Insight | In our backyard

Paulo Barbosa

Traditionally Macau doesn’t pay much notice to deeds on the other side of the border. But the times when Zhuhai was little more than a fishermen’s village are long gone and, in some aspects, the neighboring city is more developed than Macau. Even in urban planning aspects, Zhuhai benefits from having lots of space to grow, while the lack of space (and ideas) here obviously hinders development. Zhuhai is implementing modern solutions that leave Macau behind, like the introduction of a bike-sharing system in December 2012 and the revamp of its waterfront area.
In spite of its closeness to Macau, Hengqin was also little known here until recently. Even now, I bet that many local residents have never set foot on the island that they can see from their windows. After all, living an “aquarium lifestyle” is one of Macau’s features.
Many also still ignore that Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, one of the world’s largest aquariums, opened in 2014, as part of a huge tourist complex that includes three hotels. It’s located a 5 minute drive away from Hengqin Port, the border with Macau that’s now open round-the-clock.
I visited the theme park this weekend and was surprised by its size and also by the number of visitors there. A crowd of thousands was visiting the recreational facility, which offers an entertainment experience clearly different from Macau.
The family-friendly Ocean Kingdom includes several aquariums and pools featuring countless species of fish. One of those aquariums (see Decisive Moment) has been certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s biggest. Whales and manta rays swim in their enclosures. Some rare habitats (for this latitude) are replicated, such as the polar environment appropriate for penguins and polar bears. Two large auditoriums feature regular shows with belugas and dolphins interacting intelligently with humans.
But the park is much more than an aquarium. It includes a huge roller coaster and many carousels and games to delight the young. The 5D special effect cinema is an immersive film experience, offering a glimpse into the future of cinema. The day closes with a beautiful fireworks display, while images are projected through a giant whale that could become the iconic image of the park.
This resort attracts mainly families, many travelling in package tours and staying overnight in the three hotels with a view of surrounding Macau landmarks: Hengqin Bay Hotel, Circus Hotel and Penguin Hotel (opened in February), which collectively offer around 5,000 hotel rooms.
But how has Chimelong drawn so many people to a recently opened theme park? It does so because it’s the leading tourist company in China, operating other huge facilities, like the Guangzhou Chimelong Water Park that, according to some estimates, is the most visited water park in the world.
Chimelong didn’t even try to promote the new facility in Macau or outside China. They don’t need to do so. Their network of mainland tour agencies provides the clientele. They target the country’s internal market. I saw only a handful of foreign visitors during my visit (foreign staff, mainly performers and animal trainers, were present in higher numbers). Although some information is available in English, the theme park was made for a Chinese public. And it is already full.
So, it is arguable that the Chimelong resort doesn’t need Macau, in spite of the geographical closeness. But is it competition to the MSAR’s offerings or does it benefit both sides? Obviously the offer is different and both sides shouldn’t turn their backs on each other.
Touristic partnerships should be explored, since Hengqin has the space that Macau lacks and Macau offers a product that Hengqin can’t have (gambling). A good example of that could be a partnership between Hengqin Bay Hotel and The Venetian, so visitors enjoy both facilities via a promotional package. According to Ivan Leung, general manager of the Hengqin Bay Hotel, partnerships with other companies are being discussed.