Polar theme park to be built in city

An artist's rendition of the new polar theme park.

More than 500 species of polar animals and 20,000 types of fish will be the stars of the show at a new theme park to be constructed in the Pudong New Area.

Construction of the Shanghai Polar Ocean World will start before the end of the year in Lingang New City, near Dishui Lake, local authorities said.

They did not say when it will open to the public.

The tourist attraction, which claims it will be the biggest of its kind in the world, will have 13 "pavilions," four performance areas, four cinemas and other facilities, such as hotels and shops.

The wildlife — including polar bears, emperor penguins, dolphins and beluga whales — will do their thing at the polar animal and ocean world zones, while killer whales will perform tricks for the crowds in a large water pool. Other pavilions will be home to sharks, penguins and coral.

The Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, under the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau, is soliciting opinion on the theme park's environmental impact.