnover of HK$2 billion), a sharp increase over funding a few years earlier. The foundation was formed in 2005 from the merger of two earlier organisations, the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation (OPCF), founded 1993, and the Hong Kong Society for Panda Conservation (HKSPC), founded 1999.

Since 2006, OPCFHK has collaborated with the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to handle cetacean stranding cases within Hong Kong waters. After the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, OPCFHK established a Giant Panda Base Rebuilding Fund and donated equipment to the affected nature reserves.

Ocean Park has created education programmes, such as the Ocean Park Academy (OPA), begun in 2004, through which the Park runs educational tours for schoolchildren and workshops for teachers from the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Every year, the Park offers over 35 core courses for around 46,000 students on six big topics: giant pandas and red pandas, dolphins and sea lions, birds, fishes, plants, and mechanical rides.

The Marine Mammal Breeding and Research Centre set up by Ocean Park serves as a centre to house nine dolphins and conduct research on the breeding of dolphins. It is divided into 6 separate activity zones, and provides behavioural training and basic husbandry to the dolphins. It also plays a part in research work on the echolocation capabilities of dolphins. For five weeks in 2013, the centre was open for public visits.

Ocean Park has developed several new breeds of goldfish.

Artificial insemination

Bottlenose dolphin

In May 2001, Ocean Park became the first in the world to successfully breed dolphins via artificial insemination, following a 12-year research project. Two calves, one male and one female, were delivered nine days apart by two pregnant bottlenose dolphins, 22-year-old Ada and 20-year-old Gina. The park originally inseminated four females in May 2000 using sperm from a 17-year-old male named Molly; two of them were ultimately successfully inseminated, also in a world's first feat.

Artificial insemination of dolphins is exceptionally difficult due to their highly unpredictable fertility cycles, with past attempts in the United States having failed. Ocean Park's success was made possible by new ultrasound scanning techniques, which ensured ideal insemination by allowing real-time monitoring of whether a dolphin was about to ovulate, with close to 100 per cent accuracy.

According to Suzanne Gendron, the head of Ocean Park's zoological operations and education department, this breakthrough opens up the opportunity to carry out an in-vitro fertilisation programme on an international scale. This would reduce the need for aquariums to capture animals in the wild for breeding, which is done to maintain genetic diversity and avoid inbreeding among captive animals, which could create health problems. Inbreeding among dolphins in captivity is especially problematic as it quickly results in genetically weaker offspring. The park had previously been developing a sperm bank for dolphins.

The technique could also be used to help preserve endangered dolphin species. According to Gendron, it could be used on the rare Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (often referred to as the Chinese white dolphin), though there was not yet a need as the population was still large enough to support natural breeding. There were about 1,000 Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in southern Chinese waters near the Pearl River Delta in 2001.

Javanese cownose ray

On 23 April 2023, Ocean Park became the first in the world to successfully breed the endangered Javanese cownose ray (Rhinoptera javanica) via artificial insemination. According to a senor veterinarian at the park, artificial reproduction techniques were considered as the park's cownose rays had poor success with reproduction and were sometimes born dead.

The project began in late 2021 when the park selected three non-pregnant female rays, which were then housed together in the absence of males. The female rays were eventually inseminated in February 2022 using semen from two male rays. The semen was first diluted with a special solution and then preserved at −4 °C (25 °F). As the rays' blood test results could be distorted from stress, the team involved had trained its rays to voluntarily accept ultrasound check-up scans; the senior vet revealed that the park's staff used to chase its rays with nets 15 years prior. One female ray was born following 61 weeks of gestation, longer than the 47–53 weeks typical of its species. The birth was later confirmed to have resulted from the artificial insemination and not from parthoenogensis.

Named "April" after her birth month, the female ray turned eight months old in December 2023, and is publicly exhibited with a male ray in the park's shark and ray pool. The park intends on extending the breeding program to other elasmobranchs.

Criticism

Ocean Park has been criticised by wildlife advocates for certain practices including the wild capture of large sea animals, such as dolphins and orca, and the presentation of shows featuring such animals performing. Opponents have highlighted their views on international "Empty the Tanks" day – a non-violent multinational demonstration that aims to end the capture and sale of wild dolphins to marine parks, where the creatures are said to die younger and breed much less. There is concern for the psychological state of the mammals alongside their physiological needs. And the advocates say it sends the wrong message, not only to visitors but also to marine parks in mainland China, which, if they copied the Park's practices, could have a significant impact on wild populations.

Major annual events

Ocean Park hosts six major events throughout the year: an Kidsfest, Animal in High Definition Month, the Ocean Park Summer Splash, the Halloween Bash and Christmas and Chinese New Year celebrations.

Halloween Fest (Mid-September to Late October)

Main article: Ocean Park Halloween Bash

Since 2008, the Park has held a popular annual Halloween Bash through the month of October. Themes such as "Fear Formula" and "Haunted Hong Kong" provide modern twists on the traditional halloween rituals, including various attractions and activities.

Giant Panda at Ocean Park

Ocean Park Summer Splash (July–August)

The event is held each summer, with visitors partaking in various wet and wild thrills, including water games and water slides.

Christmas Sensation (December)

Christmas themed celebrations held from December to January every year.

Chinese New Year Fiesta (January/February)

Chinese New Year celebration events are held around January to February every year. The celebration usually features lantern displays, God of Fortune visits, lion and dragon dances. In 2013, the CNY Fiesta featured a 12-metre spinning lantern, as well as a traditional Chinese drum show.

Animal in High Definition Month (discontinued)

The Animal in High Definition Months enable visitors to encounter a variety of rare animals up close, with educational experts on hand to disseminate information about these creatures. The Animal in High Definition Month for 2010 had a reptile theme called, "Mighty Dragons". In 2012, the event let visitors explore Chinese national treasures, featuring the display of two Sichuan golden monkeys.

Attendance

Worldwide rank	Year	Number of visitors	Net change	% Change	New Attractions
30	2002	3,400,000	+442,000	+13
32	2003	2,900,000	−500,000	−17.2
35	2004	3,700,000	+800,000	+27.6
31	2005	4,030,000	+330,000	+8.9	Sea Jelly Spectacular
22	2006	4,380,000	+350,000	+8.7	SkyFair Plaza
16	2007	4,920,000	+540,000	+12.3	Giant Panda Habitat (Rethemed)
15	2008	5,030,000	+110,000	+2.2	Amazing Asian Animals
14	2009	4,800,000	−230,000	−4.6	Ocean Express, Sea Life Carousel, Chinese Sturgeon Aquarium
17	2010	5,404,000	+604,000	+12.6	Aqua City, The Rainforest, The Flash
11	2011	6,955,000	+1,551,000	+28.7	Thrill Mountain, Polar Mountain, Old Hong Kong
14	2012	7,436,000	+481,000	+6.9
12	2013	7,475,000	+39,000	+0.5	Shark Mystique
13	2014	7,792,000	+317,000	+4.2	Adventures in Australia
15	2015	7,387,000	−405,000	−5.2
18	2016	5,996,000	−1,391,000	−18.8
20	2017	5,800,000	−196,000	−3.3	VR Mine Train
17	2018	5,800,000	0	0	Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel
12	2019	5,700,000	−100,000	−7	Wild Twister, The Abyss VR Space Voyage,
9	2020	2,200,000	−3,500,000	−61.4	Gala of Lights, Little Meerkat and Giant Tortoise Adventure
N/A	2021	1,400,000	−800,000	−36.4	Explorer R, Water World Ocean Park Hong Kong
N/A	2022	1,400,000 (Ocean Park) 200,000 (Water World) 1,600,000 (total)	+200,000	+14.3	The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong
N/A	2023	2,100,000 (Ocean Park) 300,000 (Water World) 2,400,000 (total)	+800,000	+57.1	Sloth and Friends Studio

Awards

The park has won several awards, including The World's Seventh Most Popular Amusement Park and one of the "50 Most Visited Tourist Attractions in the world" by Forbes. In November 2012, Ocean Park became the first theme park in Asia to win the Applause Award from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Also, one of their pandas, Jia Jia (giant panda) garnered a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest panda in captivity.

Incidents

• On 5 December 2010, seven tourists were injured on the Ocean Express tunnel railway when a train driver triggered the emergency braking system by mistake. Ocean Park was required to install caps over the emergency brake button for their trains before reopening.
• On 10 April 2014, a 50-year-old man on holiday from Hubei, China, fell to his death as he was sitting on a railing. He lost balance and fell 11 m² (120 sq ft) down from the area known as The Summit.
• On 16 September 2017, a 21-year-old man died inside the park's Halloween attraction, "Buried Alive", where guests lie in a coffin until the bottom drops out, sending them down a slide. The man had accidentally entered a staff-only area, and was hit on the head by the coffin bottom. The man was sent to Ruttonjee Hospital and certified dead. Legislators and industry experts questioned why the dangerous restricted area was not locked and marked clearly with warning signage.

Access

Train platform at Ocean Park station

Mass Transit Railway

Main article: Ocean Park station

Ocean Park station on the South Island line is located adjacent the main entrance of the park. The station opened on 28 December 2016 and connects Ocean Park directly to Hong Kong's MTR system, from Admiralty station.

Bus

The Citybus Ocean Park Express (Route 629)‍ used to provide departures from Central Piers to Ocean Park only. This route has since stopped its regular service due to a decline in passenger numbers.

Passengers may use any of the Aberdeen Tunnel bus routes and walk to the park from the Aberdeen Tunnel Toll Plaza bus stop.

Car

The venue is also accessible by taxi, private hire car or personal car. The park provides some car park spaces close to the main entrance, however, the car park can be busy during peak times. Road access is via Route 1 (Aberdeen Tunnel) from central and eastern districts of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories or Pok Fu Lam Road from western districts.

See also

• Amusement parks in Hong Kong
• Allan Zeman, Chairman of Ocean Park from July 2003 to June 2014
• Tourism in Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
• Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden

External links

• Official website
• 40 years passed on Documentary by RTHK
• Media related to Ocean Park, Hong Kong (category) at Wikimedia Commons
• Geographic data related to Ocean Park Hong Kong at OpenStreetMap