Nine themed zones, more than a hundred rides, white-knuckle coasters, a summer water park and an evening show — the amusement park Shenzhen families spend the whole day at, with a metro station right at the gate.
Picture this: you are at the gate at ten in the morning, screams already drifting over from a coaster on the far side of the park, kids sprinting toward the cartoon zone and teenagers heading straight for the ride that flings you skyward in 1.8 seconds. That is an ordinary weekday at Happy Valley Shenzhen, the amusement park planted right in the middle of the OCT district, a few minutes' walk from the metro.
Happy Valley (欢乐谷) opened in 1998 as the first park in the Happy Valley chain in China. It covers about 350,000 square metres in Nanshan District, split into 9 themed zones — adventure lands, a Mayan-civilisation area, a gold-mine zone and a children's area among them — with more than 100 rides and attractions in total. There are looping coasters, a drop tower, a giant water chute and outdoor shows, which makes it a genuine all-rounder for families and thrill-seeking friends alike.
What sets it apart from other parks in the city is the location. It sits in the same OCT cluster as Window of the World and Splendid China, all reachable on the same metro line, so chaining them together over a trip is very easy.
Thrill-seekers, head straight here — though some come in a family-friendly version too
A launch tower that yanks you from the ground to roughly 60 metres in a fraction of a second before dropping you back down. The brief float at the top gives a wide view over the park and the OCT towers. It is the adrenaline opener most thrill-seekers ride first.
A floorless coaster that flips and inverts you several times mid-air at full speed and full G-force. It is one of the longest queues on busy days, so if you want to ride it without a long wait, get here as the park opens.
A gold-mine-themed coaster that weaves through a mock mountain. It has a good amount of speed without being as fierce as the looping coaster, which makes it ideal for families and for anyone trying their first coaster. A long-standing park classic.
A boat climbs to the top, then plunges down a water ramp, throwing up a wave big enough to soak the people watching from the bridge. It is perfect for a hot day — bring a poncho, or just accept that you are going to get wet and have more fun for it.
A zone themed on Mayan civilisation, with pyramid-style architecture and statues as a backdrop. Through 2026 the park is rolling out several new rides, including a new coaster and extra thrill attractions. Check the latest ride list on the official site before you go, as some rides rotate in and out for maintenance.
The key to enjoying Happy Valley is avoiding the busy days. On weekends and Chinese public holidays, especially Golden Week in early October and the Chinese New Year period, queues for the popular rides can run to an hour. If you can choose, come on a weekday and get in at 10 am when the park opens, then head straight for the looping coaster and Space Shot before the lines build.
If you genuinely cannot avoid a holiday, consider the fast-pass option the park sells on busy days — it lets you skip the queue for the headline rides, though it costs extra.
Playa Maya Water Park (玛雅水公园) is a Mayan-themed water park right next door, open in summer only, typically from around 1 May to early October each year, and it is charged separately from the main amusement-park ticket. If you want the water park, plan your visit for June to September when it is hottest, and confirm the opening and closing dates on the official site first, as they shift with the weather.
On a hot day, many people ride the amusement park in the morning, then move to the water park in the afternoon to cool off. If you plan to do that, buy a combined ticket or check the entry conditions for both sections in advance.
The atmosphere changes once evening falls, with outdoor shows, a parade and lights across the zones. If you have a full-day ticket, it is worth staying on into the evening for the shows and the lit-up photos. If you are short on time, an evening ticket after 4 pm at around ¥130 (~฿650) still gets you the evening rides and shows for a good price — check the show times for the day at the entrance or in the app.
Happy Valley is in the OCT area of Nanshan District, served by several metro lines. The easiest and cheapest way in is the metro.
Stay around Nanshan/OCT and the park is just a few metro stops away — handy for families who want to ride from opening