Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
After going to Chimelong’s Safari Park I decided to take a trip to Zhuhai to see the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom. I enjoy zoos but I love aquariums. I went to Mystic Aquarium more times than I can count as a kid and whenever I go to Boston I stop by the New England Aquarium. Needless to say I had high hopes for the Ocean Kingdom.
I mentioned the zoo is in close proximity to a number of other parks here but the aquarium is not one of them. Instead of Guangzhou, the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is located in Zhuhai, which borders Macau. Their website lists lots of ways to get to the park and I chose to take the ferry from Shenzhen to Zhuhai, then a shuttle bus from the port to the aquarium. If I remember correctly the shuttle bus also makes a few stops at some areas with more affordable hotels near the Chimelong complex but you might have had to ask the bus driver to stop there. I apologize for not remembering… The aquarium itself is located west of Macau in a little abutment of Zhuhai. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom may not be in close proximity to the Guangzhou Chimelong attractions but it’s a destination in itself with a number of Chimelong branded hotels and a circus near the aquarium, so an event can be made of a trip to Zhuhai as well.
The aquarium itself is not what you’d expect if you’ve only visited aquariums in the west. At least it was nothing like what I had expected. The aquariums I’ve been to, while admittedly limited in number, were usually mostly self contained or small and part of a larger zoo. The Chimelong Ocean Kingdom was more of an aquarium/theme park hybrid. It is primarily outdoors, with different areas surrounding a central artificial lake. Some of the areas contain things you’d expect in an aquarium. For example there are sea lion and dolphin shows in the walrus and dolphin areas. The dolphin area also has exhibits with different kinds of dolphins and you can see walruses and sea lions in the walrus area. There are belugas and penguins in the arctic area, loads of colorful fish in the Amazon area, and a huge ocean tank in another area. This huge ocean tank was the highlight of the trip for me. It is absolutely enormous and houses whale sharks, which I had always wanted to see. The main room is big and spread out, with a large viewing window and two levels so that you aren’t likely to get stuck behind too many people and be unable to see. I could have spent the entire trip in that one room watching the fish in that tank.
The giant ocean tank at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
But Chimelong Ocean Kingdom sets itself apart from a standard aquarium with some unexpected things. Many aquariums have some animals that aren’t necessarily aquatic. Many have some snakes or frogs or other small animals that sort of fit the theme. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom takes it farther. In addition to the fish and marine mammals they have arctic mammals like polar bears and foxes and a seabird area. There are also a number of rides at the aquarium like roller coasters and splash rides. I skipped them because I was more interested in the animals but I did go on the “Deep Sea Odyssey” ride that takes you around the large ocean tank. There’s also an impressive show that takes place on the central lake as well. I’m pretty sure it was telling a story but it was hard to pay attention with all of the jet skis and fireworks. It was impressive and well done and worth staying later one day to see.
Although more theme park than aquarium I was not let down. There were plenty of animals to look at, including some I had not had the chance to see before. The whale sharks were of course a highlight, but the manatees and some of the dolphins are not often seen either. The large, spread out area was a nice change of pace and allowed the trip to be easily split in parts. By splitting the areas of two days it was easy to remember where I had and had not been. While the rides didn’t really interest me they’re an exciting addition for many people.
While quite enjoyable, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom suffers from the problems you’ve come to expect. Like any park worth it’s salt the food is overpriced and God help you if you want to buy souvenirs. The closest hotels are run by Chimelong and looked very expensive. The more affordable lodgings were farther removed from the park. Some of the animals, like the polar bear and whale shark, are probably in spaces that are far too confined for them. Just like at Chimelong Safari Park, your mind won’t be changed here. The animals aren’t kept in appalling conditions but they are still captive. Also like to safari park the aquarium is quite large and best explored over at least two days. If you visit the circus as well you may even be able to make it a three day trip.
I really enjoyed the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom and managed to see pretty much everything. That being said I’d like to be able to get back again. There’s something calming about watching fish swim around I guess.
Thanks for reading and I'll see you on my next trip. Don't forget to click the links below and follow to stay up to date on what I'm doing and where I am and to see all the pictures and videos from my trips.