An impressive “mermaid” show
An impressive “mermaid” show
An underwater visual feast by nearly 100 athletes from home and abroad was presented at Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park in the Pudong New Area over the weekend.
The athletes were competing in the four-day 2025 China Mermaid Open (Shanghai Haichang Stop) & International Elite Championship.
The event brought together nearly a hundred top-notch “mermaid” athletes from around the globe. Competitors from countries including China, Singapore, and Indonesia engaged in a fierce and graceful competition on the oceanic stage, drawing inspiration from mermaids.
They showcased the ultimate showdown of strength and beauty, presenting to the public a cross-border deep-sea artistic extravaganza.
An athlete is surrounded by fish.
A performing scene
As an elite mermaid competition, this event retained the core of sports competition and added an artistic judging panel. Comprising underwater art directors and body aesthetics experts, they assessed performances from three dimensions - movement arrangement, artistic expression, and ocean cultural integration. This created a new event format that combines technical and aesthetic elements.
The 2025 China Mermaid Open consisted of three stages, pre-competition training, the opening ceremony and competition, and a post-competition show and awarding ceremony. Multiple awards, including best newcomer and most creative, were contested. In a benchmark-level competition, participants jointly delivered a top-notch underwater visual feast for the audience.
The event was held at the Mermaid Hall in the Volcanic Shark Pavilion of Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park. Featuring the world’s first seven-degree inclined giant display tank, it has a main window of 31 meters long and seven meters high, with a water depth of eight meters and a capacity of 7,500 cubic meters.
A splendid showcase
An impressive performance
This innovative venue demands high-level techniques and artistic presentation from competitors. Inside the tank, over 10 marine species coexist. Nearly 50,000 colorful fish swam alongside mermaid performers, creating a magical scene. This underwater space, blending artistic and sports elements, continues to attract diving enthusiasts nationwide.
“This is Haichang’s second year hosting a national-level professional mermaid event. By renewing ocean scenes, we provide a stage for global ‘mermaids,’ attracting mermaid sports enthusiasts and tourists to enjoy the competition,” said Jiang Lu, deputy general manager of Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park.
“Focusing on the event, we’ve created the Mermaid Dream Season, offering visitors new marine-culture-based experiences. During this year’s May Day holiday, the park will feature the limited-time ‘Mermaid Champion - Glorious Return’ show.”