Top 10 Amusement Parks in Asia

Universal Studios

Singapore

The just-completed destination will be Singapore’s first bona fide theme park. Developers are hoping to tap into Singapore’s 4.6 million residents, 9.7 million tourists annually and its proximity to the populous areas of southern Malaysia and Indonesia. The brand-new park includes rides and shows based on television programs and movies like Battlestar Galactica, Shrek, Madagascar, Jurassic Park and The Mummy.

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Everland

Seoul, South Korea

One out of every six Koreans visited Everland in 2006–that’s more than 8.2 million people. A complex that also contains a zoo and a water park, it is operated by a subsidiary of Samsung Group. It boasts the largest roller coaster in the country, as well as cartoon mascots who dress up in traditional garb. There’s a sledding hill in the winter, and tulip and rose festivals are planned for when the weather warms up.

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Ocean Park

Hong Kong

Attracting slightly more visitors than the newer Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park is sinking $750 million into a massive overhaul by 2013. Located on the south side of Hong Kong Island, it boasts four giant pandas, an aquarium, a roller coaster with a top speed of 48 miles per hour and an array of special haunted houses during Halloween. The park is popular with visitors from mainland China as well as Hong Kong’s children, and the city is planning to extend a subway line there in the coming years.

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Happy Valley

Shenzhen, China

Mainland China’s most popular theme park is located in southern China’s Guangdong province; it first opened in 1998. Magic, acrobatic and sports shows are performed in themed sections that include a Mayan water park, a Spanish fiesta, a gold mine and a forest. In 2008 it saw 25 million visitors. It’s owned by developer OCT Enterprise Co., which also operates parks in Chengdu, Shanghai and Beijing.

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Sea World Gold Coast

Queensland, Australia

This park boasts 30 bottlenose dolphins, Australia’s only polar bears, sharks on view through a glass-bottomed boat and a Sesame Street area for younger visitors. This wonderland of all things aquatic is right next door to Warner Bros. Movie World as well as an outback-themed park. They’re all owned by Village Roadshow, a music and movie producer and distributor and the largest theme park operator Down Under.

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Sunway Lagoon

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

The country’s biggest park, located just to the west of capital Kuala Lumpur, began operations in 1993. Its newest offerings include surfing lessons, a go-kart track and a "scream" area meant to frighten visitors. Like many of Asia’s theme parks, it has a hotel and shopping mall nearby. In recent months the park also featured performances by Ne-Yo, the Black Eyed Peas and American Idolrunner-up David Archuleta.

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Essel World

Mumbai, India

Located near Gorai Beach on India’s western coast, this amusement park is set on 64 acres on an island overrun with jungle greenery and dotted with exotic birds and flowers. Ferries take visitors from one attraction to another. It boasts a mix of roller coasters and family-friendly attractions, with plenty of water rides offering a respite from Mumbai’s intense heat. Other destinations include an ice skating rink, a bowling alley and a dance floor.

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Disneyland

Tokyo, Japan

With as many as 26 million visitors annually, this mega-complex is the king of Asian theme parks. Easily accessible by train from the city center, it offers attractions like Cinderella’s castle, Tomorrowland’s futuristic Space Mountain roller coaster and appearances by Minnie and Mickey Mouse. The first Disney park to be built out of the United States, it opened in 1983. A new Monsters, Inc. attraction based on the movie opened last year, and the park is planning to feature an Easter wonderland from April through June.

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Dunia Fantasi

Jakarta, Indonesia

Located along a stretch of waterfront in Indonesia’s most densely populated area, this park is divided into themed areas named after geographic locations. This year, management plans to add an e
lephant parade, a free-fall ride and an attraction based on the book and movie Journey to the Center of the Earth. The name of the park means Fantasy Land in Bahasa.

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Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The $219-million, 110-acre complex opened its doors in 2008 after nine years of construction. Highlights include a golden temple, a water park, a zoo and the biggest man-made mountain in Vietnam. It’s cheap too. Admission is only 40,000 dong, or just over $2, with additional charges for some of the attractions.(Source)