Chengdu Happy Valley offers a wide range of exciting experiences spread across different zones, but knowing some practical tips can help you make the most of your visit. From saving money to planning your time, here are some helpful pointers to ensure you have a great day at this popular amusement park.
1. Familiarize Yourself with the Park’s Zones: Chengdu Happy Valley is divided into different areas, each offering unique attractions. Two key areas, Happy Light Year (欢乐光年) and Bashu Mystique (巴蜀迷情), remain open until 9:00 PM, while other daytime attractions close at 6:00 PM. It’s advisable to focus on the daytime attractions first to avoid missing out on any of the action.
2. Rain Gear and Essentials: You’ll find raincoats available for sale near the subway entrance, and you can often haggle the price down to 10 RMB. Inside the park, they sell raincoats for 15-25 RMB. There are only two rides where rain gear is essential: the Fishing Drift (渔猎漂流) and Caribbean Storm (加勒比风暴).
3. Bring Your Own Water: Water inside the park is priced at 5 RMB, and drinks can cost up to 9 RMB. To save money and stay hydrated, it’s a good idea to bring your own bottle of water with you.
4. For Roller Coaster Lovers and the Nervous: If you’re not a fan of roller coasters but still want to try one, the Snowy Dragon (雪域飞龙) is a gentler, child-friendly roller coaster. Most roller coasters at Happy Valley offer photo and video services. A video costs 39 RMB, while a video along with three photos is priced at 49 RMB.
5. The Two Free-Fall Towers: Chengdu Happy Valley features two different free-fall towers: The Fall Tower (坠落塔) and Space Shuttle (太空梭). The Fall Tower has a slow ascent and a fast drop, while the Space Shuttle is the opposite, with a fast ascent and slow descent. Make sure to experience both for their unique thrills!
6. For Families with Young Children: If you’re visiting with young children, the Cute Pets Park (萌宠乐园) is a must-visit. You can interact with adorable animals such as raccoons, alpacas, and peacocks. It’s a wonderful way to make lasting memories, though the raccoons may not be accessible for direct interaction.
7. Queueing Tips for Day and Night Sessions: If you want to revisit rides during the day, you’ll need to rejoin the queues. However, at night, lines are usually shorter for many rides, and you don’t need to leave the ride area to queue again. Be aware that most night-time attractions close by 8:30 PM, with the Giant Swing (大摆锤) being the latest at 9:00 PM.
8. Avoid These Underwhelming Rides: Some rides are better skipped, especially for adults. The Kaka Car (Kaka车) is particularly uninteresting, offering a short, slow, and dull ride that’s more suitable for children. The 4D cinema (4D影院), showing Ice Age (冰川时代) with minimal special effects, is also not worth the time. Likewise, Flying Island (飞行岛) is a scenic observation platform that requires long waiting times and only provides an aerial view of the park.
9. Top Ride Recommendations
- Caribbean Storm (加勒比风暴): This is the park’s version of a water ride and is a must-do for thrill-seekers. It’s very fun, and it’s popular enough that you might end up riding it three times! However, it closes by 6:00 PM, so plan accordingly.
- Flying Chairs (飞椅): There are two flying chair rides in the park – one large and one small. Both offer fantastic views and are exhilarating experiences that shouldn’t be missed.