Beijing Haichang Ocean Park is targeting a 2027 opening, adding a large-scale marine attraction to the growing cultural tourism district around Universal Beijing Resort.
The RMB4.2 billion project, valued at approximately US$625 million and £462 million, is under construction in Beijing’s Tongzhou district. Covering 157,100 sq m, the development is being positioned by designer Legacy Entertainment as the largest new aquarium facility currently under construction worldwide.
For attraction developers, operators and design teams, the project signals China’s continued investment in integrated destination models, where themed entertainment, hospitality, education, retail and cultural tourism are planned as connected assets rather than isolated venues.
Legacy Entertainment has released further details as vertical construction progresses. The project is expected to attract around four million visitors annually, placing it among the most significant new marine attractions planned in the region.
Indoor Aquarium And Resort Hotel Combined
The attraction will be primarily indoors, combining a next-generation aquarium with an eight-storey resort hotel. The building will reach 23.9 metres in height and include three above-ground exhibit levels, supported by two subterranean floors for parking and operational services.
Haichang has described the scheme as a fifth-generation aquarium, bringing together ecology, science education, research, exhibitions, art, interactive activity and themed accommodation. This approach reflects a wider shift in aquarium development, where operators are seeking longer dwell times and stronger links between learning, leisure and hospitality.
More than 20 major attractions are planned across eight themed zones. Additional components will include underwater hotel rooms, an ocean-tank restaurant and interactive feeding experiences. These elements are designed to broaden revenue opportunities beyond admission, supporting food and beverage, accommodation, premium experiences and event-related income.
The hotel is expected to include around 230 family rooms with ocean and Ultraman themes. Facilities will include an all-day restaurant, banqueting areas and a dedicated Ultraman breakfast restaurant, giving the project a hospitality offer linked to both marine storytelling and recognised intellectual property.
Design Concept Draws On Ocean Liner Form
Architecturally, the complex has been conceived with reference to a large ocean liner. According to the project team, the streamlined façade is intended to give the impression of a vessel moving through water.
For B2B stakeholders, the design direction is notable because it links the exterior identity of the building directly with the attraction’s marine narrative. In a competitive destination district, recognisable architecture can play an important role in place branding, visitor orientation and media visibility.
The project is being developed through a partnership between Haichang Ocean Park and Beijing Tongzhou Urban Construction and Operation Group. Financial filings indicate that Tongzhou Urban Construction and Operation Group is responsible for land acquisition, investment and construction, while Haichang will manage and operate the attraction. A joint venture was established in January 2026 to oversee the project’s operation.
Wider Attractions Cluster Takes Shape
Beijing Haichang Ocean Park forms part of a broader plan to build the Beijing Tongzhou Cultural Tourism Zone around Universal Beijing Resort, which opened in 2021. Authorities have set an ambition to develop a RMB100 billion cultural tourism industry cluster in the area.
Further projects include Dingdian Park, an indoor family attraction featuring IP from Hasbro, Mattel and Crayola, alongside plans for a Peppa Pig ice and snow park. Mars Sci-Fi City is also planned, combining aerospace education, interactive exhibits and entertainment, with trial operations expected in 2028 and full opening in 2029.
A proposed Ferrari World Entertainment Complex has also been secured for the district, with plans including Formula Rossa, an esports park, a Ferrari museum and a Ferrari club.
For international experience specialists, Tongzhou is becoming a major case study in attraction-led destination planning, with Beijing Haichang Ocean Park set to become the city’s first new large-scale marine theme park since 2000.
