Billed as the world’s largest new theme park opening of 2018, Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park will welcome its first official guests on September 28.
Positioned less than 30 minutes from by car Shanghai Disneyland, the 73-acre theme park (29.7 hectares) is expected to draw over three million visitors during its first year of operation. The new project represents the latest development from the Dalian Haichang Group, mainland China’s largest marine theme park operator. It has been designed by Hollywood-based Legacy | GGE.
“Our goal was to create the world’s greatest marine life park,” explains Mardy Ma, managing director of China for Legacy | GGE. “Parks like Sea World evolve in small pieces over many years, whereas we had the luxury of designing the entire park from the ground up. This allowed us to seamlessly integrate the latest design trends and animal care technologies.”
In addition to six pavilions and three theatres, the new park will also be home to a number of non marine attractions, including an Intamin launched rollercoaster and the world’s longest spinning rapids ride, by WhiteWater.
The new project is the latest in a long line of major marine life destinations brought to life by Legacy | GGE (formerly Goddard Entertainment). This began with the Georgia Aquarium in 2005. This past year saw the opening of the Kingdom of Poseidon integrated resort in China’s northern city of Harbin. In addition, a December 2018 premiere is currently slated for an as yet-unnamed second gate expansion of Chimelong’s Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai, another massive project designed by Legacy I GGE.
