Imagine going on a trip with a continuous cycle of sightseeing, eating and sleeping. Well, there’s nothing wrong with that except for becoming a tad bit boring as time goes by. But what if extreme activities and sports such as skydiving or water activities aren’t for you as well? For those who are caught in the middle of identifying as psychocentric or allocentric, here are 7 amusement parks in Shanghai for those who seek adventure in their comfort zone!
Disneyland
Are you prepared to be immersed in the magic from the happiest place on earth? With just one step into Disneyland, visitors will be teleported into another realm, one of wonder and excitement. It’s one of the places that you definitely have to bring your child to at least once to create memories of a lifetime.
The newest addition to the Disneyland theme parks having opened only in 2016, it is also the biggest single park, 11 times the size of the original Disneyland in Anaheim USA. Shanghai Disneyland Park differentiates itself to the rest in terms of architecture and design, to be ‘authentically Disney yet distinctly Chinese’. After its completion, Shanghai Disneyland holds the tallest theme castle, the first garden and pirate-themed zones! The garden zone, Gardens of Imagination, is particularly notable as the hub of the park, and features each of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac represented by Disney characters.
Needless to say, Shanghai Disneyland caters to thrill-seekers, families and couples with their plentiful rides, programs and attractions. The most popular attraction in Shanghai Disneyland is no doubt the highly immersive VR ride - Soaring Over The Horizon. This ride will take guests around an incredible journey around the world, bringing riders to the most iconic landmarks without ever leaving Shanghai. But for a more thrilling ride, go to TRON Lightcycle Power Run where riders will be strapped into blue LED ‘motorbikes’ and accelerate with high speeds. Lastly, the most unique attraction is no doubt Camp Discovery. This intense trail straps guests into a safety harness, leading guests over rocky cliffs, dark caverns and winding paths!
Address: No. 310 Huangzhao Road, Chuansha Town, Pudong New District, Shanghai
Telephone: +86 21 3158 0000
Opening Hours: 9am - 9pm
Happy Valley
Just like how California has its 6 Flags, Shanghai has its Happy Valley! Similar to 6 Flags, Happy Valley Shanghai is one of the chains in Shanghai built by the OCT Group and is only located just outside of downtown Shanghai. An interesting fact about Happy Valley Shanghai is that it’s one of the largest and most technologically advanced theme parks in Shanghai! It also hosts plenty of carnivals and festivals throughout the year. With that said, it’s no surprise that Happy Valley Shanghai has been rated as the most popular theme park in one of China’s most popular buying websites.
If we think about the word “Happy” in an amusement park context, we may think about a primarily family-oriented amusement park. However, contradictory to its name, Happy Valley Shanghai contains many epic thrill rides for their guests to experience! There are seven themed areas in the amusement park, namely - Goldmine Town, Typhoon Bay, Sunshine Harbor, Happy Ocean, Shang Ti-La, Happy Time and Shanghai Beach. Some of which are closely themed to the city, Shanghai.
A must ride for the thrill-seekers will definitely be their diving coaster in Shanghai Beach. Before the drop, this roller coaster pauses at the edge of the drop, teasing passengers before plummeting 197 feet down! This coaster is so terrifying that it has even earned its nickname of the “king of roller coasters’. Another ride to take would be the first wooden roller coaster of China! Located in Happy Times, the Wooden Fireball coaster can be said to be Shanghai’s finest roller coaster. Passengers will experience plenty of airtime in this perfectly paced roller coaster, giving guests an unforgettable experience.
Despite only highlighting roller coasters, there are other intense rides in Happy Valley as well! A few would be River Rapids, boat rides, the Gyro Swing, waterslides and Turbo Drop. However, even though the park is mainly focused on thrill rides, there is also a section that’s catered for children in Happy Ocean.
Address: 888 Linhu Rd, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China
Telephone: +86 21 3355 2222
Opening Hours: 9am - 9pm
Jinjiang Action Park
If you are on a budgeted trip but would still like to head to an amusement park, the Jinjiang Action Park is probably the best bet. Even though Jinjiang Action Park is cheaper than Happy Valley Shanghai and Disneyland Shanghai, it still contains exciting rides around the park! But as a whole, the Jinjiang Action Park can be considered to be more of a family-oriented amusement park. It’s also a perfect spot for date nights due to the illumination from the colourful lights from the rides.
Despite not having themed areas like the other abovementioned theme parks, it’s a great amusement park for those who seek for some thrilling activities in their day. But Jinjiang Action Park isn’t only popular because of their rides, they also have a unique replica of the Shilin Night Market of Taiwan! Visitors can even find the iconic smelly tofu of Taiwan there.
Regardless, the main reason for the popularity of Jingjiang Action Park would definitely be its world-class roller coaster, the Giant Inverted Boomerang! It’s undeniably a highlight for any thrill-seekers that would like to experience unique roller coaster concepts. This intense, heart-pounding combination of a drop tower and a roller coaster will cause guests to scream at the top of their lungs! And when guests think that the ride is over, the coaster will then repeat the journey. But this time, backwards! There’s also a gigantic Ferris Wheel that is great for couples and admiring the night view of Shanghai. However, the attraction will require a separate ticket to enter. Other than these attractions, there’s also a ghost train, Canyon Rafting, a log flume and a bicycle monorail to name a few.
Address: 201 Hongmei Rd, Minhang District, Shanghai, China
Telephone: +86 21 5420 4956
Opening Hours:
April to June: 9am - 4.30pm
July and August: 9am - 10pm
September to October: 9am - 4.30pm
November to March: 9.15am - 5pm
Public holidays: Open at 8.45am
Sega Joypolis
We all know that Sega is a popular video game company that created the widely loved Sonic the Hedgehog. But do you know that Sega also owns an amusement park-department store hybrid chain? Ever since the first Joypolis chain opened in 1994 in Yokohama, the amusement park chain has opened in different cities of Japan and China. Unsurprisingly, the rides and arcade games are all based on Sega intellectual properties!
Catered to all ages, this indoor amusement park immerses visitors with their cutting edge technology through sensory experiences. It literally embodies the future of amusement parks through the use of technology! There’s the usage of 3D technology, virtual rides, simulators and motion sensors in their arcade games and rides.
Needless to say, there are many thrill rides in this indoor facility! Rides such as the transformers, indoor live coaster and the Wild Wing 4D ride are to leave guests out of breath from the excitement. Even though the prices may be a little more pricey, it’s definitely worth the technological experience!
Address: Fourth Floor, 3300 Zhongshan Bei Lu, near Jinshajiang Lu
Telephone: +86 21 6256 9108
Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm
Water Parks
Dino Beach
Probably the closest known thing to a beach in Shanghai, the Dino Beach provides a great getaway for Shanghainese during the summer. Covering an estimated area of 85,000 square meters, it was one of the largest open-air water parks in Asia!
However, unprepared foreigners may be smacked hard by culture shock as Dino Beach can be extremely crowded, leaving little personal space. Hence, to avoid this predicament, we would recommend you to strategically plan your visit during the weekdays when it’s quieter. Another option would be to arrive after 5 pm when most of the crowd has gone home.
Dino Beach provides something for everyone of different age groups to indulge in. There are huge 7-storied slides for the brave adults, a kid’s adventure zone, an obstacle course, a wave pool and of course, the ever so popular lazy river! There’s also organised beach volleyball and water polo to recreate a more authentic beach experience! The downside is that Dino Beach does not allow visitors to bring their own food but they do serve western dishes within the compounds. If you are not feeling western, make sure to eat a full meal before visiting Dino Beach!
Address: 78 Xinzhen Rd, Minhang District, Shanghai, China
Telephone: +86 21 6478 3333
Opening Hours: 9am - 10pm every Monday to Sunday. Make sure to check their website for more details.
Dakang Water Park
Another recommended water park to visit would be Dakang Water Park. It’s a fairly big water park with an area of 5000 square meters. This indoor water park shields its visitors from the sun rays, allowing them to have a good time without the need for worrying about sunburns. This is definitely one of the best water parks in Shanghai as visitors can visit at any time of the year.
However, due to the lack of upgrades on the rides, this may be a water park that thrill-seekers may want to avoid. Even so, it’s a great place for young families to have some bonding time! There are plenty of facilities catering to children and families such as the small-scaled rides, children’s splash pools, family slides and a drifting garden. With all these facilities, it’s almost certain that your kids will have a swell time!
Address: 555 Gongkang Lu, near Changlin Lu
Telephone: +86 21 5640 6962
Opening Hours: 10am - 9pm
Tell us your experience in the comments below if you've been to any of these amusement parks!
