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Polar Ocean World, ski park and planetarium feature in Shanghai Pudong masterplan
A Polar Ocean World for Shanghai along with a ski park and planetarium have been identified as part of a larger masterplan to redevelop the city’s Pudong area, drawing up to 10 million visitors annually.
The development, which also includes two universities and college campuses will feature the 300,000sq m (3.2 million sq ft) Shanghai Polar Ocean World, housing four interactive animal exhibits, three theatres and 15 further entertainment facilities.
Given an arctic and antarctic theme, Polar Ocean World will complement the Winter Star ski park, which according to the city’s development committee will be one of the largest indoor ski attractions in the world.
Covering 213,000sq m (2.4m sq ft), the attraction will comprise a skating rink, skiing and snowboarding slopes with ”the world’s longest indoor ski trail,” an area for ice sculpture, dining options and retail areas. The mixed-use development will also feature a ski-in/ski-out hotel, several theatres, and serviced apartments and offices.
Shanghai Planetarium, designed by Ennead Architects, broke ground in November last year and will feature an optical planetarium, a digital sky theatre, an IMAX cinema, a solar telescope, an observatory and a range of galleries.
Shanghai officials are aiming for the port area of the city to become a new town featuring science and technology, culture, finance, trade and tourism. In addition to announcing its masterplan, the city has said that professionals in the area will be encouraged to apply for household registration, with these applicants receiving preferential housing prices, low rents and accommodation subsidies.