Beihai Underwater World – One of the Top Aquariums in China

The Fisheries Exhibition Hall features 754 species and over 3,000 specimens. The exhibits primarily focus on marine plants and animals from the South China Sea, arranged to illustrate the evolution of these species.

In the marine plants section, visitors can see exhibits of various seaweeds such as Sargassum, Gracilaria, and Codium, as well as Banana Algae and Fan Algae. The invertebrate specimens include diverse corals, seashells, South Sea pearls, lobsters, squids, horseshoe crabs, sea anemones, jellyfish, and other marine life like sea cucumbers, cuttlefish, feather stars, abalones, and moon snails. Notably, it also features new record species for China, such as the Ringed Conus, Scaled Stomatopod, and Roundtail Horseshoe Crab.

The chordate animal section displays over 400 marine fish species from the Beibu Gulf, including the Hammerhead Shark, Ganges Shark, Whale Shark, various reef fish, five types of sea turtles, and various sea snake specimens.

The Marine Mammals Hall showcases a variety of rare sea mammals. Highlights include the nearly 2-meter-long Dugong, an 11-meter-long whale skeleton, as well as specimens of the Yangtze River Dolphin, Chinese White Dolphin, the newly recorded Lead-colored Dolphin, and the Long-beaked Common Dolphin.

The sea turtle pond houses four species of sea turtles captured from the deep waters of the Beibu Gulf, including the largest one weighing over 150 kilograms. The aquarium section features a wide variety of live marine creatures, including many brightly colored and diverse reef fish.

The Coral Sea features the world’s largest and most comprehensive live coral display tank. This circular tank measures 28 meters in length and 3 meters in height, showcasing top-tier live coral cultivation technology. It displays 156 species of live corals, with over 2,600 vibrant specimens from around the world. By adjusting water quality, temperature, and lighting, the exhibit controls the corals’ expansion and rest periods, allowing visitors to easily admire these magnificent, colorful corals without diving. The display is so grand that even seasoned fishermen have rarely seen such splendor. The tank also simulates the coral’s ecological environment and features over 300 species of tropical ornamental fish. The total water volume of the tank exceeds 1,000 tons.

The Time Tunnel is a unique fluorescent hand-painted mural in China, created by the renowned Japanese fluorescent painter, Mr. Toyama, over three months, valued at over 3 million RMB. The mural depicts the formation, development, and future of the ocean—showing its past, present, and future. Visitors can fully unleash their imagination here. A fascinating feature of the mural is that, when the fluorescent lights are turned off, it appears as a blank white wall. However, when the lights are turned on, the mural comes to life with vivid colors and clear layers, showcasing the artist’s exceptional skill and leaving visitors in awe.

The 360-degree underwater tunnel offers a truly immersive experience. With transparent glass on the floor, left side, right side, and top, visitors feel as though they are actually underwater. Various fish and marine life swim all around, creating a sense of being deep in the ocean.

One of the most notable residents of the tunnel is the Yao fish. It has a broad, flat body and a long tail, resembling a small airplane in flight. Fans of the movie “Finding Nemo” may recall a similar fish that takes clownfish and other young fish to school. The Yao fish’s belly features patterns that resemble eyes and a mouth, giving it a somewhat eerie, face-like appearance, akin to a spooky mask. Its lively nature means it’s frequently seen in the tunnel, behaving like an energetic child, constantly on the move.