Hong Kong is very much an urban place, but it has a wild side that's worth exploring as well. Since this special administrative region of China is bordered on three sides by the South China Sea, it makes sense that one of its biggest outdoor attractions is dedicated to ocean life. Ocean Park Hong Kong offers visitors an up-close look at marine animals such as jellyfish, sea lions, dolphins, and sharks, but it has not forgotten its land-loving creatures such as the graceful giant panda. They have four now, and they celebrate the panda throughout the park. The park is not just about putting animals on display, though. Through its Ocean Park Conservation Center, it runs conservation programs such international coastal cleanups, a clean air project, and a plastic bottle recycling program. The sheer scale of the park is impressive, and as they don't do anything small in Hong Kong, be ready for out-sized amusements like the world's second-longest outdoor escalator, and an extensive sky train system, which rewards visitors with amazing panoramic views over the ocean toward the harbor islands. It's certainly not for the acrophobic. Ocean Park Hong Kong is just steps from Le Méridien Cyberport.
