Ocean Park

Sometimes it's hard to decide whether to go to the theme park, the zoo, the amusement park or the oceanarium. Hong Kong's Ocean Park has found the ideal solution – it manages to fit all four (and more) into its 42 acres on the south side of Hong Kong Island. The diversity of entertainment on offer – combined with its sheer quality – has led to Ocean Park becoming incredibly popular. With over 7 million visitors per year, it has been repeatedly placed within the top 12 international attractions.

There is a huge variety of things to see and do here, but the dominant theme is the ocean –which is fitting, as Ocean Park looks out onto the wide blue expanse of the South China Sea. It is split between two main locations – the lowland Waterfront, and The Summit higher up on the mountain. Travel between the two is provided by cable car, shuttle-bus, railway carriage, or on one of the world's longest outdoors escalators. Each site manages to blend an exciting mix of wildlife, thrill-rides, educational activities and theatrical entertainment.

Among the wildlife attractions at Ocean Park, the most spectacular are the Atoll Reef aquarium and the Ocean Theatre dolphinarium. The Atoll Reef is over 10 metres deep, and is alive with over 2,000 shimmering fish, sharks and rays. The dolphinarium has regular outings for its dolphins and other marine mammals, in a show that emphasises the importance of marine conservation. There are also exhibits for Ocean Park's red and giant pandas, its Chinese Alligators and sea jellyfish and – of course – its goldfish.

On the adrenaline-pumping side, Ocean Park is packed both with white-knuckle rides, and gentle thrills for smaller children. Roller-coasters, bumper cars, Ferris wheels and chair-swing rides are scattered throughout the park. The unique Sky Fair is a tethered hot air balloon that soars majestically 100 metres above the Park. For an even better vantage, try the Ocean Park Tower, atop The Summit. At 200 metres above sea level, its revolving deck provides unparalleled views over Hong Kong, the whole peninsula along the Pearl River Delta to the ocean beyond.