Chimelong Ocean Kingdom opened on March 29, 2014, on Hengqin Island in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, as the marine-life centerpiece of the sprawling Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Resort. Designed by PGAV Destinations, the park set five Guinness World Records on opening day, including a title it held for nearly a decade: the world’s largest aquarium by total water volume, with roughly 48.75 million liters across its tanks.
That overall record has since passed to a neighboring Chimelong-owned facility, Chimelong Spaceship, which Guinness recognized in 2023 as the new largest aquarium. Ocean Kingdom still holds other titles, including the largest underwater viewing dome — a 12-meter-diameter structure inside its 22.7-million-liter whale shark tank, the single largest aquarium tank it built. This guide covers everything you need to actually plan a visit: how ticket tiers and pricing work, hours and the best time to go, parking and getting there from Hong Kong, Macau, or Guangzhou, and what’s inside each of the park’s eight zones.
Quick Answer
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is a marine-life theme park on Hengqin Island in Zhuhai, China, open daily (typically around 10 AM to 8 or 9 PM, later in summer and on peak dates) with a standard adult ticket around ¥395 on regular days and ¥448 on designated peak dates, plus discounted child/senior and bundled family tickets. It’s roughly 1.5-2 hours from Hong Kong or Macau by ferry plus taxi or shuttle, with on-site paid parking near the main gate, and its eight zones combine whale sharks, polar bears, and beluga whales with rides like the Parrot Coaster and a nightly light parade.
Tickets & Prices: How the Tiers Work
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom sells single-day tickets in three main tiers: a standard adult ticket priced at around ¥395 on regular days and ¥448 on designated peak dates (Chinese public holidays, Golden Week, and summer weekends), a discounted child/senior ticket (children roughly 1.0-1.5 meters tall or ages 3-11, and seniors 65 and up) at around ¥280 on regular days and ¥315 on peak dates, and bundled family options — a one-adult-plus-child ticket around ¥675 regular / ¥765 peak, and a two-adult-plus-child family ticket around ¥790 regular / ¥900 peak. Children under 1.0 meter or age 3 generally enter free with a paying adult.
On top of the base ticket, add-on packages are sold for priority ride access, reserved show seating, and photo packages — worth considering if you’re visiting on a crowded weekend and don’t want to queue for the Parrot Coaster or the evening parade. Third-party platforms like Trip.com and Klook typically list the adult ticket a little above the gate rate, often around ¥450, in exchange for more flexible cancellation windows, and some bundle entry with Chimelong hotel stays. Because exact prices and tiers shift with the season and with promotions, check current pricing and book directly through the official Chimelong Resort site before you travel.
Hours & Best Time to Visit
The park typically opens around 10 AM and runs into the evening, often extending to 9 or 10 PM on summer weekends and around the nightly parade and fireworks; exact opening and closing times shift by season and holiday and are published on the official Chimelong site and app closer to your visit date. Arriving at opening is the most reliable way to beat both the crowds and the queue for the whale shark viewing dome, which fills up quickly once tour groups arrive.
Weekdays outside Chinese national holidays — Golden Week in early October, Chinese New Year, and the summer school break — are consistently the least crowded, and also fall into the lower peak-day ticket tier, so flexible dates get you both a cheaper ticket and shorter lines.
Getting There from Hong Kong, Macau & Guangzhou
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom sits inside the Chimelong International Ocean Resort in Hengqin, on the Zhuhai side of the border from Macau. From Hong Kong, the most common route is a ferry (around 75 minutes) from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal or Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal to Zhuhai’s Jiuzhou Port, followed by a roughly 30-40 minute taxi or the Chimelong shuttle bus to the resort; budget travelers can also cross via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge by coach, and some operators run direct shuttle buses from Hong Kong International Airport straight to the resort.
From Macau, Hengqin is a short taxi or bus ride across the Hengqin Port border crossing — often the fastest option if you’re already staying on the Macau side. From Guangzhou or elsewhere in the Pearl River Delta, high-speed rail to Zhuhai followed by a local taxi is the most straightforward route. Several Chimelong-branded hotels, including the Chimelong Penguin Hotel and Chimelong Spaceship Hotel, sit next to the park entrance with free intra-resort shuttles if you’d rather stay overnight than commute in for the day.
Parking & Getting Around the Resort
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom has surface and underground parking lots near the main entrance for visitors driving in, charged by the hour with a daily cap; parking is free for guests staying at any of the on-site Chimelong hotels. Arriving before mid-morning gives you the best shot at a close spot before lots fill on weekends and holidays.
Once inside, the eight zones are connected by Ocean Avenue and a resort tram, so you don’t need a car to move between exhibits — but the footprint is large enough that most first-time visitors plan for a full day.
The Eight Themed Zones
Ocean Kingdom is organized into eight themed zones connected by Ocean Avenue, the park’s central shopping-and-dining spine. Dolphin Bay centers on dolphin habitats and shows; Polar Adventure recreates Arctic and Antarctic habitats for polar bears, beluga whales, walruses, and several penguin species; and Walrus Mountain and Hero Island add further themed animal encounters and rides.
Rainforest Flight is the park’s ride-focused zone, home to the Parrot Coaster, while Ocean Wonder and the whale shark aquarium building house the park’s signature marine-life exhibits, including the underwater viewing dome. Because the zones are spread across a large footprint, first-time visitors typically need six to eight hours to see the major shows and exhibits without rushing between them.
Record-Setting Marine Exhibits
The whale shark tank is the park’s headline exhibit: a 22.7-million-liter saltwater tank built around the world’s largest underwater viewing dome (12 meters in diameter) and the world’s largest acrylic viewing panel. Walking through the dome puts whale sharks, manta rays, and other large pelagic species directly overhead.
Ocean Kingdom’s five opening-day Guinness World Records included the title of world’s largest aquarium by total water volume, a record it held for nearly a decade before it passed to Chimelong Spaceship, a separate indoor park at the same resort that Guinness recognized in 2023. The two parks are commonly confused online since both carry the Chimelong name and sit on the same Hengqin resort property, but they are distinct attractions with separate tickets.
Rides, Shows & the Nightly Parade
Beyond the aquariums, the park runs scheduled marine-animal shows throughout the day — dolphin, sea lion, and beluga performances are the most popular — plus thrill rides like the Parrot Coaster in Rainforest Flight. Showtimes are staggered across zones and posted on the park app each morning, so planning a rough loop around two or three must-see shows helps you avoid backtracking.
Most evenings close with a parade and light show along Ocean Avenue, with fireworks or a drone show on peak dates; arriving along the route 20-30 minutes early secures a clear viewing spot.
How Long to Spend & What to Bring
A full day (opening to closing) is the realistic minimum to cover the major shows, the whale shark dome, and a couple of rides without feeling rushed; travelers staying at a Chimelong resort hotel often split the visit across a day and a half to also catch the nightly parade without rushing out at closing. Lockers are available near the main exhibits for bags, and a change of clothes is worth packing if you plan to get close to splash zones at the dolphin or sea lion shows.
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Sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, and a portable phone charger (for the park’s digital map and show-schedule app) round out what most visitors wish they’d brought, since much of the park is outdoors between indoor exhibit buildings.
Rubber-armored for small hands, so kids can find the snow leopard before the adults do.
A field guide that keeps the animal spotting going on the drive home and at home.
Zoo days are long and the shade isn't always where the animals are.
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom visitor guide FAQs
How much does a Chimelong Ocean Kingdom ticket cost?
A standard adult ticket runs around ¥395 on regular days and ¥448 on designated peak dates (Chinese public holidays, Golden Week, summer weekends). Child/senior tickets are around ¥280 regular / ¥315 peak, and bundled family tickets are also available. Because rates and promotions change seasonally, check current pricing on the official Chimelong site or a major booking platform before you travel.
What are Chimelong Ocean Kingdom’s opening hours?
The park generally opens around 10 AM and closes between 7:30 PM and 10 PM depending on the season, with later closes on summer weekends and around the nightly parade. Exact hours for your travel dates are published on the official site and app shortly before your visit.
How do I get to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom from Hong Kong or Macau?
From Hong Kong, take a ferry to Zhuhai’s Jiuzhou Port (about 75 minutes) and then a taxi or shuttle to the resort, or cross via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge by coach. From Macau, it’s a short taxi or bus ride across the Hengqin Port border crossing.
Is parking available at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom?
Yes, there are paid surface and underground parking lots near the main entrance, charged hourly with a daily cap. Parking is free for guests staying at any of the on-site Chimelong hotels.
Is Chimelong Ocean Kingdom still the world’s largest aquarium?
No. It held that Guinness World Record for nearly a decade after opening in 2014, but the title passed in 2023 to Chimelong Spaceship, a separate indoor theme park at the same resort. Ocean Kingdom still holds other records, including the largest underwater viewing dome.
How many days do I need at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom?
One full day covers the main shows, the whale shark dome, and a few rides, though a day and a half lets you also catch the nightly parade without rushing to the exit at closing.
What’s the best time of year to visit to avoid crowds?
Weekdays outside Chinese national holidays — Golden Week, Chinese New Year, and summer school break — are the least crowded and also fall into the lower peak-day ticket tier.
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