I started my adventure early in the morning with a busy schedule to get to Chengdu Happy Valley. I woke up at 7:00 AM, showered, changed clothes, and packed my things. By 8:00 AM, I was out the door and rushed to catch the high-speed train, which departed at 8:36 AM, barely making it on time. After a smooth ride, I arrived in Chengdu at 9:13 AM, switched to the subway, and made my way to the park, reaching the entrance at 10:20 AM.
Upon arrival, it was still relatively quiet, with fewer people around, and some of the rides hadn’t opened yet. I began my day with three mild and relaxing attractions: the Mexican Hat Ride, Romantic Rain, and the Spinning Rocket.
1. Flying Over the West (飞跃西部): This ride was initially a little intimidating. Once it started, I felt a bit scared, but as soon as it was over, I found myself wanting more. Unfortunately, the ride was quite short—only about two minutes—leaving me wanting a longer thrill.
2. Columbus Adventure (哥伦布大冒险): Next, I tried the Pirate Ship. I sat at the back this time, and in the past, I used to be afraid to even open my eyes during such rides. This time, however, I could keep my eyes open the whole way and even raised my arms—such a thrilling and fun experience!
3. Desert Rally (大漠拉力赛): This ride came highly recommended in the park’s guide, and I couldn’t wait to try it. The experience was incredibly fast and intense, with a rush of excitement, but the wait time was long, and by the time I finished, I felt the urge to ride again. Unfortunately, the line was still long, so I moved on to other attractions.
4. Desert Storm (沙漠风暴): This ride was decent but not too exciting. It didn’t give me the same rush as the previous one, but it was still enjoyable.
5. Flying to the Western Regions (西域飞天): This ride was intense! The highest point was truly terrifying. When we reached the peak, it stopped for about three seconds before plunging down in a rush – such an exhilarating experience! Although the wait time was long, the ride itself was too short, and I definitely wanted to go again.
6. Hurricane Flying (飓风飞翔): This was another ride that took me to great heights. The swing was powerful, and the wind was intense! The feeling of spreading my arms out and feeling the freedom of flying was fantastic. It was a refreshing experience and definitely a highlight of my day.
7. Ancient Shu Maze (古蜀迷踪): I remember thinking this would be a bumpy ride where I would be jolted upright, but surprisingly, it was a seated ride the entire time. It was honestly the least exciting of the day, and I found it a bit dull.
8. Snowy Dragon (雪域飞龙): I expected this ride to be a gentler, kiddie attraction, but it surprised me by being pretty fast. It was an unexpected thrill!
9. Caribbean Storm (加勒比风暴): I made sure to get a raincoat and borrowed shoe covers from others to prepare for the water ride. I took the plunge twice and was fortunate enough not to get drenched. However, my backpack got a bit wet since I didn’t use the storage service, which was a bit unfortunate, but I tried to protect it as much as I could. Otherwise, I would’ve loved to ride it again.
10. Spinning Around (天旋地转): True to its name, this ride definitely spins you around! It was a fun and exciting experience that left me feeling dizzy and thrilled.
11. Ghostly Horror (幽灵惊魂): I was brave enough to try the haunted house, but as soon as I stepped inside, I got so scared that I ran right back out! A group of students entered behind me, and I followed them. It was full of screams and sudden surprises. At one point, I was so startled that the keychain on my backpack got ripped off. While the lack of NPC actors made it less immersive, it was still quite a ride.
12. Giant Swing (大摆锤): I braved the Giant Swing for the second time, this time feeling bolder. I opened my eyes the whole time and even stretched my arms out, feeling like a true daredevil! To make it even better, they played one of my favorite songs, “Zhang Shaohan’s” hits. It was a thrilling moment of joy!
13. Spinning Chairs (旋转飞椅): After experiencing the Hurricane Flying, this ride felt much tamer. I didn’t need to be nervous, and it was a relaxing experience.
14. Merry-Go-Round (旋转木马): The Merry-Go-Round was surprisingly lovely. The ride was gentle, and I got a beautiful photo thanks to a friendly photographer using a camera. I’m so grateful for the memory!
15. Drop Tower (坠落塔): Also known as the free fall ride, I had never tried something like this before and was quite nervous. I gathered my courage and went for it! The ride went up to 42 meters, and at the top, we stopped for two seconds before plummeting down in a heart-stopping freefall. My heart was racing, and the thrill was intense! It was such a rush, but the feeling lasted for only about one second.
16. DISK’O (DISK’O): I initially underestimated this ride, thinking it would be a mild experience. However, the spinning action had me spinning upside down, and my head was spinning after 30 rotations! Although it didn’t have the same intensity as a rollercoaster, it was definitely more fun than I had expected.
By 5:00 PM, I had managed to enjoy nearly all the rides I wanted to try, but there were still a few I hadn’t experienced yet. I was ready for the Light Parade, which was the perfect way to wrap up the day. The crowd was not overwhelming, and I had fun sharing high-fives with fellow visitors during the parade.
At around 7:00 PM, I decided to leave the park. My body felt great, though I had a slight ache in my back and a bit of dizziness, but nothing that couldn’t be tolerated. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and although some attractions had closed, most of the popular rides were still operational, making it a day well spent!