China’s Growing Attractions Cluster

Macau’s Glow Up

There’s currently a transformation underway in Macau. The SAR (special administrative region) government’s second-phase Master Plan outlines six major areas and 74 action plans—many rooted in tourism—aimed for progressive implementation by 2030. Macau is vigorously developing into a city hosting sporting events and entertainment. The action plans aim to create everything from gastronomy events to customer service training.

Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes confirms visitor arrivals to Macau surpassed 40 million in 2025. The number of international visitors from Europe saw a double-digit increase.

One driver for the increase spans to Hong Kong, literally. The new Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (HZMB) is a 55-kilometer bridge and tunnel system connecting the communities. A network of bridges span the Pearl River Estuary in the South China Sea, crossing four manmade islands and dipping into an undersea tunnel. Built at a cost of ¥127 billion, the HZMB is designed to last for 120 years.

Meanwhile (at press time), a government-proposed ban would prohibit all forms of gambling advertising. The reform targets both traditional media, along with digital and influencer marketing. The goal is to align Macau’s image as a tourism, leisure, and attractions destination. And Macau stands ready with several world-class attractions.

Studio City in the Spotlight

The glitzy Hollywood-themed Studio City Macau is an integrated resort that continues to grow. In 2023, the property expanded with the new W Hotel and Epic Tower (an in‑house managed brand). Today the complex includes 3,000 hotel rooms and numerous attractions, along with IP-based activations.

“It’s a place where entertainment, hospitality, and family experiences come together—and you never need to leave,” says Melissa Chung, executive director of leisure and spa at Studio City.

The futuristic Studio City Water Park, an indoor‑outdoor facility opened in 2020. Spanning roughly 10,000 square meters, the park features 16 water slides, two distinctly different wave pools, a 250‑meter action river, and relaxation zones. The temperature‑controlled indoor environment hovers around 30°C (about 86°F), allowing guests to experience summer year‑round. The consistent temperature is a key operational choice suited to regional guest preferences.

“It took time to change perceptions, especially in winter,” explains Chung. “People would say, ‘I don’t want to play in the water; it’s cold,’ even though the indoor park is warm. Now, guests understand it.” The average visit lasts six hours.

After guests dry off, FECs of epic proportions awaits. Stacked vertically, the multi‑level Super Fun Zone combines soft play, 

climbing, slides, and bridges. A permanent skate park doubles as both a community amenity and an international competition venue. Outside of major skating events and tournaments, Studio City opens the park free of charge to local families.

“Everything we build is about the family playing together. Parents and kids can experience the attractions at the same time,” shares Rachel Cheng, senior manager of entertainment operations.

Rising above the skate park is the resort’s iconic figure eight Ferris wheel, a 130‑meter‑tall-attraction whose shape carries a cultural significance tied to prosperity and good fortune.

To correspond to the Lunar New Year celebration, Studio City created their own ride: a Steeplechase-like attraction where guests could saddle-up atop a man-made horse and ride around a track. The ride celebrated 2026 as the Year of the Horse.

This spring, Studio City partnered with Disney to create a pop-up event strategically positioned at the resort’s arrival points. Interactive game booths, character meet-and-greets, selfie stations, and hands-on workshops began in late April. Cheng says the goal is to transform public areas into an environment that feels more like a theme park experience than a traditional hotel lobby. The partnership with Disney follows a successful Toy Story activation in 2025.

Galaxy Shines

Galaxy Macau continues to reposition itself from a gaming-dominant destination to a balanced, family-friendly integrated resort. Significant investments in water attractions, accessibility, and events are designed to inspire multigenerational travel, VIP guests, and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) business—while maintaining a strong casino presence.

“They still want to gamble, but now they also want their family to enjoy the resort—food, attractions, cinema, and concerts,” says Yik Ho, Galaxy’s assistant vice president of resort and recreation during Funworld’s recent tour of Galaxy’s attractions.

The integrated resort’s tropical paradise features a massive wave pool incorporated with a stage for a live DJ. Simultaneously, shady nooks exist for guest seeking tranquility.

Two new offerings slated to open this summer include transforming the lazy river and adding a new splash pad.

“This is no longer a lazy river—this is an adventure river. We increased the pump power by more than 50%,” Yik shares while standing on a bridge overlooking the construction progress. “Every 20 to 30 seconds, guests [will] experience something new, feature after feature.”

A new splash pad—designed to be 10 times larger than a previous pad—will give families a reason to visit.

Hong Kong’s Theme Park Evolution

A center of commerce and business, Hong Kong is rooted in history and culture. Used historically by fishermen and traders, Junk rigged sailboats—complete with their distinctive battened sails and flat-bottomed hulls—share Victoria Harbour with sleek modern water taxis using marine waterjets that ferry passengers to Macau in under an hour.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced 14.31 million visitors—representing a 17% year-on-year increase—visited in the first quarter of 2026.

Dr. Peter Lam, HKTB chairman, told a crowd assembled for the Hong Kong Tourism Overview 2026 event in March, that the SAR city stands ready to create business opportunities that “highlight Hong Kong’s strengths and attract more high-value overnight visitors to Hong Kong, thereby maximizing the economic benefits of the tourism industry as we embrace a future full of opportunities.” Both of Hong Kong’s major theme parks stand ready to do just that.

Ocean Park Hong Kong Poised to Grow

“The presence of six giant pandas of three generations has not only amplified our conservation and education efforts—and empowered us to connect with a broader audience—but it also

creates unprecedented opportunities for business growth,” Pong says. “As a non-profit organization, Ocean Park Corporation’s steady enhancement in operating performance enables us to dedicate resources to advancing vital conservation and education initiatives for society and nurturing future generations.”

Cross-border learning opportunities where the park hosts study tours for students in the Greater Bay Area jumped 10% the first three months of 2026. The students primarily come from Guangdong and Shenzhen, with some as far away as Shanghai, greater than 1,600 km to the northeast.

Next, Ocean Park plans to redevelop its North Pole Encounter into a new marine mammal conservation center. Opening in 2027, the new exhibit will integrate insights from Ocean Park’s extensive marine mammal research and rescue efforts. Interactive zones and immersive learning space will allow guests to explore marine mammal behaviors and understand challenges facing ocean ecosystems, like plastic pollution.

In 2028, Ocean Park plans to leverage the park’s topography and vistas when opening Adventure Zone. Situated on the developed hillside of the upper park, Adventure Zone will feature an alpine coaster, two zip lines and three dry slides featuring steep slopes and sharp curves. In a sustainable move, a new ropes course will reuse the dome-shaped arch found on the retired Mine Train roller coaster. In addition, twin bungy and twin giant swings will be part of an outdoor playground, complete with water play areas and climbing walls.

Water World Ocean Park, the park’s water park, reopens on May 16 with a seasonal calendar full of special events. From grad nights to the “Get! Splash! Tonight!” evening party, the park will feature DJs, neon lights, and glowing lazy river cruises. The water park boasts nine slide complexes, two rivers—one peaceful and the other fast moving—for a total of 27 attractions total.

Following the resort’s 20th anniversary celebration, a multi-year expansion will support the facility’s long-term growth strategy.

Construction on an Avengers-themed attraction featuring Spider-Man that reportedly will utilize the same elevator-style drop ride system found on the Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Orlando), Disney Adventure World (Paris), and Tokyo DisneySea (Japan). An original story includes Spider- Man’s formidable foes creating havoc while chasing new technology at Stark Industries. The new attraction will be the third pavilion to open at Stark Expo in Tomorrowland, joining the Iron Man Experience (2017) and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! (2019).

Across the park, a new theater is under construction that will feature an original Pixar entertainment presentation. The new theater—positioned between Toy Story Land and World of Frozen—will feature immersive technology.

As a good neighbor, Hong Kong Disneyland also builds community. Following the devastating high-rise fire at the Wang Fuk Court apartments in Hong Kong’s Tai Po District in Nov. 2025, Disney committed more than HK$10 million in cash and in-kind donations to support those affected by the blaze.

“We stand in with our community in the wake of this tragedy and remain committed to supporting Hong Kong as it heals,” says Tim Sypko, managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland.

Since its opening in 2005, the resort has attracted more than 1000 guests from mainland China, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

Hong Kong Disneyland Continues Development

Following the resort’s 20th anniversary celebration, a multi-year expansion will support the facility’s long-term growth strategy.

Construction on an Avengers-themed attraction featuring Spider-Man that reportedly will utilize the same elevator-style drop ride system found on the Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Orlando), Disney Adventure World (Paris), and Tokyo DisneySea (Japan). An original story includes Spider- Man’s formidable foes creating havoc while chasing new technology at Stark Industries. The new attraction will be the third pavilion to open at Stark Expo in Tomorrowland, joining the Iron Man Experience (2017) and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! (2019).

Across the park, a new theater is under construction that will feature an original Pixar entertainment presentation. The new theater—positioned between Toy Story Land and World of Frozen—will feature immersive technology.

As a good neighbor, Hong Kong Disneyland also builds community. Following the devastating high-rise fire at the Wang Fuk Court apartments in Hong Kong’s Tai Po District in Nov. 2025, Disney committed more than HK$10 million in cash and in-kind donations to support those affected by the blaze.

“We stand in with our community in the wake of this tragedy and remain committed to supporting Hong Kong as it heals,” says Tim Sypko, managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland.

Since its opening in 2005, the resort has attracted more than 1000 guests from mainland China, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

Chimelong: Redefining Guangzhou and ZHUHAI

The high-speed Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link connected Hong Kong to the rest of China’s rail network for the first time in Sept. 2018. The station at Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Station now serves as a gateway to the rest of China, where high-speed trains can accelerate up to speeds of 350 kilometers per hour—linking Hong Kong and Guangzhou in under an hour.

In Guangzhou, Chimelong has exceeded expectations and defines what a modern attraction can be. The Chimelong Tourtist resort includes Chimelong Paradise theme park, Chimelong Safari Park, Chimelong Water Park, Chimelong Birds Park, and the Chimelong International Circus, and three resort hotels. The Safari Park is home to more than 500 species. A drive-through attraction provides up-close looks at zebras, giraffes, and hippos. The walk-through portion of the park includes an extensive panda habitat with more than a dozen panda bears on display at a time. Educators and animal specialists are available to answer questions and serve as ambassadors. The Chimelong brand is the vision of Su Zhigang, known for his seamless integration of conservation, innovation, and entertainment. Mr. Su was inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame in Nov. 2025, making history as the first Chinese inductee to receive the prestigious honor.

To the south in Zhuhai, Chimelong has created a kingdom all its own. Anchored by the famed Chimelong Spaceship, the Zhuhai resort includes the futuristic modern marine life facility, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom theme park, four resort hotels, and a circus theater, with greater expansion planned in the years ahead. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom includes one of the world’s largest aquariums at 22.7 million liters with whale sharks and giant manta rays that glide past guests. Educational orca presentations at Chimelong Spaceship include live music and piloted dirigibles soaring overhead.