As we approach the end of September and flip over our calendars to welcome October, there’s really only one festival that most of us look forward to, whether or not you celebrate it – Halloween. Increasingly popular in Asia over the past few years, Halloween has become one of the festivals where people are encouraged to unleash their scariest self. Plus, it’s a legitimate excuse to dress up and scare the bejesus out of people.
Speaking of scaring people, Hong Kong’s Ocean Park has been setting the bar relatively high. This year marks the iconic theme park’s 14th Halloween fest and get this, the attractions are different every year so no two Halloween events are the same. If you’re thinking it’s no easy feat, you’re absolutely right as the attractions are planned a year in advance.
Just a couple of weeks ago, we made a quick stop in Hong Kong to experience a very early Halloween treat thanks to our generous friends at Ocean Park. So if you’re wondering what sort of scares Ocean Park had in store for us (or you, if you’re making a trip to Hong Kong in October), boy were we in for a ride.
Here are 7 terrifying (and not so terrifying) Halloween attractions Ocean Park is offering this year:
1. Doraemon Halloween Party
Who doesn’t love this little Japanese blue cat with all sorts of tricks? This one is definitely made for kids and those who have yet to outgrow their Doraemon phase. Expect cuteness overload.
2. Phantom Studios
Always wanted to find out how a horror movie is made? This attraction is your chance. From being terrorised by a dinosaur to a house with quirks, be sure to take part in the filming process and generate your own trailer! How cool is that? What’s even cooler is this section transforms into another spooky attraction in the evening, named Horror-wood Studios.
3. H14
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m the biggest scaredy cat but this was hands down one of the most innovative and fun things I’ve ever done in a theme park. H14 is an asylum with a mad doctor and to enter, we had to fill out a consent form. To give you a brief idea on how scary this ride was, we were given a safe word to yell out if you wanted to quit halfway through. After changing into a hazard suit, we maneuvered our way through live worms, a disgusting bathroom and I was even ‘kidnapped’ by the mad doctor as part of the ride to terrify the group I was with.
4. Eerie Nippon Journey
This Japanese-inspired portion was creative and artistically impressive. From faceless geishas to a kitchen with questionable ingredients, this is one journey to Japan that you will remember.
5. Rigor Mortis
This year, Ocean Park really pushed the envelope by working with Juno Mak, the acclaimed director who made horror film Rigor Mortis. A live set was recreated and if you thought the film was scary, wait till you wander through Mak’s real-life vision of his Chinese vampire tale.
6. Chinese Mad-icine Hall
The ‘It’ factor of Ocean Park is without a doubt its clever incorporation of culturally relevant scares. This interpretation of a Chinese medicine hall had its fair share of creepy bits and there were times I could not tell a wax figure from a real one and as a result, I was genuinely freaked out.
7. Forest of Doom
The Forest of Doom section wasn’t that different from the attraction above but due to the dark and brooding atmosphere, it’s seriously easy to run into a few horrifying characters unique to Chinese culture. For a double experience, visit this section during the day where it’s known as the Forest of Legends.
To sum up Ocean Park’s Halloween fest, it is by far the most entertaining I have ever experienced. From its elaborate set up right down to all the tiny, minute details, this theme park really pushes the envelope. Well into its 14th year of the Halloween fest, it’s no wonder tourists from all over Asia visit Hong Kong for a unique trick or treat experience.
A huge thank you goes out to the hospitable, friendly and fabulous team at Ocean Park for hosting us! If you’re looking for a frighteningly unforgettable Halloween experience, Ocean Park’s Halloween Fest starts from 2 October – 31 October 2014. Visit www.oceanpark.com.hk for further details.
