A hundred adorable penguins waddle around your feet — feed and even pet them up close!

▲Penguins that are more friendly toward humans are chosen as “Penguin Stars” to take photos with visitors. (Photo / Provided by Hong Kong Ocean Park, same below.)

Reported by Chen Hanyin / Hong Kong

Everyone has surely seen the cute waddle of penguins, but when they’re actually waddling around your feet, their cuteness is beyond imagination. No need to travel all the way to Antarctica — you can experience the unforgettable thrill of being surrounded by a crowd of penguins right here at Hong Kong Ocean Park. Guides will lead visitors into the icy wonderland, where they’ll not only learn in-depth about king penguins, rockhopper penguins, and gentoo penguins, but also get up close and personal with them.

▲ The Polar Adventure features a penguin exhibit and the Glacier Restaurant, where you can dine while watching the adorable penguins. (Photo / Taken by reporter Chen Hanyin)

Hong Kong Ocean Park offers a series of “Get Even Closer to Animals” experiences that visitors can sign up for. People can have fun with penguins, swim with dolphins, kiss seals, and even hand-feed sharks, interacting closely with marine life. The penguin habitat is kept at a chilly 8°C, so before entering, visitors must change into cold-weather clothing and rain boots provided by the park, wear gloves and goggles, and are not allowed to bring phones or cameras inside.

▲ Visitors must bring thick socks, and after changing into cold-weather attire and putting on gloves and goggles, they must also disinfect the soles of their shoes.

Breeders explain that an adult gentoo penguin weighs about 5 to 8 kilograms. The staff monitor each penguin’s eating habits and health by weighing them, and they also have the penguins stand on a transparent glass device to check the health of their feet through reflections. It’s worth mentioning that the baby penguins at Hong Kong Ocean Park are all raised by their penguin parents after laying eggs — the breeders assist rather than artificially incubate the eggs or provide specialized care.

▲ The guide reminds everyone to watch their step, as greedy penguins may suddenly appear beside your feet — be careful not to step on them.

Once the polar door opens, a blast of cold air greets you, followed by a group of penguins waddling over — they know there’s fish to eat again. Each penguin has a numbered band on its wing, and a few particularly friendly ones become “penguin stars,” skillfully hopping onto rocks for photo ops with visitors.Breeders note that the head, wings, and feet are sensitive areas for penguins, so if you want to touch them, only the back of the neck is safe to gently stroke.

▲ Penguin feathers feel slick and slippery.

Hong Kong Ocean Park is committed to marine conservation. After the experience, guides lead everyone to a lounge to discuss the importance of environmental protection. Besides threats from seals and predators in the food chain, the biggest threat to penguins is global warming. While providing an unforgettable encounter with marine life, the park also hopes to convey the importance of environmental conservation to visitors, letting both kids and adults know that small daily efforts can prevent these adorable sea creatures from disappearing forever.

▲ Eating locally sourced food, cherishing resources, choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables, eating less meat and more vegetables, and cooking energy-efficiently are just a few ways you can contribute to environmental protection. (Photo / Taken by reporter Chen Hanyin)

“Penguin Close Encounter” Experience

Location: Hong Kong Ocean Park (Polar Adventure / Antarctic Spectacular)
Price: HK$1,180
Time: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (may be adjusted during penguin breeding season)
Registration: By reservation only. Online registration (closes 2 days before the event); on-site registration (if spots remain on the day, visitors can register in person at the main ticket office or Arctic Village before 12:30 PM on the day of the event)
Eligibility: Participants must be at least 8 years old and 1.3 meters tall. Those under 12 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian who pays for the visit. Participants under 18 must have a parent/guardian fill out and sign the activity application form, health declaration form, and liability waiver. This activity is not suitable for pregnant women.