Shanghai Hopes to Attract Six Million Yearly Visitors to New Polar Park

Shanghai Haichang Polar Ocean World that began construction on March 29 near Dishui Lake in the Lingang area is projected to attract six million visitors a year when it opens in 2017.

Along with Shanghai Disneyland, the park is set to propel Pudong to become the biggest tourism destination in East Asia and to promote the development of Shanghai as a world-renowned tourism city.

Haichang Holdings, the park's developer and operator, is aiming to develop the marine park among the "top-five" worldwide.

The polar-themed ocean park is set to cover almost 30 hectares and will compete in the international tourism market. It will offer the largest number of marine species on exhibition, including a broad range of Arctic and Antarctic wildlife.

The park will also provide the most innovative display methods and marine animal shows plus a countless science-themed educational programs and comprehensive entertainment experiences.

To be included are four marine animal interactive programs, 12 display venues, three theaters and 15 other entertainment facilities.

The park will combine entertainment and education and will have both international and Chinese flavors, especially Shanghai culture.

Teams from Disneyland and Sea World parks helped with the planning and concept design, said officials. It will also engage the assistance of the Sea World in Hong Kong and Polar Research Institute of China in animal conservation.

The project will follow the national development strategy of "Yangtze River Economic Zone," optimize the regional layout strategy of the "Yangtze River Economic Zone," and settle in the Yangtze River Delta area.

Yuan Bing, managing director of Hony Capital, an investor of Haichang Holdings, said that his company is confident in the domestic tourism market, and that Haichang's position in the industry, its operation capability, and outstanding performance in the niche market are appealing.