Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park () is a

theme park An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, and events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often fea ...

owned by Haichang Ocean Park Holdings and located in the Chinese municipality of

Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...

. The grand opening of the park took place on November 16, 2018. The park is Haichang Ocean Park Holdings' second theme park in the country. Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park is themed to the ocean and its marine life and features

rides Rides may refer to: * Amusement rides * Bridle paths, or rides, tracks through woodland for horse riders Music * ''Rides'' (album), by British band Reef * The Rides, an American band Television * ''Rides'' (American TV series), an automotive ...

, animal exhibits, an onsite

hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...

, and shows. Half of the park is themed to a

tundra In physical geography, a tundra () is a type of biome where tree growth is hindered by frigid temperatures and short growing seasons. There are three regions and associated types of tundra: #Arctic, Arctic, Alpine tundra, Alpine, and #Antarctic ...

environment, which includes a conspicuous snow-covered mountain, while the other half of the park is themed to a tropical environment, which includes an equally conspicuous volcano. The two halves are connected by a

gondola lift A gondola lift is a means of cable transport and type of aerial lift which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel wire rope that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate suppo ...

and two large pedestrian bridges that cross a canal. The theme park's flagship attractions include a launch roller coaster, a

river rapids ride A river rapids ride (or river rafting ride) is an amusement ride that simulates whitewater rafting. History The river rapids ride concept was proposed by Bill Crandall (general manager of Six Flags AstroWorld, AstroWorld in Houston) and develop ...

, and a

killer whale The orca (''Orcinus orca''), or killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. The only extant species in the genus '' Orcinus'', it is recognizable by its black-and-white-patterned body. A cosmopolit ...

show and exhibit.

History

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park has been in development since at least 2012. When plans for the theme park were initially revealed, the park was originally going to be located on a long, narrow area of land on the east side of Dishui Lake. In the early planning stages, securing the land and government permissions was so critical to Haichang that they hired three different entertainment design firms, Romero VanRell Jeng and Associates, FORREC, and Legacy Entertainment, at full-fare to design completely different parks, and then let the local officials decide which design they preferred. Eventually Legacy Entertainment's design was selected, and then that design was later adapted to fit the park's new location on the west side of Dishui Lake. The theme park's

groundbreaking Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod, turf-cutting, or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such cer ...

ceremony took place on March 29, 2015. Trial operations of the theme park began on October 1, 2018.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website
Amusement parks in Shanghai Amusement parks opened in 2018 2018 establishments in China Pudong Oceanaria