Crystal Wing Coaster
The park's flagship launched coaster, a fast lift-and-loop ride that is the best of the thrill lineup. Queues are longest here, so ride it in the first hour and again near closing when the lines finally thin.
Modern, Family & Parks
theme-parkfamilycoastersthrillseast-beijing
Happy Valley Beijing: Complete Visitor Guide
Happy Valley Beijing: a big Chinese coaster park east of town — thrills and real expectations
Happy Valley Beijing is the largest of the city's theme parks, a sprawling coaster and ride complex in the far east beside the Fourth Ring Road. It is a Chinese regional park, not a Disney or Universal, with solid thrill rides and uneven theming. This guide covers tickets, the best rides, the evening option and how to reach it on Line 7. Manage your expectations and you will have a good, if long, day out with the kids.
Quick Facts
- Opening hours
- 09:30–22:00 (day) · evening from 17:00 (seasonal)
- Last entry
- 21:00 (day) · 20:30 (evening)
- Closed
- Open daily (some rides rotate on weekdays)
- Suggested time
- A full day
- Ticket price
- CNY 260 day · CNY 160 evening (confirm seasonally)
- Best season
- Spring–autumn; avoid summer midday heat
- Booking
- Passport ID required; book online in advance
- Nearest metro
- Line 7, Happy Valley Scenic Area (Exit B)
How to Book with a Foreign Passport
Happy Valley sells timed tickets online against your passport ID, and the foreigner price is the same as the domestic one. Book a day ticket ahead in peak season, or a cheaper evening ticket if you only want the lit-up rides.
- Book on the official Happy Valley Beijing ticketing site or its WeChat mini-program using each visitor's passport number.
- Choose a day ticket or the cheaper evening ticket (entry from around 17:00 in season).
- Show the same passport at the gate scanner; there is no separate foreigner window.
- Inside, use the park app or QR to join ride queues and check show times.
- Re-entry is not allowed — finish everything before you leave.
Getting There
By metro
Line 7 to Happy Valley Scenic Area (Huanle Gu Gujingqu) Station, Exit B, then a signed 5-minute walk to the main gate.
By taxi
Show the driver 北京欢乐谷 南门 (the south/main gate).
Entrances
Enter at the south gate; the park is a loop, so start with the thrill zone on the right and work around.
What to See Inside
The Mine Train and Drop Tower
A runaway-mine themed coaster and a high drop tower anchor the thrill zone alongside the Crystal Wing. Both deliver real airtime and are the park's strongest draws, with the drop tower giving the best view across the park.
The Evening Light Show
After dark the central lake and rides light up, and an evening ticket buys the lit-up atmosphere without a full day. It is the park's most photogenic, least queued window.
Family and Kid Zones
Away from the coasters, the park has gentle rides, a small aquarium touch tank and a kids' theatre. These are where younger siblings and tired parents regroup, and they are shaded enough to make a hot afternoon bearable.
Photo Gallery
A 2006 Entry in China's Theme-Park Boom
Happy Valley Beijing opened in 2006 as the second park in the Happy Valley chain, a domestic brand built to rival foreign theme parks on Chinese soil. It landed in the far east of the city beside the Fourth Ring Road, on land set aside as the capital's leisure belt. The chain has since spread to several major Chinese cities.
The park has been expanded and re-themed several times, adding coasters, a water section and seasonal evening events. It has never matched Disney or Universal for polish, but it became a genuine fixture for Beijing families and school groups seeking a full day out. Ride maintenance is variable, so check the board for closures on the day, and new rides open most years.
Today Happy Valley Beijing draws millions of visits a year, almost all domestic. It now competes with Universal Studios Beijing, opened in 2021, which sits farther east and out-classes it on theming. Happy Valley survives on price and proximity to the city. School groups pack it on weekdays and families flood it at weekends. Its scale still impresses, even if the paint is fading in places. Expect a lively, local, occasionally rough-around-the-edges day.
Suggested Route
- 1. South gate entry Enter at the south gate, grab a map and head right into the thrill zone before the queues build.
- 2. Crystal Wing first Ride the Crystal Wing and the mine train in the first 90 minutes, when lines are shortest.
- 3. Loop the themed zones Work clockwise through the Aztec, Mediterranean and water zones, catching a show when the midday heat peaks.
- 4. Family zone and lake Spend mid-afternoon in the kids' zone and by the central lake; this is the calmest, shadiest stretch.
- 5. Evening show, then exit Stay for the evening light show if you hold an evening or full-day ticket, then exit the south gate to Line 7.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not expect Disney-level theming; this is a solid but rough Chinese regional park.
- Ride the headline coasters first; queues pass 60 minutes by late morning.
- Bring cash and a QR app; some kiosks inside do not take foreign cards.
- Avoid the full-day summer visit midday — heat and crowds are harsh.
- Do not buy a day ticket if you only want the evening lights — it costs more.
Combine It With
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book Happy Valley Beijing?
Yes, online against your passport ID, ideally ahead in peak season. There is no foreigner window, and the gate scanner reads your passport. The cheaper evening ticket is also booked online and admits you only from around 17:00.
How much does Happy Valley cost?
A day ticket is around CNY 260 and an evening ticket about CNY 160, but prices shift by season and promotion, so confirm on the official WeChat account. Children under a metre are usually free; measure at the gate.
How long does a visit take?
A full day — six to eight hours — covers the coasters, shows and the lake. An evening ticket is two to three hours of lit-up rides only. Arrive at opening to clear the headline queues before they build.
When is the best time to go?
Spring and autumn weekdays are best; summer noons are hot and holidays are packed. Arrive at the 09:30 opening and do the coasters first, before the lines build. The evening ticket suits those who want atmosphere over rides and cooler air.
Is Happy Valley worth it versus Universal?
Happy Valley is cheaper and closer, with real coasters but uneven theming and upkeep. Universal, farther east, is plusher and pricier. Choose Happy Valley for thrills on a budget, Universal for immersion and a world-class day.