Hengqin National Geographic Ultimate Explorer opened on Sept 9, 2019 with 15 interactive recreational facilities that are promoted as "ideal for children aged 6-12 and with families as well as young people."

Covering 4,500 sq m (1 acre), the entertainment park has many natural elements and hi-tech devices. Each visitor receives a bracelet to wear for access to every entertainment setting and a record of their journey based on collection of achievement badges.

The park promises a unique immersive entertainment and learning excursion. Each of 20 unique experiences has been crafted to provide a true family adventure through categories of Exploration, Food & Gifts, Space & Science, The Past, and Zoology.

'Ultimate' opening ceremony

Visitors can run races against wild animals in Safari Speedway where the dynamic capture technology allows them to appreciate the world's fastest or slowest animal speeds.

One can also "move mountains, create rivers, and control the unstoppable forces of nature" at Terra Studio. Geologist Nina Sierra helps players understand how weather, landscape, and life are interconnected as animals appear in the participant's one-of-a-kind terrain.

At Critter Cam Live, visitors use the Zoocoder, a one-of-a-kind animal translation device, to know what animals are thinking and even talk to them in real time. One of the interlocutors is Xiao Chi Huo, a food-obsessed panda from the mountains of Sichuan.

Race against animals

Those at Encounter 360 enter a 360-degree immersive experience capsule and fly from Earth to conduct secret experiments as an everywhere-view projection screen puts them in the center of the action. A VR helmet and dynamic seats simulate the non-gravity experience of travel in outer space.

In the meantime, at Ocean Endeavour, deep-sea divers join Jacques Jardin among fragile coral reefs, curious Orcas, and some of the planet’s most incredible underwater light shows while learning about the ocean’s many ecosystems and how to protect them.

After all that, they can swing and jump through the woods to treetop heights, cross rickety rope bridges, and sneak around tree trunks to discover hidden animals in Canopy Climbers.

Beyond National Geographic Ultimate Explorer, there is a vast expanse of space to discover the art, fashion, and cuisine of Novotown.

360-degree immersive experience capsule [Photos provided by Hengqin National Geographic Ultimate Explorer & Dai Danmei]

Price:

Children 1 m (3.3 ft) to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall: 180 yuan ($25) weekdays, 200 yuan ($28) weekends

Children taller than 1.5 m: 150 yuan ($21)

Seniors: 100 yuan ($14)

Address: 

91 Tianyudao Road, Novotown Phase I third floor, Hengqin New Area (横琴新区天羽道91号创新方（一期）)

Hours: 

10 am to 6 pm (admission closes at 5 pm)

Transportation:

Use GPS Navigation to "横琴国家地理探险家中心" 

Downtown-to-Novotown shuttle buses

Novotown-to-downtown shuttle buses

Buses

Downtown: K10, K11, or 14 to Hengqin New Homes (横琴新家园)

West Wing: B3, 602, 602A, or 204 to Nanping Bridge (南屏大桥); Transfer to K10, K11, or 14 and get off at Hengqin New Homes

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge: K10 at Gongbei Checkpoint and get off at Hengqin New Homes

Hengqin Checkpoint: K10, K11, or 14 to Hengqin New Homes

After disembarking, walk 700 m (766 yd) to take Z53 at Cushahuan (粗沙环) to North Sitang (四塘北).