Legacy Entertainment unveils design for Beijing Haichang Ocean Park

Legacy Entertainment, a leading theme park and resort design company, together with its subsidiary, The Aquarium Design Company, have unveiled the design for the highly awaited Beijing Haichang Ocean Park.

The 150,000 square metre (1,614,586 square foot) venue, located near Universal Studios Beijing in the city’s Tongzhou area, will be one of the world’s largest aquariums when it opens in 2027.

Cutting-edge facility

This project is being developed in collaboration with Beijing Tongzhou Urban Construction and Operation Group (TCJ). It also marks Legacy Entertainment’s second project with Haichang, the top operator of marine life parks in China.

Barry Kemper, Legacy’s chief operating officer and co-owner, says: “Following the success of our design work at Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, which opened in 2018, we are honored to now have this opportunity to create an all-new Ocean Park for Beijing. Visitors familiar with Haichang’s other properties will be delighted to see that for the Beijing Park, we have imagined something completely shocking and truly unique there.”

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park has announced a record attendance of 4,200,000 visitors in 2023. Kemper says that, unlike its Shanghai counterpart, the forthcoming Beijing Haichang Ocean Park will be primarily indoors to accommodate the region’s harsh winter weather.

Legacy has brought together a group of top talent from the industry to realise the project, with partners such as Rabben Herman Design Office, Hetzel Design, Visual Terrain, and Management Resources / ProFun. The team collaborated with Haichang to build “the aquarium of the future”, and have developed a cutting-edge facility that integrates the newest developments in animal husbandry, environmental design, and visitor experience.

“Beijing Haichang Ocean Park is the first step in the next wave of tourism development in China,” says Kemper. “Legacy has been the market leader in the design of themed entertainment attractions throughout China for nearly two decades now, and the upcoming Beijing Haichang Ocean Park is only the first in a series of incredible new projects we have in the works there.

“The confidence from both private and government entities in China to prioritize this massive undertaking is a sure sign that the future of location-based entertainment continues to shine brightly in the world’s fastest-developing tourism market.”

Recently, Legacy revealed details of two megaprojects totalling more than $500m in investment. The company also announced that several of its previously completed projects have hit significant performance milestones.