The world's largest marine science museum will open after June this year with nine killer whales and other spectacular marine creatures on display at Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort in Hengqin New Area.

The steel structure of the main building is now going up. It will be a 2,606-sq-m (3,117-sq-yd) aquarium, shaped like a behemoth fish 604 m (661 yd) long and 204 m (223 yd) wide. Its highest point will be 58.7 m (64 yd) and floorage will total 37 hectares (91.4 acres).

An integration of menagerie, entertainment, and leisure features will make the aquarium stand out among other themed facilities in Hengqin New Area. Functions, such as breeding and R&D, are also planned.

Chimelong Marine Science Museum [Photo by Fang Fang to Zhuhai Daily]

According to the builder, China Construction Third Bureau First Engineering, 67 ocean engineering basins of various sizes and forms will ensure ideal accommodation of a large range of aquatic life, including dugongs and cichlids.

The largest, the new home for killer whales, will be 102 m (335 ft) long and 32 m (105 ft) wide and rest on a foundation 1 m (3.3 ft) deep. The area will be 2,700 sq m (.67 acres), larger than six standard basketball courts. About 29,000 tons of seawater will be required to fill it.

Up to 5,000 spectators can be accommodated at aquatic shows as they observe marine creatures from behind the world's largest acrylic glass panel.

The project has produced engineering breakthroughs involving the basin foundation and arch structure. These were approved by the Guangdong Province Engineering Construction Standardization Association of Science & Technology, according to a project leader.

Rendering of completed museum [Photo courtesy WeChat ID: tourzhuhai]