Theme Parks in Beijing - The 6 Worth a Day Out

Since September 2021 the answer to “which Beijing theme park?” has been Universal Beijing Resort, and every list that predates it is out of date. Happy Valley is the cheaper, thrill-heavy alternative, and the rest are half-day parks for families who have already done the Great Wall. Families pairing a park day with the classic sights can fold it into a private Beijing tour itinerary rather than planning the two separately.

The best theme parks in Beijing, in order

1. Universal Beijing Resort

The flagship, and the only park in the city that rewards a full day. It opened on September 20, 2021 in Tongzhou, on the eastern edge of the city, with seven themed lands: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Transformers Metrobase, Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, Minion Land, Jurassic World Isla Nublar, WaterWorld and Hollywood. Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness debuted here; no other Universal park had one when Beijing opened. The resort also includes the Universal CityWalk shopping street and two hotels, the Universal Studios Grand Hotel and the NUO Resort Hotel.

What foreign visitors need to know:

• Tickets are dated and priced in tiers. The park launched with four price levels (off-peak, regular, peak and special dates) and prices move with the calendar, so check the date you want, not a headline number.
• Your passport is your ticket. Admission is real-name. Passport details are required at booking, and the park uses photo validation at the gate, so the same passport has to come with you on the day.
• Book through official channels. Foreign visitors can buy through the Universal Beijing Resort app, the resort’s Fliggy store, or the resort’s call center.
• Universal Express is sold separately, as single-use or unlimited, for one date only.
• Opening hours change by day. Check the park schedule for your date before you plan dinner.

Getting there: Universal Resort station is the terminus of both Metro Line 7 and the Batong Line. Exits B, C and D lead to the CityWalk security check, and the park gate is roughly 700 meters on foot.

2. Beijing Happy Valley

The best pure ride park in the city, and the one Beijing families use when Universal is too expensive or too crowded. It covers about 56 hectares off the East Fourth Ring Road in Chaoyang (Xiaowuji North Road) and is split into seven themed zones: Atlantis, Lost Maya, Shangri-La, Aegean Harbor, Happy Time, Dessert Kingdom and Fjord Forest. For its 20th anniversary in 2026 the park added two new rides and a 99-meter Ferris wheel, the tallest in Beijing, which opened on June 27. Metro Line 7 runs to the park.

3. Shijingshan Amusement Park

Opened in 1986 and celebrating its 40th year in 2026, Shijingshan is the park most Beijingers grew up with. Expect around 50 rides across five zones, a fairy-tale castle that earned it the nickname “Beijing’s Disneyland” long before Universal arrived, and seasonal events (a summer water-splash festival, holiday evening openings). It is a two-hour park, not a full day. Take Metro Line 1 west to Bajiao Amusement Park station.

4. Water Cube water park

The National Aquatics Center from the 2008 Olympics, better known as the Water Cube, runs an indoor water park on its basement level at 11 Tianchen East Road, on the Olympic Green. Because it is indoors and heated, it is the one water-ride option in Beijing that works in winter. Pair it with an evening at the Bird’s Nest next door. The building is still a competition venue (it hosts the World Aquatics short-course swimming championships on December 1-6, 2026), so check that your date is open to the public.

5. Beijing World Park

A miniatures park in Fengtai District, opened in 1993, with scaled-down versions of landmarks from around the world set around lakes and lawns. It is dated and nobody’s first choice, but gate entry is free through December 31, 2026; rides, the circus show and food are paid separately. Weekend and public-holiday visits need a real-name reservation in advance through the park’s WeChat account, so set up WeChat before you go.

6. SoReal Sci-Fi Park at Shougang

The VR option. SoReal now runs a roughly 20,000-square-meter immersive park inside the No. 1 Blast Furnace of Shougang Park, the converted steelworks in Shijingshan that hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics big air event. Expect VR rides, a virtual space voyage and VR esports, set inside the old furnace structure. Worth combining with Shijingshan Amusement Park, which is in the same district.