Largest aquarium on Earth! China's new £484m tourist attraction sets FIVE world records (and holds 22.7 million litres of water)




Boasting a tank which holds 22.7 million litres of water, a new £484.4m ($806.5m) aquatic theme park in China has set five Guinness World Records.

As well as being recognised as the largest aquarium on Earth, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom has also set records for having the world's biggest underwater viewing dome, aquarium tank, aquarium window and acrylic panel.

The huge tourist attraction, which opened to the public on Saturday , is part of Chimelong Hengqin Bay Hotel, the largest ocean ecological-themed hotel in China.

Under the sea: Hengqin Ocean Kingdom visitors walk through the largest underwater viewing dome in the world

Impressive structure: A giant whale shark statue greets visitors to the attraction

A 1000-metre Grand Canal connects the hotel to the Ocean Kingdom, and guests can take water taxis which run in between.



The attraction, which took three years to build, is on Hengqin Island, near Macao, and features seven theme areas, each representing a part of the ocean, as well as rides, hotels, a 5D cinema and a circus.



It's the largest in the world, covering 132 hectares, and houses 10 whale sharks, as well as tropical spotted dolphins and Chinese white dolphins.

World's biggest: Chimelong Ocean Kingdom covers 132 hectares and boasts a massive collection of whales, sharks and rare fish

Tourist attraction: Tourists can wander through the world's biggest underwater dome at the park

Rowan Simons, President of Guinness World Records Greater China, said: 'Breaking any world record is amazing, but to become the world’s largest aquarium requires phenomenal creative vision and immense engineering efforts.

'The result is an incredible attraction experience and Guinness World Records is delighted to recognise the five specific world-beating achievements that make it so special.'

Underwater love: Visitors can walk through the aquarium dome while sealife swim overhead

Five records: The new tourist attraction in China also boasts the world's largest acrylic panel

Situated in the Ocean Wonders area of the park, the Whale Shark Exhibit tank earned four of the new records - including the world’s largest acrylic panel which measures more than 129ftx27ft, and largest aquarium window.



The tank also features the largest underwater viewing dome, which has an external diameter of 39ft, where visitors can wander watching the sealife swimming above them.



The tank itself has a volume of 22.7 million litres of salt water, making it the world’s largest aquarium tank.



Following a soft opening earlier this year, the park saw more than 500,000 visitors during the Chinese New Year in January.

More than £1.98bn (£3.3bn) has been invested into the park and hotel, owned by the Chime-Long Group, which runs China's biggest theme park, Chime-Long Paradise, in Guangzhou.



Designed by PGAV Destinations, who created Hong Kong’s Grand Aquarium and the Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xi’an, Ocean Kingdom promises to be the first Asian theme park combining animal exhibits, themed entertainment shows and thrill rides.















