Thrill seekers and those who are feeling adventurous might want to visit some of these popular theme parks in China and Hong Kong. A lot of people probably don't know there are a surprising number of attractions in the mainland and some are located only a short distance from Hong Kong.
By 2020, China expects the number of visitors on its theme parks will likely attract 220 million, doubling the attendance back in 2015. Meanwhile, if you visit or live in Hong Kong, there's also a theme park that could give you a new experience.
Here are the four theme parks in China and Hong Kong if you are a thrill seeker, according to the South China Morning Post.
Mysterious Island, Ocean Spring Resort (Zhuhai, China)
The Mysterious Island, Ocean Spring Resort is about a 45 minutes' drive from Hong Kong, which is on the west coast of Zhuhai. It is within a large recreational park wherein it includes a water park, an entertainment complex, as well as giant hot springs. The Mysterious Island comprises six themed zones, boasting a "quasi-Mediterranean ambiance."
The theme park has an intimidating Man-O-War, formerly called as the Screamin' Squirrel, made in a unique "saxophone" design. This is not recommended for faint-hearted as the ride is considered to be one of the most uncomfortable ride designs. The layout is well-designed, and the park is clean, but some reviews from Trip Advisor said the Man-O-War frequently breaks down.
Admission: Hot Spring and Mysterious Island ticket costs 299 Yuan.
Knight Valley, OCT East (Shenzhen, China)
The Overseas Chinese Town (OCT) East is about 40 minutes' drive from the heart of Shenzhen by taxi or bus in Dai Mei Sha. The OCT is a large ecological resort brimming with a natural landscape, small towns of western and oriental styles, and entertainment facilities. Opened in 2007, OCT has three themed parks: Knight Valley, Tea Stream Valley, and Wind Valley.
The reputation of the park was damaged in 2010 after a deadly accident on a ride designed to simulate the experience of a rocket launch - led to the ten injuries and deaths of six people. New US-designed rides opened since the crash, boosting the confidence of the park.
All rides are found in the Knight Valley. The Mountain Flyer, in particular, is one of only two wooden roller coasters in China opened in 2011. The ride makes full use of the vertiginous terrain of the park, reaching seeps of 98.5km/h - featuring swooping 45-meter drops.
Admission: Tickets for Knight Valley only cost 200 Yuan, tickets for one-day Knight Valley and Tea Stream Valley cost 300 Yuan, and all tickets were half price for children and free for kids under 1.2 meters.
Happy Valley (Shenzhen, China)
Happy Valley is a theme park located in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province - just across the border from Hong Kong. The park opened in 1998 and has managed to be one of the best-kept secrets in the city. The theme park was divided into nine zones, with over 100 attractions to suit all tourists.
Happy Valley has many stomach-churning rides, like the white-knuckle 60-meter tall air-launched Bullet Coaster - accelerating to 135km/h in two seconds. For children and faint-hearted, they can look forward to other things such as funfair games, sideshows, water chutes, restaurants, as well as shopping.
Admission: Tickets for adults cost 230 Yuan, while tickets for children cost 120 Yuan and free for kids under 1.2 meters tall.
Ocean Park (Hong Kong)
Aside from Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park is a theme park suited for thrill-seekers. One of the key designs of the park is the challenging mountain terrain, featuring cable cars giving you a good view of the South China Sea. For those who are afraid of heights, there's an available underground train.
The Hair Raiser roller coaster tips riders upside-down for about four times in a track that's partially suspended over the hillside. Apart from the thrilling rides, the park also has fun mine train, a zoo housing pandas, monkeys, penguins, and exotic birds, as well as aquarium featuring different shark species.
Admission: Tickets for adults cost HK$480, while tickets for children aged three to 11 cost HK$240.
