HONG KONG, March 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Haichang Holdings Ltd. ("Haichang Holdings" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), (Stock Code: HK.02255), a leading developer and operator of theme parks and ancillary commercial properties in China, held the groundbreaking ceremony of its Shanghai Haichang Polar Ocean Park in Pudong, Shanghai, marking the commencement of the project's development and construction phase. Government officials including Mr. Chen Mingbo, Deputy District Chief of Pudong New District, Shanghai, and representatives from industry peers such as Ocean Park Hong Kong, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and Farglory Ocean Park Taiwan attended the groundbreaking ceremony.
The Shanghai Haichang Polar Ocean Park project is the first large-scale world-class flagship marine park of Haichang Holdings, which will be based in Shanghai, opening-up Haichang Holdings theme park offerings to the East Asian market.The park will compete competitively in the international tourism market. Haichang Holdings is aiming to create a "top-five" world-class marine park, with the largest number of marine species on exhibition, the most innovative display methods, the most entertaining marine animal shows, in addition to the most diverse range of science-themed educational programs and comprehensive entertainment experiences.
Located by Dishui Lake in Lingang, Shanghai, Shanghai Haichang Polar Ocean Park is situated at a site area of approximately 297,155 sq.m., and has a total gross floor area of approximately 190,152 sq.m. with 12 exhibition halls, 4 marine animal interaction experiences plazas, 3 cinemas with special effects and 15 medium-to-large scale amusement rides. Adhering to the development concept of building a "Marine Cultural-themed Experience Complex", Haichang Holdings has commissioned a number of key international firms, who have also participated in Disney's and SeaWorld's projects, to aid with the product positioning and strategic development, and the overall concept development. Haichang Holdings aims to offer a "top five" large-scale world-class flagship marine park. The project today has officially entered the development and construction phase, and set to commence operation in 2017. Attendance is expected to amount to six million per annum after entering into a steady growth period. Meanwhile,the high profitability of the project is expected to lead to an internal yield higher than that of the leading level of international industry. In addition, it' will only take an approximate 25 minute drive from the project to Shanghai Disney Resort, which is expected be open in 2016, and have a strong synergistic impact. The two projects will jointly propel Pudong to become the biggest tourism destination and core world-class tourism city in East Asia, promoting the development of Shanghai as a world-renowned tourism city.
Benefiting from the 12th Five-Year Development Plan of Shanghai's tourism industry, Shanghai Haichang Polar Ocean World with its positioning as the Business Exhibition and Theme Recreation Tourism Zone, which is a component of the new tourism development landscape of Shanghai namely 'One Circle, Four Zones, Three Belts, and One Island', is one of the key projects that will promote the development of Shanghai as a world-renowned tourism city. Mr. Chen Mingbo, Deputy District Chief of Pudong New District, Shanghai, said, "Shanghai Haichang Polar Ocean Park is the significant functional project in Lingang which is a major milestone in the improvement of Lingang. Therefore, the management committee will commit to support the establishment of the project, actively provide related services, and reasonably allocate various resources to create a favorable external environment, hereby, achieving a mutually beneficial development target and a win-win situation."
Industry leaders also attended the groundbreaking ceremony, such as the special representative for the Chairman of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and Ocean Park Hong Kong, etc. Mr. Matthias Li, the Deputy Chief Executive of Ocean Park Hong Kong said, "Ocean Park Hong Kong and Haichang Holdings have been cooperating with each other in various areas including animal research, medical care, breeding and medical treatment for several years, and have jointly served the industry and society, as pioneers in raising awareness and the contributions to animal conservation. Looking forward, both parties will jointly conduct research in animal conservation together with the Polar Research Institute of State Oceanic Administration People's Republic of China, and jointly establish a specialized institution in animal conservation and invest specialized talents and resources. "
Mr. Qu Naijie, Chairman of Haichang Holdings said, "The groundbreaking ceremony of Shanghai Haichang Polar Ocean Park has been successfully held today, marking that the project has officially entered the development and construction phase. As our Shanghai project has been implemented successfully, we will follow the national development strategy of 'Yangtze River Economic Zone', optimize the regional layout strategy and settle in the Yangtze River Delta area successfully, setting the industrial benchmark for the domestic industry. We have clearly put forward our five-year development plan with the main strategic goal of securing a strategic location and establishing a key tourism destination. The development and operation of the Shanghai project is the result of significant implementation of this strategic plan. Additionally, according to the five-year plan, we will also develop cutting-edge marine cultural themes, which will in return reinforce the Shanghai project, establishing Haichang Holdings as the first brand of marine cultural tourism leisure in China and marine culture international tourism leisure. In the future, we believe that the Shanghai project will further drive the diversification of product and service, optimize the Group's income structure and enhance the overall profitability, enhancing the valuation of the Company."
Regarding the Group's five-year development plan, Mr. Yuan Bing, Managing Director of Hony Capital, a strategic investor of Haichang Holdings, is optimistic about its future. "As the pioneer in the private equity industry in China, " Mr. Yuan Bing said, "We invest in Haichang Holdings for two main reasons. First, we are confident in the domestic tourism market, and secondly, the industry position, operation capability, core techniques, outstanding performance and re-valuation potential of Haichang Holdings in the niche market are appealing. Furthermore, the five-year development plan of Haichang Holdings sets forth a better future for the Company, as the earnings of its existing projects as well as the new projects in Shanghai and Sanya will be significantly improved by the measures of constructing the marine cultural theme tourism and leisure destination; the asset structure and profitability of the Company will also be enhanced by developing innovative marine cultural themes and increasing the proportion of light-assets, which will enable the Company to further achieve the goal of establishing the first brand of marine cultural tourism leisure in China and marine culture international tourism leisure platform, making the future of Haichang Holdings to be highly-anticipated."
About Haichang Holdings Ltd.
Listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in March 2014, Haichang Holdings Ltd. is the largest developer and operator of theme parks and ancillary commercial properties in China. With over a decade of experience in animal breeding and conservation, marine theme park development and operation, the Company has consistently ranked as one of the top ten theme park operators worldwide for consecutive years. The Company's theme parks provide a one-stop leisure, dining and shopping experience to its customers through both the in-park offerings and complementary services offered by the ancillary commercial properties adjacent to the theme parks. The Company currently operates eight theme parks located in Dalian, Qingdao, Tianjin, Yantai, Wuhan, Chengdu and Chongqing respectively.
China's theme park industry possesses enormous growth potential. For the twelve months ended 31 December 2014, the admission attendance of the eight theme parks of the Group increased by 10.6% to approximately 11,494,200 visitors.
