10 Best Theme Parks in Shanghai

Happy Valley Shanghai is a huge theme park located in the Songjiang District. It’s about 40 km west of the downtown area. With 863,500 metres of space to explore, divided into 7 themed sections such as Sunshine Harbor and Shangri-la Woods, plan to spend an entire day at this park.

The park has tons of rides for adventure seekers. There’s a roller coaster with a 60-metre drop and a swing ride where you can soar 15 storeys about the ground. There are also many rides for the tiniest travellers, like the carousel. When you need to refuel, make your way to one of the eateries onsite, grab a bite and just relax before your next adventure.

Disneyland Shanghai is in the Pudong New District and is the only Disney park in mainland China. You can get the full Disney experience by staying at the companion resort, or buy day passes to the park.

Disneyland Shanghai is divided into 6 sections, each with a different theme. Head to Mickey Avenue for photos with your favourite Disney characters. Meet all 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac in the Gardens of the Imagination. Experience movie-themed, immersive rides and all the traditional Disney favourites like Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan.

Dino Beach Water Park is a popular destination to cool down in the summer. The open-air water park has one of the largest wave pools in Asia and 8 water slides to enjoy, including one slide that is 150 metres long. There are kiddie pools for the youngest visitors seeking to splash the day away.

There’s also a lazy river that follows the perimeter of the park. You’ll enjoy floating your way around as you soak in the sun. You can even try water skiing, jet skiing and surfing in the Blue Sea section. When you’re hungry, take a seat at one of the restaurants in the park and get ready for the next plunge into the water.

Jinjiang Action Park was one of Shanghai’s first amusement parks. It’s a classic theme park, filled with roller coasters and rides. The park is in the Minhang District and even has its own stop on the Shanghai Metro (Jinjiang Park Station).

The park features several roller coasters, including 2 with loop-the-loops. There’s also a spinning roller coaster and water rides like the log flume. One of the highlights of the park is the huge Ferris wheel, a whopping 108-metres tall that will make you feel on top of the world. Don’t worry about the younger members of the family, though, as there are also plenty of rides for young children.

As the name suggests, Sega Joypolis brings all your favourite Sega video games to life in the form of a theme park. The digital amusement park is in the Changning District. It’s spread across 2 floors of the Global Harbor Shopping Mall.

Sega Joypolis has the vibe of a giant arcade park. It’s got virtual rides, 3D interactive games and driving simulators. This park also has more traditional amusement park features, like a haunted house, bumper cars and a small, indoor roller coaster. It’s a great way to spend a rainy day with plenty of great options to keep the kids entertained.

Changfeng Park and Ocean World are located in the Putuo District. Ocean World is the big draw, containing a manmade lake called Silver Shovel Lake and taking you 13 metres below the lake’s surface to observe marine life. If you want a moment away from the crowds, Changfeng Park is a lovely place for a peaceful stroll.

Ocean World has regular animal shows featuring beluga whales, seals and otters. Walk through the long shark tunnel to feel your heart beat faster as the sharks glide by, metres away. You’ll find 15,000 different kinds of ocean and river animals at Ocean World, including penguins.

Haichang Ocean Park is located near Dripping Lake, off the coast of the East China Sea. It’s in the Pudong New Area, so it makes an excellent destination for a day trip from downtown Shanghai. When you visit, you’ll find traditional amusement park rides along with animal exhibits and performances.

The park is divided into 5 sections, each with a different theme. Travel to snow-covered mountains in the tundra or walk through a tropical paradise with a volcano. There’s a roller coaster and river rapid rides, as well as 2 movie theatres. There’s also a resort onsite if you want to spend the night.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is the place to go for kids of all ages who love everything LEGO. The centre is located near Changfeng Park in the Changning District. You and your children can learn how LEGO bricks are made on the factory tour, and then play to your heart’s content.

The Indoor LEGO-themed park has a few amusement rides, but LEGO is the main attraction. There are 11 LEGO ‘build and play’ zones, where visitors can build whatever their imagination can think of and then try it out. There’s also a 4D cinema where films come to life. The 4th dimension adds rain, wind and snow for a truly immersive experience.

Hello Kitty is so popular, there’s an entire park dedicated to the cartoon cat in Shanghai. The Hello Kitty Shanghai Times is an indoor theme park, making it a wonderful place to spend a rainy day. The park takes up 3 floors in the Shanghai Mart Retail Mall, located in the Huangpu District.

The park combines everything Hello Kitty with the local culture of Shanghai. The exhibits feature Hello Kitty versions of popular Shanghai landmarks. The rides and interactive exhibits will bring your little ones up close with Hello Kitty herself, as well as My Melody, Keroppi and other cartoon friends.

The Dakang Water Park is a large indoor park in the Baoshan District. It’s the perfect place for the entire family to splash around. For older children and adults, there’s a diving pool and swimming pool. The younger kids can enjoy small splash rides.

The entire family can cool down in the huge wave pool, the kiddie pool, water fountains and waterfalls. There are also plenty of rides for the adventure-seeker. The slides range from simple and straight to twisting and turning as you plummet to the water below.