Shenzhen Happy Valley (深圳歡樂谷) is a large theme park under the OCT Group, opened in 1998, covering about 350,000 square metres, and one of the first batch of national 5A-level tourist attractions. Many people assume it's only for adults who want thrill rides — in fact, the park has plenty of family facilities, parades and shows. The key point: check the height restrictions before you enter, so you don't waste a trip.
Basic Information
- Address: 18 Qiaocheng West Street, Shahe Subdistrict, Nanshan District (in the OCT area)
- Transport: Take Metro Line 1 or Line 2 and get off at Window of the World Station, then walk — it's not far; alternatively, get off around "Qiaocheng East Station" and walk from there
- Scale: Nine themed zones, over 100 rides and shows
- Ticketing enquiries: +86-755-26949168 (ticketing phone line)
- Opening hours: Subject to official announcements (day sessions generally start in the morning; night sessions are counted separately; on some summer days there are night sessions and water attractions)
Tickets and Opening Hours (official summary)
Happy Valley is divided into two parts: the Land Park (rides + shows) and Playa Maya Water Park (open in summer). Land Park tickets usually do not include the water park. Below are reference prices for 2026; the actual price on the day on the official ticketing platform prevails:
- Adult Land Park full-day ticket: full price about ¥260, online advance-purchase special offers mostly from ¥228 (cheaper on weekdays, more expensive on public holidays).
- Night session ticket: special price from about ¥139 (night sessions are shorter, so plan carefully if bringing children).
- Child / senior concession ticket: from about ¥130 (divided by height or age).
- Free admission (as published on the official website): children 1.2 metres (inclusive) and under; seniors 70 (inclusive) and over; persons with Grade 1 or Grade 2 disabilities and disabled military personnel Grades 1 to 6 (Grades 1 to 4 may bring one carer free of charge).
Opening hours: Happy Valley publishes "today's opening and closing times" day by day according to season and events. The official website mostly shows 09:30 to 23:00 in autumn; night sessions and special days such as New Year's Eve will be extended or adjusted. Before you set off, check the official website or WeChat mini-programme for that day's announcement. Official customer service / ticketing phone: 0755-26949184.
Transport and Last Trains (practical)
- Take Metro Line 1 or Line 2 and get off at Window of the World Station; Exit A, about a 3-minute walk to Happy Valley.
- The last train from Window of the World Station on Line 1 is about 23:30, and about 23:00 on Line 2 — allow buffer time if you're watching the night session.
- When the park empties, Window of the World Station gets extremely crowded; you can walk to Qiaocheng East Station or Baishizhou Station to board and avoid the crowds.
Nine Themed Zones — Which Suit Young Children?
- Spanish Square: the first zone after entering, lots of photo spots and a concentration of eateries
- Magic Castle: a mix of indoor and outdoor facilities, easier for young children to handle
- Mini World · Adventure Mountain: Mini World IP themed zone, family-oriented
- Western Mining Town: roller coasters and drop towers concentrated here — the most thrill rides
- Shangri-La / Typhoon Bay / Sunshine Beach: rides and land-and-water facilities
- Happy Times: the night-time lighting and performance area
- Playa Maya Water Park: the water zone, open in summer (subject to official announcements)
In 2026 the park added new attractions such as Warrior's Hammer, Sunset Coaster, Perfect Storm, Rapids Adventure and Phantom Motorcycle, plus a "Mini Planet" family interactive zone, a grand carnival parade and multiple live performances — even if you don't ride the thrill rides, you can still watch the shows.
Height Restrictions: What You Can't Ride If You're Not Tall Enough
- Most rides have height requirements; the common thresholds are 120cm (young children can ride) and 140cm (thrill rides)
- Children 90–120cm mainly ride the family zones, carousels, small roller coasters and bumper cars
- Before entering, check the ride list on the official website or mini-programme and cross out what you can't ride, so your itinerary doesn't fall apart
- Not being tall enough doesn't mean there's nothing to do — shows, parades and family zones can easily fill half a day
Ways to Save on Tickets
- Official channels are the safest bet: go by the Shenzhen Happy Valley official WeChat mini-programme or official partner platforms; online advance-purchase prices are usually cheaper than on-site counter prices
- Look out for weekday tickets, night session tickets and family packages: night session tickets are usually noticeably cheaper, but children tire easily, so weigh it up carefully
- Child tickets are divided by height, not by age — measure carefully before buying, or you may have to pay the difference at the gate
- Some attractions and dining inside the park are charged separately; remember to include them in your budget
Practical Tips for Bringing Young Children
- Bring a stroller: the park is very large and you'll be walking all day — young children won't have the stamina
- Bring water and snacks (food and drink in the park is on the pricey side), but note the park's rules on bringing in outside food
- Avoid weekends and long holidays; weekday crowds are very different, and queue times can be halved
- Pick up the show schedule on entry and slot parades in between waiting for rides
- Summer essentials: sunscreen, hat, spare clothes; bring swimwear for the water play at Playa Maya Water Park
What Else Can You Do Nearby?
Happy Valley, Window of the World, Splendid China Folk Village and Happy Coast are all in the OCT area, so you can combine them into a two-day, one-night trip: play at the theme park on day one, stay at a nearby hotel, and on day two visit a mall or head to Shenzhen Bay Park. Nearby there's also Yitian Holiday Plaza, convenient for eating and shopping.
Transport: How to Get There from Three Checkpoints?
- Luohu Checkpoint: take Line 1 from Luohu Station direct to Window of the World Station
- Futian Checkpoint: take Line 4 from Futian Checkpoint Station to Convention & Exhibition Center Station, then change to Line 1 to Window of the World Station
- Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint: after clearing customs, a taxi takes about 15 minutes; or change to the Metro towards Nanshan and then on towards Window of the World
FAQ
How are child tickets calculated?
Usually by height, not by age — measure before you set off.
Roughly how much are the tickets?
Adult Land Park full-day ticket full price about ¥260, online special offers from about ¥228, night session tickets from about ¥139, child / senior concession tickets from about ¥130; children under 1.2 metres and seniors over 70 get free admission. Subject to the official ticketing platform.
Which Metro station do I get off at? What time is the last train?
Line 1 or Line 2, Window of the World Station, Exit A, about a 3-minute walk. Last train on Line 1 about 23:30, Line 2 about 23:00.
Can I bring my own food?
The park has relevant rules — check the official announcements first.
Can I cover it all in one day?
No. Picking the key attractions plus watching one or two shows is already a full day.
Should I buy a fast pass?
Worth considering on busy holidays; usually not needed on weekdays.
What age is best to go?
Over 120cm (about 6–7 years old) is the most fun; any younger and you treat it as a family park, focusing on shows and family zones.
How long does it take from the checkpoint?
From Luohu Checkpoint, Line 1 direct to Window of the World Station takes about 40 minutes; from Futian Checkpoint you need one change, about 45–50 minutes; from Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint a taxi takes about 15 minutes.
Can I bring elderly family members?
Yes. The paths in the park are flat, and there are viewing and performance areas where seniors can sit and wait; but a full day of walking means you'll need a wheelchair or plenty of rest breaks.
Sample One-Day Itinerary (family version)
- 09:30–10:00: Get off at Window of the World Station and walk to the entrance; the first thing on entering is to pick up a map and the show schedule
- 10:00–12:00: Head first to the family-oriented zones (Mini World · Adventure Mountain, Magic Castle) and queue while everyone still has energy
- 12:00–13:30: Eat and cool down around Spanish Square
- 13:30–15:30: Watch the parade and shows; children who are 120cm or taller can try the junior roller coasters
- 15:30–17:30: Tour the remaining themed zones and take photos; in summer you can add water play at Playa Maya Water Park
- After 17:30: Leave and go to Yitian Holiday Plaza or Happy Coast for dinner
The park is huge with over a hundred attractions, so you definitely can't cover it all in one day; picking 5–6 highlights plus one or two shows is already a full day. If elderly family members are with you, allow more time to sit and rest.
The 4 Traps Parents Most Often Fall Into
- Not checking height restrictions before entering, only discovering at the ride that the child isn't tall enough — a wasted queue
- Buying night session tickets, but the child is already exhausted and crying by 8pm
- Not bringing a stroller, so you end up carrying them while walking halfway through
- Entering on a weekend afternoon, when queues for popular rides start at an hour
Height Restrictions Quick Check (measure once before you go)
- Under 90cm: mainly family zones and carousels; most rides are off limits
- 90–120cm: family-oriented facilities, small roller coasters, bumper cars
- 120–140cm: most medium-sized rides (some require an adult companion)
- Over 140cm: essentially all thrill rides are open to you
The above are common thresholds; individual attractions have their own standards. Before entering, be sure to check the ride list on official channels — don't wait until you're at the gate to discover you're not tall enough.
Conclusion
For children, the key thing about Happy Valley isn't "how thrilling it is" but "whether they're tall enough". If they're tall enough, they'll have a great time; if not, treat it as a family park plus show venue, and work out carefully whether it's worth it before buying tickets. Tickets and opening hours are subject to the latest official announcements.
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