Hong Kong Ocean Park

[Guest guest]

South China Morning Post

Saturday, March 19, 2005

 

Park's big vision includes a little of everything

 

by CARRIE CHAN

 

Travelling through tropical forests, dining in an underwater

restaurant, tying the knot next to sharks, playing with polar bears.

These are among the attractions that make up the $5.5 billion vision

for the new Ocean Park in 2010.

 

Park chairman Allan Zeman yesterday unveiled highlights of the plan,

which include acquiring 33 extra animal species and doubling the number of

rides from 35 to 70.

 

There will be 27 food outlets and 41 retail shops across the park. The

rides will include stomach-churning roller coasters that turn patrons upside

down five times in less than a minute. Animals will include killer whales,

polar bears and performing walruses.

 

Under the plan, which took two years to draft, the Lowland and

Headland areas will be renamed Waterfront and the Summit, connected either

by cable car or a cable-towed train able to make the 1.4km journey up the

hillside in less than three minutes. The train will carry 5,000 people an

hour.

 

The Waterfront will encompass three themed areas - Aqua City, Birds of

Paradise, and a children's play area, Whiskers Harbour.

 

If plans for an MTR line to the park go ahead, the journey from

Admiralty to the park will take less than five minutes.

 

Passengers exiting the MTR station will find themselves next to a

Grand Aquarium with millions of litres of water.

 

At a glassed " underwater restaurant " , diners will be able to eat as

sharks and other marine creatures swim above them. The more courageous

patrons will be able to feed the sharks. There are also plans to hold

weddings inside the aquarium building.

 

At Birds of Paradise, there will be terraced restaurants where rare

bird species fly above the diners.

 

The Summit features will hold four themed areas - Marine World, Polar

Adventure, The Rainforest and Thrill Mountain.

 

Marine World will include a new killer whale stadium able to seat

5,000 and new dolphin shows.

 

Polar Adventure will have penguin glaciers and a polar bear cove.

Walruses will perform to up to 300 people under the " northern lights " . Also

planned is an ice palace with huge ice sculptures.

 

In the Rainforest, suspension bridges will take visitors through

traditional villages with artificial rain, and to water rides. A martial

arts performance in a typhoon scenario is also planned.

 

As well as the new roller-coaster rides, Thrill Mountain will be home

to a panda paradise where two extra baby pandas might be acquired if the

central government gives its approval.

 

There will be three hotels - the Ocean Hotel next to the entrance in

the Waterfront area, the Summit Spa and Resort and the Fisherman's Wharf

Hotel in Tai Shue Wan. As there is still unused land around the park, Ocean

Park is seeking government approval to increase the total area from 43

hectares to 55 hectares.