Chimelong Group Co., Ltd. is a Chinese company that owns and operates theme parks in China. The company also owns restaurants, hotels, and other businesses. It is one of the leading Chinese amusement park operators. The company was founded in 1989 by Su Zhigang, a local resident in Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong, who first established Xiangjiang Restaurant, his first enterprise under Chimelong Group, prior to its upgrading into the current Xiangjiang Hotel in 1994. Inspired by his success in the catering business, Su, after several field research visits to safari parks overseas, soon set up his mind to open a private zoo; his aim was to allow the Chinese citizens to see wildlife from all over the world, without going abroad. This gave birth to the establishment of Chimelong Safari Park, formerly known as Xiangjiang Safari Park in Guangzhou, China, the biggest wildlife theme park in Asia at present.