Ocean Park 50th Anniversary: New Conservation Center, Panda Exhibit Coming
HK01 · 3 SOURCES1 day ago3 MIN
Summary
Ocean Park is gearing up for its 50th anniversary milestone on January 10, 2027, launching a comprehensive year-long celebration themed "Extending Touching Futures" that emphasizes harmonious coexistence between humans, animals, and nature. The festivities will feature two groundbreaking exhibits: a Marine Mammal Conservation Center converted from the former Arctic Journey attraction, and a new Giant Panda Habitat with unprecedented veterinary monitoring capabilities. Beyond conservation, the park is forging partnerships with over 50 local intellectual properties and Hong Kong's iconic Feng Yun comic series to deliver immersive entertainment experiences.
Key Points
- The Marine Mammal Conservation Center, opening in January 2027, will display the complete skeletal specimen of an Omura's whale from the Bryde's whale complex that stranded and died in Sai Kung waters in 2023 after 19 days, measuring over 8 meters in length
- The new Giant Panda Habitat, slated to open in Q3 2027, will provide tailored environments for all six pandas (Ying Ying, Le Le, An An, Ke Ke, Jia Jia, and De De) across different life stages, featuring Hong Kong's first elevated observation platform for veterinary teams
- Ocean Park will launch a two-phase collaboration with more than 50 local IPs starting December, with Phase 1 featuring McDull and B.Duck, followed by Phase 2 in mid-2027 including Old Master Q and government department mascots
- Water World will host a "Water Music Mania Season" from November, featuring mini concerts, fan meets, aquatic yoga, electronic dance parties, and the return of popular summer attractions like the water gyro challenge
- A Tai Shui Wan Bay Carnival in December will offer an oversized inflatable playground, heated pool facilities, new racing tracks, and laser tag challenges without requiring swimsuit changes
Why It Matters
The 50th anniversary initiatives underscore Ocean Park's transformation from a traditional amusement destination into a world-class conservation and education hub, aligning with Hong Kong's broader strategy to develop sustainable tourism and ecological literacy. The new conservation center's whale skeleton exhibit and research displays will provide public education on pressing environmental challenges like climate change and plastic pollution, while the expanded panda program leverages Hong Kong's beloved national treasure ambassadors to foster community pride and international engagement .
The 50th anniversary initiatives underscore Ocean Park's transformation from a traditional amusement destination into a world-class conservation and education hub, aligning with Hong Kong's broader strategy to develop sustainable tourism and ecological literacy. The new conservation center's whale skeleton exhibit and research displays will provide public education on pressing environmental challenges like climate change and plastic pollution, while the expanded panda program leverages Hong Kong's beloved national treasure ambassadors to foster community pride and international engagement .