The first two rounds of this year’s event took place at Hong Kong Squash Centre, but for the final stages – like every year – the event moves to a new location.
Over the years there have been may different settings for the Quarters – or sometimes the Semis – onward : On the Harbourside by the Cultural Centre, for several years at HK Sports Centre next door to the Squash Centre, at Shopping Malls, two years ago as Xiqu Centre Cultural Plaza and last year at Edinburgh Place,
This Year : Ocean Park !
This year there’s another new venue ! The original plan was for a return to Edinburgh Place, but building work there took that option off the table. Coincidentally another building project opened the way for this year’s venue.
Ocean Park, opened in 1977, is the largest Theme Park in Hong Kong and one of the most visited (13th) in the world. Animal themed, it hosts over 80 attractions and is split by a large mountain into two areas, the Waterfront and the Summit, connected by a cable car and funicular railway. It’s also famously home to Giant Pandas.
Anyway, more on the park later once we’ve conducted a real-life sampling !
The entrance to the park, the Entry Plaza, featured a large water fountain which has recently been removed, freeing up the space for … well, an all-glass Squash Court for starters !
So that’s where we are – staying in the Marriott Hotel which is literally at the entrance to the park, and travelling on the MTR (think tube) which is also right here.
Here’s a few phone photos, stay tuned for more updates over the coming days …
