ENG-2004 — Page 523

Recreation, Sport and the Arts 453

tropical rain forests and deserts. The vantage point is a 30-metre tower from which visitors can have a panoramic view of the park and the surrounding area.

Apart from enjoying the passive recreation facilities of the park, visitors can also use the facilities in the sports centre and the squash centre.

Ocean Park

Situated on the southern side of Hong Kong Island, Ocean Park is one of the world's premier sea life and animal theme parks covering more than 870 000 square metres of land. Operated by the Ocean Park Corporation - a statutory board it is a non-profit organisation providing elements of entertainment, education and conservation.

Over three million people visit the Ocean Park each year. Residents of Hong Kong as well as tourists from all over the world enjoy the facilities and services provided at the Ocean Park. With 27 years of history, Ocean Park has established itself as one of the major tourist attractions in Hong Kong and Asia. Aside from entertainment through thrill rides and a wide variety of shows, the park prides itself on its education and conservation programmes. About 40 000 school children in Hong Kong visit the park each year and learn about animals through structured programmes and behind the scene tours. The park's research activities on marine mammals and artificial insemination have also produced the world's first successful births of two Pacific Bottle Nose dolphins conceived through artificial insemination in 2001.

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The park is the home for a pair of giant pandas. An An and Jia Jia bestowed on Hong Kong by the Central People's Government. Both have adapted extremely well in their new home at the 2 000 square meters Giant Panda Habitat at Ocean Park.

In 2002, Ocean Park was awarded an accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, making it the first animal facility in Asia to achieve a world- class status among an elite group of internationally acclaimed zoos and aquariums.

the Headland and Lowland

Ocean Park comprises two sections

connected by a 1.5-kilometre cable car system which offers spectacular panoramic views of the southern side of Hong Kong and the South China Sea. At the Headland, the park boasts of its many thrill rides including the Abyss Turbo Drop, Mine Train, Dragon, Eagle, Crazy Galleon and Flying Swing. Complementing the rides is the Ocean Theatre where dolphins and sea lions entertain visitors and educate them on the habitat of these marine mammals through their lively performances. Providing more enjoyment and education are the world-class Atoll Reef Aquarium, Shark Aquarium, and Pacific Pier that features California sea lions and Harbour seals. At the park's Tai Shue Wan site, is the entrance to Middle Kingdom and a 225-metre outdoor escalator leading to the Headlands.

At the lowland, adjacent to the Giant Panda Habitat is the Goldfish Pagoda featuring more than 100 goldfish from a variety of species. Other major attractions include Kid's World, a dedicated area for junior visitors and Dolphin University where