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Ocean Park Review

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Ocean Park

Address: Tai Shue Wan Rd., Southside, Aberdeen
Phone: 2552-0291
www.oceanpark.com.hk

Category: Amusement Parks
Location: Southside

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Fodor's Review:

When it comes to amusement parks, there's no question where Hong Kongers' loyalties lie. This marine-theme park embraces both high- and low-octane buzzes and spectacular zoological attractions; they even breed endangered species here. And there's an educational twist to many of the attractions. The park stretches out over 170 hilly acres, and you can gaze down at much of it from spookily silent cabins of the mile-long cable car that connects the tamer Lowlands area to the action-packed Headland. If all you fancy is roller-coasting, enter the park at the Tai Shue Wan Middle Kingdom entrance, and head straight up the escalator to Adventureland. If you're planning to do everything, start at the main entrance.

The highlights of the Lowland Gardens are the giant pandas, An An and Jia Jia, who lumber fetchingly around their bamboo-filled enclosure. Paths wind to other enclosures, including a cantilevered butterfly house where rare species are bred, and the traditional Chinese architecture of the Goldfish Pagoda. Cross a rickety bridge to the lush undergrowth of the Amazing Amazon: its inhabitants are richly colored birds like toucans and flamingos. The Dino display focuses on such modern "dragons" as the Chinese alligator.

Hong Kong's biggest rollercoaster, the Dragon, is at the Headland, where the cable car stops. It might not quite be up to international standards, but it still loops the loops. There's also a Ferris wheel and swinging pirate ship here. If your kids want a ticket to ride but are too small to get past Headland height restrictions, make for the old-school attractions at Kids World. There's a carousel as well as kid-size fairground stalls. You can also sneak in some learning at Dolphin University. (The first-ever dolphins born from artificial insemination were born in Ocean Park.)

More than 2,000 fish find their way around the Atoll Reef in Marine Land. The 70 inhabitants of the Shark Aquarium look a bit listless, though they may still raise a few hairs on the back of your neck. If you're comfortable with performing animals, head for the Ocean Theatre, where dolphins, orcas, and sea lions clown around with surprising grace. In Adventureland, the Wild West-theme Mine Train was designed to feel rickety and screw-loose, which is probably why it rates highest on the scream-o-meter. Expect a light spraying or a heavy drenching at the Raging River: it all depends on your seat (and your luck). Rounding up the adrenaline boosts is the Abyss Turbo Drop, consisting, simply, of a 200-foot vertical plunge. It will definitely give you that sinking feeling.

Ocean Park is 30 minutes from the Admiralty MTR by Bus 620. Buses 70, 75, 90, 97, 260, 6A, 6X, and 29R also run from Central.