Hengqin island near Hong Kong is serving as a testing ground for China's efforts to boost domestic spending. It now houses the world's biggest aquarium, and there are more mega-projects in the pipeline.

Hengqin island near Hong Kong is serving as a testing ground for China's efforts to boost domestic spending. It now houses the world's biggest aquarium, and there are more mega-projects in the pipeline.

Hengqin island, now home to the world's biggest aquarium. Ocean Kingdom opened to the public in March, boasting five Guinness records. That includes a staggering 49 million litres of salt and fresh water, a whale shark tank housing ten whales, and the world's largest underwater viewing dome.

The vast complex is divided into seven theme areas, which guide visitors through waterways from the Amazon to Antarctica, offering an up-close look at a great variety of sea creatures like croakers, penguins, Chinese white dolphins and sharks.

The resort's developer, Guangdong Chimelong Group, says it hopes to turn Hengqin Island into "the Orlando of China."

It says it will develop the site into a center for education, creative industries and tourism, with theme parks, hotels and restaurants tapping the swelling wallets of China's new middle class.

Also on the drawing board are the world's tallest Ferris wheel and longest wooden roller coaster, dozens of hotels, and golf courses.

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