Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park
Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park was a major Hong Kong amusement and entertainment venue that operated from 1949 until 1997.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park was a large amusement and entertainment complex on the western shore of Lai Chi Kok Bay in Hong Kong. Opened on 16 April 1949 by businessman Cheung Kwan On, it became one of the territory's best-known leisure destinations and was once described as Hong Kong's largest amusement park. Its appeal extended beyond mechanical rides: the site combined theatres, Cantonese opera and singing performances, food and game stalls, water-based attractions, a wax museum, a zoo, and seasonal displays such as an ice rink and an artificial Snow Garden. The park developed under the ownership of Deacon Chiu, who acquired it in 1961 and subsequently invested in improvements. Its attractions included a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, a carousel, distorted mirrors, a gondola, coffee-cup rides, a ghost house, ding-dong boats, a monorail, and other themed or named rides such as Dragon Coaster, Twin Dragon, Space Car, Sky Merry, Monster, Dark Ride, Astro Swinger, Astro Air Boat, Orient Express, Haunted Mansion, and Grandish House. A monorail offered visitors an elevated view of the grounds. The venue also provided fortune-telling and theatrical entertainment, helping make it a broad popular-culture institution rather than a rides-only facility. Cantonese opera and singing performances at the park were associated with the development of performers who later became prominent in Hong Kong television and Cantopop, including Anita Mui. The Lai Chi Kok Zoo, a separate but closely associated attraction within the complex, operated from 1951 to 1993. It housed animals from different parts of the world and became particularly identified with Tino, an Asian elephant that arrived at the zoo in 1958 and was popular from the 1950s through the 1970s. The zoo also displayed animals including big cats, crocodiles, giraffes, camels, deer, peacocks, an Asian elephant, and other species. Its operation was increasingly affected by competition from Ocean Park, which opened in 1977 and offered a substantially larger and newer attraction. The zoo closed on 31 July 1993 after the Hong Kong Government refused import licences for new animals. Most remaining animals were transferred to what is now Shenzhen Safari Park, while some crocodiles stayed at the amusement park until its eventual closure. The amusement park itself began losing business to Ocean Park after 1976. Safety and maintenance concerns also became visible: in 1995, engineers were dissatisfied with the condition of the Ferris wheel, leading to its temporary closure. Admission, which had initially been 60 Hong Kong cents for both adults and children, had risen to approximately HK$12–HK$25 by 1997, with individual attractions and the monorail charged separately. The park closed permanently on 31 March 1997 after the Hong Kong Government designated the land for public-housing development. Its final days generated exceptional public interest, with approximately 80,000 visitors attending during the last two days. After closure, some rides were preserved or relocated, while others were sold overseas or dismantled. The Ferris wheel and ding-dong boats were moved to Hai Mun in Shanghai, where the owner had family connections; older attractions such as dodgem cars were reportedly sold to Burma or demolished. A proposal negotiated in 2005 to create a new park on Lantau Island did not produce a documented result. A later venue using the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park name opened in Central, Hong Kong, on 26 June 2015, but the historic Lai Chi Kok Bay park remained closed and its original site was redeveloped for residential use.
History
Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park opened on 16 April 1949 on the western shore of Lai Chi Kok Bay. It was established by businessman Cheung Kwan On and developed into a prominent Hong Kong leisure venue during the post-war period. In 1961, Deacon Chiu acquired the park and began improving its facilities. The resulting complex offered a mixture of rides, theatres, food and game stalls, water games, live performances and special attractions. This broad format allowed it to serve children, families and adults and made it a recognizable part of popular entertainment in Hong Kong. The park's mechanical attractions included a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, carousel, gondola, coffee-cup ride, distorted mirrors, ghost house, monorail and ding-dong boats. Other named attractions included Dragon Coaster, Twin Dragon, Space Car, Sky Merry, Monster, Dark Ride, Astro Swinger, Astro Air Boat, Orient Express, Surprising House, Haunted Mansion and Grandish House. The monorail provided an elevated tour of the grounds. A wax museum beneath the restaurant displayed figures representing notable people from Chinese history. Cantonese opera and singing shows were also staged at the park; these performances helped provide an early platform for entertainers who later became influential in Hong Kong television and Cantopop, including Anita Mui. An associated zoo operated from 1951 until 1993. It occupied crescent-shaped grounds with 21 animal pens and displayed species such as Asian elephants, giraffes, lions, black panthers, cougars, Siberian tigers, saltwater crocodiles, Chinese alligators, camels, deer, peacocks, vultures, porcupines and binturongs. Its best-known animal was Tino, an Asian elephant given to the zoo in 1958 after being part of a circus. Tino was especially popular between the 1950s and 1970s and was euthanized in February 1989 after suffering from pneumonia. The zoo's future became more difficult after Ocean Park emerged as a larger competitor. The Hong Kong Government's refusal to issue import licences for new animals accelerated its decline, and the zoo closed on 31 July 1993. Most remaining animals were moved to Xili Lake Wild Animal Park, now Shenzhen Safari Park; the saltwater crocodiles remained at the amusement park until 1997 and were later transferred to Shek Kwu Chau. The amusement park began losing business to Ocean Park after 1976. Its pricing also changed substantially over time, from an initial combined admission price of 60 Hong Kong cents for adults and children to approximately HK$12–HK$25 by 1997. In 1995, engineers raised concerns about the Ferris wheel's condition, and the ride was temporarily closed. These pressures, together with the planned redevelopment of the site, contributed to the park's final closure on 31 March 1997. The closure produced a strong public response, with approximately 80,000 visitors attending during the final two days. The Hong Kong Government subsequently used the land for public-housing development. Efforts were made to preserve or relocate the attractions: the Ferris wheel and ding-dong boats were moved to Hai Mun in Shanghai, while some older rides were sold overseas or dismantled. In 2005, the owner negotiated with the government over a possible new amusement park on Lantau Island, but no documented outcome followed. A new venue using the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park name opened in Central on 26 June 2015, although it was not a reopening of the original park at Lai Chi Kok Bay.
- 2015
Later Central venue opens
[1]A later venue using the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park name opened in Central, Hong Kong, on 26 June.
- 1997
Original park closes
[1]The park closed permanently on 31 March for public-housing redevelopment.
- 1995
Ferris wheel temporarily closed
[1]Engineers expressed concern about the condition of the Ferris wheel, which was temporarily closed.
- 1993
Zoo closes
[1]The associated zoo closed on 31 July, with most remaining animals transferred to a wildlife park in Shenzhen.
- 1989
Tino dies
[1]The zoo's well-known Asian elephant Tino was euthanized in February after suffering from pneumonia.
- 1976
Competition from Ocean Park intensifies
[1]The park began losing business to Ocean Park after 1976.
- 1961
Deacon Chiu acquires the park
[1]Deacon Chiu purchased the park and began a period of improvements.
- 1958
Asian elephant Tino arrives
[1]The elephant Tino was given to the zoo after previously appearing with a circus.
- 1951
Associated zoo begins operation
[1]Lai Chi Kok Zoo began operating as a private zoo associated with the amusement complex.
- 1949
Original park opens
[1]Cheung Kwan On opened Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park on 16 April 1949.
Products and positioning
A mass-market Hong Kong leisure destination combining rides, live entertainment, animal exhibits, games, food and family-oriented spectacle.
Amusement rides
Mechanical rides
The park offered a broad collection of traditional amusement rides, including a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, carousel, gondola, coffee-cup ride, distorted mirrors, ghost house, monorail and ding-dong boats. Named attractions included Dragon Coaster, Twin Dragon, Space Car, Sky Merry, Monster, Dark Ride, Astro Swinger, Astro Air Boat, Orient Express, Surprising House, Haunted Mansion and Grandish House.
Zoo and animal exhibition · 1951
Lai Chi Kok Zoo
The associated private zoo operated from 1951 to 1993. It displayed animals from around the world, including Asian elephants, big cats, crocodiles, giraffes, camels, deer, peacocks and other species. Its signature attraction was the Asian elephant Tino, which arrived in 1958 and became especially popular with visitors.
Entertainment
Live performances
Cantonese opera and singing performances formed an important part of the park's entertainment offer. The venue functioned as a performance platform as well as a rides complex, and was associated with the early careers of entertainers who later became prominent in Hong Kong television and Cantopop.
Cultural attraction
Wax museum
A wax museum beneath the park restaurant presented wax figures of leading figures from Chinese history and was described as Hong Kong's largest wax museum at the time.
Seasonal entertainment
Seasonal winter attractions
Winter programming included an ice rink and a Snow Garden that produced artificial snow, offering Hong Kong visitors an experience uncommon in the territory's warm climate.
Brand decisions
2015
Open a later Central venue under the historic nameProduct launchBackground
The historic Lai Chi Kok Bay park had closed and its original site had been redeveloped.
Action taken
A new version using the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park name opened in Central, Hong Kong, on 26 June 2015.
Aftermath
The later venue used free admission while charging coins for some games; the available reference does not establish that it was the same operating entity as the original park.
2005
Proposal for a replacement park on Lantau IslandStrategyBackground
The owner negotiated with the government about establishing a new amusement park after the original site had been redeveloped.
Action taken
A proposal for a new park on Lantau Island was discussed.
Aftermath
No documented result was achieved from the negotiations.
1997
Close the original amusement parkOtherBackground
The Hong Kong Government decided to use the site for public-housing development, while the park was also under pressure from changing leisure competition.
Action taken
The original Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park closed on 31 March 1997.
Aftermath
The site was redeveloped for residential use. Selected rides were relocated, sold overseas or demolished.
1993
Close the associated zooStrategyBackground
The zoo faced competition from the larger Ocean Park and difficulty obtaining government licences to import new animals.
Action taken
The zoo was closed on 31 July 1993, and most remaining animals were transferred to a wildlife park in Shenzhen.
Aftermath
The amusement park continued operating for several years, but the zoo attraction was permanently discontinued.
- Ocean Park — Ocean Park's larger scale was identified as a major source of competitive pressure.
Recent events
- 2015
A new venue using the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park name opens in Central[1]
Product launch
A later version using the park's name opened in Central, Hong Kong, on 26 June 2015. Admission was free, while some games required coins.
- 1997
Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park closes for public-housing redevelopment[1]
Other
The historic park closed on 31 March 1997 after the Hong Kong Government decided to use the land for public housing. Large crowds visited during its final days.
- 1995
Ferris wheel temporarily closed over condition concerns[1]
Other
The park's Ferris wheel was temporarily taken out of service after engineers expressed dissatisfaction with its condition.
- 1993
Lai Chi Kok Zoo closes after four decades of operation[1]
Other
The associated zoo closed on 31 July 1993 after competition from Ocean Park and the government's refusal to issue licences for importing new animals. Most remaining animals were transferred to a wildlife park in Shenzhen.
Sources1 sources
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