Ocean Park: More rides, more shows, more memories

Among the world’s playgrounds, it has just been hailed the Best Theme Park in Asia of 2007 by Travel Weekly. And with a record attendance of over 80 million people throughout its 30-year history, Forbes Park Magazine named it one of the World’s Most Popular Amusement Parks in 2006. Welcome to Ocean Park, Hong Kong.

Set in the southern side of Hong Kong Island, Ocean Park has been welcoming visitors from all over the world for decades. Opened in January of 1977, this theme park underscores three things: education, conservation, and entertainment.

Education, because Ocean Park lets people know quite a bit about the world’s precious marine and animal life, including whales, dolphins and pandas. Conservation, because the park inspires people to respect and be one with nature. And finally, entertainment because this theme park also happens to be home to over 40 attractions and rides.

Ocean Park is the success that it is today because of its staff. In 2006, it was named the “Most Lovable Site in Hong Kong” by Hong Kong’s Home Affairs Bureau. And a lot of credit goes to the very dedicated theme park people.

Anytime you find yourself with Tom Mehrmann, you know you are in the company of a true theme park man. Tom’s involvement with theme parks started early, having become a park service attendant at the Knott’s Berry Farm in California back in 1977.

From then on, there was no taking this boy out of the theme park. In fact, he stayed on Knott’s Berry Farm as his rank moved up to vice president of park operations and entertainment. Eventually, though, Tom set his sights on something else that was miles and miles away.

“I am an American man standing before you, with the values of a Hong Kong park,” declares Tom.

As Ocean Park’s chief executive, Tom is taking the park even a step further. The park’s number of visitors is really one for the record books. “We are just a little bit shy of five million. It’s our best year in our 30-year history,” says Tom.

That 30-year history, Tom believes, is also filled with various memories, coming from families who have visited the park over and over again. “We’re a generational park,” Tom explains. “Those who came as kids once upon a time are now bringing their kids.” 

Now, kids aside, the Ocean Park experience is very much for everyone and anyone. At 807,000 square meters, this theme park may take a day or two to explore. But it’ll be so worth it. Just make sure you’ve got an Ocean Park map. Then choose which section you want to check out first, the Headland or the Lowland.

Your journey to the Headland actually begins with one of Ocean Park’s oldest and most loved rides, the Cable Car. Taking visitors from the Lowland to the Headland, these 252 cable cars will surely give you one of the most thrilling rides of your life. The cable car traverses through mountains while also moving 205 meters above the South China Sea. The ride takes about eight breathtaking minutes, one way.

Now, this one will give you a real high: the Ocean Park Tower. Reaching its 72nd floor puts you 200 meters above sea level. It’s the perfect way to get a 360-degree view of Hong Kong — from Aberdeen to Victoria Harbour to the islands of Lantau, Lamma, and Cheung Chau.

Meanwhile, the Headland also plays host to certain areas where you can have some encounters with various marine life. The Sea Jelly Spectacular is a Southeast Asian first,  featuring over 1,000 sea jellies that swim throughout eight exhibit zones. This spectacular Spectacular comes with theatrical sound and visual effects that make these sea jellies dazzle and dance.

From there, you can also check out the Atoll Reef which is home to some 3,000 fishes, including an 80-year-old grouper that is said to have already grown 2.13 meters long. Meanwhile, step into the Shark Aquarium, if you dare. It is a 3,500-square-meter walk-through tunnel that features over 70 sharks and rays from some 35 species.

Of course, the Headland experience would not be complete without having the ultimate thrills. And for these, Tom knows that the Ocean Park may just be home to the best of the best. “What makes our rides unique is that they’re positioned on the edge of a cliff. We’ve used our topography to our advantage to really give our rides an extra value,” Tom says proudly.

As far as rides go, the Ferris Wheel is a definite oldie but goodie. But for something that’s going to make you scream, there’s the Crazy Galleon, Eagle Ride, Flying Swing, the roller coaster called The Dragon and. of course, the Abyss Turbo Drop. The Abyss Turbo Drop takes thrill seekers up a 62-meter tower before starting on a sudden rapid descent!

Close to the Headland is the Tai Shue Wan area featuring the 225-meter-long escalator that is now the second longest in all of Hong Kong.

After your Headland adventure, it’s time to check out the Lowland. A main attraction of the Lowland is The Hong Kong Jockey Club Giant Panda Habitat. Having just been reopened last July, this panda habitat features Hong Kong’s most loved pandas An An and Jia Jia as well as the two newest members of the Ocean Park panda family, Ying Ying and Le Le.

Another big attraction in the Lowland is the Skyfair. Here, take a ride up the Sky Star, a helium balloon that can take as much as 29 people about 120 meters into the sky. And after your ride, check out the many performances that happen in Skyfair, from the Bungee Trampoline to the Winged Wonders, and more.

Feel free to visit Ocean Park anytime of year. But if you ask me, it’s best to come during any of its five annual events. There’s the Lunar Lucky Festival during Chinese New Year. Then, there’s the Animal Close Encounters in spring. Of course, there’s also the Summer Splash and Christmas Sensation. And not to be missed most of all is the Ocean Park Halloween Bash.

This Halloween Bash is now in its seventh year. And this year, the park is coming out with not just one but seven haunted houses. The seven haunted houses are: The Last Stop, Dementia, Mad Doctor’s Bizarre Lab, Haunted Ghost Town, Chug Kwai’s Ghost Gourd, Haunted Ghost Town, The Ghost Cruise, and Prison Riot.

In addition to these spooked houses, there will also be a number of Scary Zones, including Voodoo Bayou, Farm of Evil, and Path of Eternal Torture. And after you have gone through all these and you feel like you haven’t really gotten enough scares yet, how about watching some of the Scaremonies shows such as the Dance Mistress Dance Macabre, Zombie Can-Can, Corpse Races, Medicine Man Show and Fire Show. Oh and whatever you do, make sure you arrive late. Remember that this is Halloween — all spooks and thrills will run from 5:30 p.m. to 12 midnight.

Halloween time in Ocean Park may really be spooky, but where Ocean Park’s future is headed, things are simply looking bright. “The park is literally going to double its attractions over the next six years,” reports a proudly beaming Tom.

More rides, more experiences, more shows, more memories: now that’s an ocean lot of fun!

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Check out Ocean Park at www.oceanpark.com.hk.