Mike Jackson
Google
Nice multi-park resort overall, but purely targets mainland tourists and not user friendly to westerners.
It includes the Ocean Kingdom outdoor park with marine animal tanks and performance shows, plus 3 roller coasters. The three coasters are the Parrot Coaster, The Walrus Splash, and Polar Explorer. Parrot Coaster is highly recommended and has well supporting straps for large and small. It has a steep drop, loop, and barrel roll sections that are all enjoyable. The Polar Explorer was frequently broken and ended up getting everyone more wet than was enjoyable even with ponchos. The Walrus Splash was a better balance for a Splash Coaster, though ponchos still needed.
Next door to outdoor park is the newer Spaceship indoor park which has an Orca Killer Whale show, hammerhead shark tanks, dolphins, and various ecosystem fish displays. Then on the upper floor they have an indoor theme park with more kid friendly rides. Our 6 y/o loved this area more than outdoor park. The Bermuda Storm moving theater was the one ride that everyone could enjoy. The attached hotel has an infinity pool on the roof, but it is unheated and only useful for self indulgent glamor influencer pictures.
The 8pm firework and drone light show was fun to watch and impressive.
Most of the negative reviews are from people opposed to keeping Orca in captivity and putting on performances. While seeing such majestic and intelligent creatures made to perform is disturbing, the new facilities are miles ahead of the depressing SeaWorld facilities from the 1970's and 80's. The tanks are much larger than the "spacious" tank made in USA to rehabilitate Keiko the Orca after the movie Free Willy.
Please note that if you don't have alipay or wechat digital payments working on your phone, you will be unable to book or pay for anything. We ran into a problem where the total hotel resort bill was greater than the daily max 6600 RMB allowed on foreign accounts. We had to break bill into smaller payments.
There are very few English language brochures or fluent staff members at the hotels. Also, the area around is devoid of stores not connected to resort, so you are limited to the single beer choice during your stay.