Ocean Park Cable Car

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 now-defunct Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park which closed on 31 March 1997, four months before the 1997 handover.

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.Ocean Park press release
, 3 December 2014 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 , the park is separated by a large mountain into two areas, The Summit (Headland) and The Waterfront (Lowland). These areas can be reached by a cable car system, or the Ocean Express funicular railway. 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 orca, and the presentation of shows featuring such animals performing.'Empty the tanks': Hong Kong's Ocean Park at centre of activists' battle to stop dolphin captivity
, SCMP, 27 June 2015
, HK Dolphin Watch

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

History and development

Opened on 10 January 1977 by the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Murray MacLehose, Ocean Park was constructed as a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, with HK$150 million of funding. The land was provided free by the Hong Kong Government. Between 1982 and 1984, the Jockey Club put a further HK$240 million into developing facilities at Tai Shue Wan and thrill rides at the Summit.

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-profit organisation.

In 2003, Allan Zeman, known for leading the creation of the popular Lan Kwai Fong entertainment district of Hong Kong, was appointed Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, a position he held for 11 years.

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 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 dedicated thrill ride area, Thrill Mountain, 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 b
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.

A 20,000 sq ft shark aquarium opened in July 2014 at the former Atoll Reef site called Shark Mystique.

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

In January 2020, the park sought HK$10 billion from the government for a major upgrade, following a 14 percent decline in visitor numbers and a cash-flow crisis. The government was ready to support the move, but legislators from both sides had concerns.Ocean Park’s fight for survival: can home-grown Hong Kong attraction be brought back from the brink?
SCMP, 1 Feb 2020

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.

Senior leadership

Chairman

# Kenneth Fung (1977–1982)
# David Newbigging (1982–1984)
# Gordon MacWhinnie (1984–1993)
# Ronald Carstairs (1993–1996)
# Robert Kwan (1996–1997)
# Payson Cha (1997–2000)
# Philip Chen (2000–2003)
# Allan Zeman (2003–2014)
# Leo Kung (2014–2020)
# Lau Ming-wai (2020–2022)
# Paulo Pong Kin-yee (2022– )

Chief Executive Officers

# John Corcoran (1996?-1999)
# Randolph Guthrie (1999–2004)
# Tom Mehrmann (2004–2016)
# Matthias Li (2016–2020)
# Ysanne Chan (2020–2021)
# Ivan Wong (2021– )

Attractions

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

Rollercoasters (Including scrapped plans)

Water Rides

Flat Rides

Transport Rides

The Summit

Marine World

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.
*The Abyss – A turbo drop ride, closed since 31/8/2021.
*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

Thrill Mountain

Thrill Mountain was opened in December 2011. It is a carnival-themed area of 222,800 square feet. It offers five rides, eight booth games, as well as food, beverages, and merchandise.

* Hair Raiser – A floorless rollercoaster built by B&M with four inversions.
*Whirly Bird – A chair swing ride that soars 30 meters 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 its top speed being 60 km/h, at a height of 22m up into the air
* Bungee Trampoline – A trampoline that allows visitors to jump really high while strapped in bungee harnesses

Polar Adventure

Polar Adventure was opened on 13 July 2012, featuring 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 cut 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

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. You will Get Wet on This ride, as water guns and sudden drops can and will soak you.

*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

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 two rare giant pandas - Ying Ying and Le Le, as well as red pandas. It also houses the critically endangered Chinese giant salamander

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