The new indoor skiing park will be among the largest in the worldShanghai will soon become home to a series of snow-themed attractions, with the launch of new mega-projects in the city.
The Shanghai Daily reports that a huge polar-themed ocean park will open in July 2018 in the Lingang area of Shanghai. And a major new indoor ski resort, WinterStar, will rise close to the polar park, alongside a new planetarium.
With these new facilities, the Lingang area is aiming to attract 10 million tourists annually by 2020, the development’s management committee was reported saying.
Shanghai Polar Ocean World will cover 300,000m², including large areas showcasing Arctic and Antarctic wildlife, plus three theatres and a further 15 entertainment facilities. While details of WinterStar were not revealed, officials said they expect it to become one of the world's largest indoor ski resorts.
Likewise the Shanghai Planetarium, which is already under construction, is set to become the world’s largest planetarium when it opens in 2020.
A former industrial port area in Shanghai's Pudong district, Lingang is planning to transform into new hub for tourism, culture, science and technology. As well as the aforementioned tourist attractions, the area will be home to several new universities, including a fine arts academy, plus office buildings, hotels, shopping malls and convention centres.
It will also be a green city, with tourists and residents being served by a new light transport network, a fleet of electric buses and bicycle sharing programmes.
Lingang is located approximately 90 minutes' drive from the centre of Shanghai.
