A Refreshing Escape at Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park in the Late Summer Heat of 38°C

About Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park

The name Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park is no stranger to me; I heard about it long ago, but this is actually my first visit. Located by Dishui Lake in Shanghai, it is a theme park built around marine culture, featuring five major themed zones: Mermaid Bay, Polar Town, Ice Kingdom, Undersea Realm, and Ocean Tribe, as well as a distinctive ocean-themed resort hotel. There are six major animal exhibition venues – Antarctic Penguin House, Sea Beast Exploration Hall, Iceberg Arctic Hall, Underwater World Hall, Volcano Shark Hall, and Coral Jellyfish Hall. Nine star shows include the Orca Science Show, Dolphin Love Song, Walrus Comedy, Beluga Love, Mermaid Fairytale, Dance of Fish, Town Party, Aqua Flyer, and Ocean Fantasy Float Parade. Six major rides – Volcano Drift, Dolphin Roller Coaster, Time-Space Cable Car, Deep-Sea Adventure, and more. In short, the park offers an endless array of play experiences, exhibition halls, and spectacular performances. To make the most of a visit here, you really need a good plan and at least a full day or two.

Suggested Touring Routes

Most visitors opt for a one-day itinerary, and we did the same. Two classic one-day routes are:

1. Haichang One-Day Tour: (1) Sea Beast Exploration Hall → (2) Orca Theater → (3) Antarctic Penguin House → (4) Dolphin Roller Coaster → (5) Coral Jellyfish Hall → (6) Volcano Drift → (7) Dolphin Theater → (8) Underwater World Hall → (9) Volcano Time-Space Cable Car → (10) Iceberg Arctic Hall

2. Haichang Highlight Check-in Route: (1) Orca Theater → (2) Walrus Theater → (3) Sea Beast Exploration Hall → (4) Mermaid Bay → (5) Mermaid Square → (6) Antarctic Penguin House → (7) Coral Jellyfish Hall → (8) Dolphin Theater → (9) Volcano Drift → (10) Underwater World Hall

Both routes allow you to hit all the representative spots. Along the way, you’ll also encounter Ocean Square, Ocean Merry-Go-Round, Dolphin Discovery Lake, Mermaid Stage, Volcano Shark Hall, and more – just stop by and enjoy them if they catch your eye. The whole park is quite sprawling, so even just walking to all the highlights takes a full day (including queuing time, you may not finish everything), so it’s wise to focus on the attractions that interest you most.

For show times and park navigation, the park’s WeChat mini-program is a real help. It gives real-time location and navigation, which is very intuitive and saves unnecessary detours. Showtimes are clearly listed, allowing you to arrange your viewing order smartly and cut down on waiting.

Our Highlights This Time

Our trip to Haichang Ocean Park was also a one-day affair, roughly from 10 a.m. to just before 6 p.m. We managed to hit all the main check-in spots and watched almost every show. The overall experience was fantastic.

Our route was roughly:

Morning: Sea Beast Exploration Hall → Iceberg Arctic Hall → Beluga Love show → Walrus Theater

Lunch: ate at the Penguin Restaurant (set meals around 70–80 RMB per person) and visited the Antarctic Penguin House

Afternoon: Orca Theater → Time-Space Cable Car → Dolphin Love Song at Dolphin Theater → visit Volcano Shark Hall → Mermaid Fairytale performance at Volcano Shark Hall → experience Dolphin Roller Coaster → visit Coral Jellyfish Hall → Splash Party → wander around the Food Festival → Underwater World Hall → watch Dance of Fish show → end of trip

The itinerary was packed, and the day felt quite intense. Even though it was a Friday, the park was bustling with visitors; some rides required queuing, and for certain shows like Beluga Love and Mermaid Fairytale, arriving early for a good viewing spot was a must.

My final takeaway: plan your sequence of sights and shows in advance, otherwise you’ll spend too much time waiting and end up experiencing less.

Photo Highlights at the Ocean Park

I found the ocean halls perfect for silhouette and moody portrait photography. With blue indoor lighting, simply standing in front of the glass creates effortlessly beautiful shots – no need for complicated poses. Whether you’re with kids, a partner, or friends, there are endless photo ops. The park is also a filming location for the hit Chinese TV series “Nothing But Thirty.” If you’ve seen it, you’ll recognize many scenes while walking around – along the path to Iceberg Arctic Hall, the Whale Shark Restaurant in Volcano Shark Hall (a true influencer hotspot, stunning for photos), and the confession scene with Chen Yu, among others.

A Detailed Breakdown of Our Day

Although Haichang Ocean Park is quite far from downtown Shanghai, right next to Dishui Lake, transportation is very convenient – by car or metro, both work. Parking is plentiful. Before entering, there are three checks: currently due to the pandemic, you need to show your health QR code (visitors from outside Shanghai can scan to get theirs); second, a bag check (small amounts of sealed food are allowed); and third, ticket and ID verification.

Once inside, we followed our planned route. We turned right and went straight into the Sea Beast Exploration Hall, where nearly a hundred animals of six sea beast species can be seen. If you look closely, you’ll spot greedy sea lions, gentle manatees, playful otters, and lounging seals. The hall has two levels; above ground you can watch seals sunbathing up close – their glossy skin and black eyes, then a sudden splash as they dive in. If the ground level feels hot, head downstairs. Through the glass, you feel as if they’re swimming right past you; kids love pressing their faces against the glass.

Then came the Iceberg Arctic Hall. From outside, this building is a landmark of the park. Stepping inside, you’ll feel instant coolness – a blissful relief from the mid-30s heat. Inside lives an array of Arctic species: sea lions, belugas, polar bears, Arctic wolves, Arctic foxes, bearded seals, and harbor seals. Right by the entrance, Arctic foxes trot about while Arctic wolves laze on the ground. Two polar bears, bred naturally in captivity, are named Pizu (who loves swimming) and Yatou (the gentle one).

The real internet celebrity here is the bearded seal, Dingding – the name perfectly captures its habit of pressing its big, flat face against the glass, squashing its protruding nose right into a pancake. It’s so adorable you can’t help but wonder who taught it that trick.

What probably takes the most time in Iceberg Arctic Hall is the Beluga Love show. Before the performance, you’ll hear an informative narration about belugas. The steps in front of the giant glass fill up quickly, so I found a spot at mid-level. When the performers (belugas and humans) take their positions, you see an almost telepathic dance – the beluga gently pushes the trainer’s feet to glide, and together they strike graceful poses. You can’t help but marvel at the countless days of practice needed for such harmony.

Around noon, we managed to catch the Walrus Theater show right after. The theater wasn’t fully packed, maybe because not everyone times it so precisely. The stage has a Broadway style, with tall stools arranged like train carriages. The stars are a 500-kilogram walrus and three agile sea lions, along with their dedicated trainers. Following commands, they clap, act cute, do sit-ups, one-handed handstands – total performers. The show lasts about 20 minutes and ends with audience interaction; sit near the front and respond enthusiastically for a chance to join in.

Lunch at the Penguin Restaurant

We had lunch at the Penguin Restaurant, which is connected to the Antarctic Penguin House. Many tables offer a direct view of the penguins. They serve mainly set meals, including children’s options; adult meals average around 70 RMB. The restaurant has two floors, just like the penguin house.

The highlight in the penguin house is the “Penguin Super Bowl,” a giant acrylic glass tank that showcases nearly a hundred penguins – emperor, Adélie, and gentoo – in a naturalistic setting. The best view is from the ground floor, looking up through the water to see emperor penguins standing on ice and others swimming freely. For a closer look, head upstairs where you can see their distinct black-and-white coloring, feathers, sharp beaks, and bright eyes up close.

So you can easily combine the penguin house visit with lunch. The food was decent and the restaurant wasn’t overly packed.

After lunch, we headed to the Orca Theater, an open-air venue that’s spacious but cooler on the stands. A tip: if you want to get wet, sit on the sides near the stage – and be prepared with a raincoat or umbrella, because the orcas will splash during the show. Don’t worry about missing anything; a giant screen shows the best angles. The performance begins with a dream-like animated story that turns into a dialogue with orcas, calling on people to protect marine life and the ocean. How spectacular the orca show is… well, words can’t really describe it. Even with my camera, I almost missed the most breathtaking moments, like them leaping out of the water. Ultimately, the message of conservation is even more important than the performance itself.

After the orcas, we took the Time-Space Cable Car, which connects Iceberg Arctic Hall and Volcano Shark Hall. It’s the country’s only cable car with unobstructed water-and-land views, offering great perspectives on different corners of the park – the roller coaster, the rapids, and more. Only downside: only the floor has ventilation, so in summer it gets stuffy, but fortunately the ride is short.

Following our schedule, we then went to Dolphin Theater. It’s a large indoor arena. We arrived early; as visitors streamed in, two foreign entertainers started a warm-up. Their interactive session really fired up the crowd, and the theater buzzed with excitement even before the show began. The Dolphin Theater features a sci-fi interactive design combining sound, light, electricity, and water screens, plus dolphins and performers, to deliver an immersive experience. Honestly, the coordination between humans and dolphins was stunning – such tacit understanding between trainers and marine animals feels almost unreal. Scenes like humans and dolphins dancing together underwater, and several dolphins leaping gracefully out of the water, are etched in my memory.

Volcano Shark Hall and Mermaid Show

After the dolphin show, we doubled back to Volcano Shark Hall. Inside, it’s like stepping into a shark-themed cabin, with different shark species and educational displays. You might also catch a live commentary. Apart from shark facts, there’s the Mermaid Show and the famous Whale Shark Restaurant. You can actually watch the mermaids perform from the restaurant, though you can’t enter the dining area without ordering. This is the spot where Lin Youyou and Xu Huanshan dine in “Nothing But Thirty” – the tables by the glass, with swimming fish as a backdrop, are indeed romantic.

After passing the educational area, you emerge into a large viewing space. Soon, beautiful mermaids appear, dancing gracefully in the water, sometimes with a school of fish trailing behind. They interact with the audience, waving and blowing kisses. This must be what a real-life mermaid princess looks like.

The Thrilling Dolphin Roller Coaster

Why Dolphin Roller Coaster? I only figured out the name after getting off. Its track stretches across half the park, visible from almost everywhere, tempting you to try it. Some people might be scared, but once you’ve ridden it, you realize it’s just an exhilarating rush. The whole ride felt like it lasted only a few seconds – I’d barely straightened up before I was flung sideways again, with screams echoing from behind. The coaster whisks you high and low, passing through a dolphin’s belly (that must be the reason for the name). Be warned: queues are long, so time your wait wisely.

Splash Party at Mermaid Square

On a scorching summer day, water play is the best way to cool off. Besides the Volcano Drift, there’s a Splash Party. Most participants are kids, gleefully armed with water guns or wearing swimsuits and raincoats, while adults tend to be more reserved. It’s not just a water fight – there are bubble shows and lively performances by cheerful dancers who keep the atmosphere buzzing.

Coral Jellyfish Hall

This is a much quieter place, where you can simply gaze at jellyfish drifting slowly in tanks, illuminated by color-changing RGB lights that make the sea feel even more mysterious. Visitors constantly search for the perfect photo angle. Besides the mesmerizing jellyfish, there are also colorful large coral towers that add to your understanding of marine life.

Underwater World Hall and the Final Show

This was our last stop, around 5 p.m. Walking through the dual tunnels, you find yourself surrounded by marine life swimming above and beside you. Watching the stream of people and the unhurried movements of the fish, you can’t help but marvel at the ocean’s biodiversity. Looking back on the day, I realized how much knowledge I’d gained – through the shows, the informative displays, and the living creatures that vividly tell the story of the sea’s mysteries.

After the tunnel, we caught the Dance of Fish performance, where a swimmer gracefully weaves among a school of bright yellow fish – a truly romantic scene. It’s short but exquisite; what looks effortless underwater is the result of intense practice. I later learned the fish follow the swimmer because of food pellets attached to their waist – those greedy little things!

Tips for Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park

Plan your visit well. If you intend to play in the water, bring a change of clothes. Even though outdoor time isn’t too long, heatstroke prevention is still important in summer. When taking photos, follow park rules and never use flash.

Opening Hours: Weekdays 09:30–20:00 (last entry 19:30); peak days 09:00–20:30 (last entry 19:30). National medical personnel (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) can enjoy free admission until December 31, 2020, by presenting valid credentials. Medical workers from Shanghai who have assisted in Hubei Province can get a free family annual card (for 3 people) at the park’s annual card center, allowing unlimited entry for one year from the date of activation. Above information is for reference only; please check the park’s official announcement for the latest details.

Parking: Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park parking lot: ¥50 per entry. Address: No. 200 Yinfei Road, Nanhui New Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. Approximately 1,000 spaces. Three additional municipal parking lots nearby: Lingang Avenue Parking Lot (near Lingang Avenue metro station), Gang Cheng Xintiandi Parking Lot (near Moli Road), and Xueronghua Road Parking Lot. Total parking spaces around 3,000.

Luggage Storage: Storage office at the right side of the main entrance. Large items ¥60/piece, small items ¥50/piece.

Stroller Rental: Strollers ¥60/day, deposit ¥300; single child trolley ¥70/day, deposit ¥200; double child trolley ¥90/day, deposit ¥200. Weight limits: stroller 10 kg, single trolley 25 kg, double trolley 45 kg.

Wheelchair Rental: Free rental with ¥300 deposit.

Restrooms: Multiple clearly marked restrooms throughout the park.

With that, our trip to Haichang Ocean Park came to an end. Truly a packed day – several theaters, a variety of attractions. Even though we missed a few things, I was thoroughly satisfied. The ocean park is a wonderful place to bring children; it’s a perfect blend of fun and education.