Shenzhen Happy Valley (深圳歡樂谷) is a large theme park under the OCT Group, opened in 1998 and covering about 350,000 square metres. It is one of China's first batch of national 5A-level tourist attractions. Many people assume it is only for adults who want thrill rides — in fact the park has plenty of family facilities, parades and shows. The key is this: check the height limits before you go in, so you don't waste the 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; it's a short walk from there. You can also choose the Qiaocheng East Station area and walk from there
- Scale: Nine themed zones, more than 100 rides and shows
- Ticket enquiries: +86-755-26949168 (ticketing phone line)
- Opening hours: Subject to official announcements (day sessions generally start in the morning; evening sessions are counted separately; on some summer days there are evening sessions and water attractions)
Nine Themed Zones — Which Ones Suit Young Kids?
- Spanish Square (西班牙廣場): The first zone after entering, with plenty of photo spots and a concentration of eateries
- Magic Castle (魔幻城堡): A mix of indoor and outdoor facilities, easier for young kids to handle
- Mini World · Adventure Mountain (迷你世界·冒險山): A Mini World IP-themed zone, aimed at families
- Western Mining Town (西部礦鎮): Where the roller coasters and drop towers are concentrated, with the most thrill rides
- Shangri-La (香格里拉) / Typhoon Bay (颶風灣) / Sunshine Beach (陽光海岸): Rides and land-and-water facilities
- Happy Times (歡樂時光): The evening lighting and performance area
- Maya Water Park (瑪雅水公園): The water park zone, open in summer (subject to official announcements)
In 2026 the park added new attractions including Warrior's Hammer (勇士之錘), Sunset Flying Car (落日飛車), Perfect Storm (完美風暴), Rapids Adventure (激流勇進) and Phantom Motorcycle (幻影摩托). There is also 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 Limits: What You Can't Ride If You're Not Tall Enough
- Most rides have height requirements; the common thresholds are 120cm (suitable for young children) and 140cm (thrill rides)
- Children between 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-program and cross out the ones 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
Money-Saving Ticket Tips
- Official channels are the safest bet: Go by the Shenzhen Happy Valley official WeChat mini-program or official partner platforms; online advance-purchase prices are usually cheaper than on-site gate prices
- Look out for weekday tickets, evening tickets and family packages: Evening tickets are usually noticeably cheaper, but young kids tire easily, so do the maths carefully
- Child tickets are divided by height, not by age — measure carefully before buying, so you don't have to pay the difference at the gate
- Some attractions and dining inside the park cost extra, so remember to include them in your budget
Practical Tips for Bringing Young Kids
- Bring a stroller: the park is huge and you'll be walking all day; young kids won't have the stamina
- Bring water and snacks (food inside the park is on the pricey side), but note the park's rules on 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, hats, spare clothes; bring swimwear if you plan to play in the water at Maya Water Park
What Else Can You Do Nearby?
Happy Valley, Window of the World (世界之窗), Splendid China Folk Village (錦繡中華民俗村) and Happy Coast (歡樂海岸) are all in the OCT area, so you can put together a two-day, one-night trip: play at the theme park on day one, stay at a nearby hotel, then visit a mall or head to Shenzhen Bay Park on day two. Yitian Holiday Plaza (益田假日廣場) is also nearby, convenient for eating and shopping.
Transport: How to Get There from Three Border Crossings
- Luohu Port: Take Line 1 from Luohu Station directly to Window of the World Station
- Futian Port: 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 Port: After crossing, call a car and it's about 15 minutes; or transfer 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.
- Can you bring your own food? The park has relevant rules; check the official announcements first.
- Can you finish it in one day? No. Picking the key attractions plus watching one or two shows already makes for a full day.
- Should you buy a fast pass? Worth considering on busy holidays; usually not needed on weekdays.
- What age is best to go? Over 120cm (around 6–7 years old) is the most fun; any younger and you should treat it as a family park, focusing on shows and the family zones.
Conclusion
The key thing for kids at 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 whether it's worth it before buying tickets. Tickets and opening hours are subject to the latest official announcements.
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