7 best theme & amusement parks in Shanghai

Looking for fun for the whole family in Shanghai? This list of parks will have you playing from morning till night, from water parks, ski resorts to roller coasters.

Shanghai may stand out with its flashy skyline and bustling pace of life, but hidden beneath its modern urban facade is a huge entertainment ecosystem – where you can step into the fairytale world of Disney, ski in the middle of summer or adventure with the Mayan mythology in the cool water. Not many cities in Asia can pack all that experience into just a few days, but Shanghai can – and does it well.

Whether you’re an adventurer, a techie, a parent looking for the perfect place for your kids, or simply want to relive your childhood with laughter, there’s a park here just for you. Check out these great names!

Best amusement parks in Shanghai: Shanghai Disneyland – The Fairytale World Is Calling Your Name

As soon as you step through the entrance gate, you will realize that Shanghai Disneyland is not exactly the same as its “brothers” in Tokyo or Hong Kong. The space here is maximized with 7 themed areas, the most prominent of which is Zootopia Land – the first and only themed land in the world inspired by the famous animated film Zootopia. Judy Hopps fans will definitely be fascinated by the landscape, animations and “lifelike” characters here.

If you are on the “must try the best” team, start with TRON Lightcycle Power Run – a light motorcycle coaster with speed and futuristic design that makes adrenaline surge from the first seconds. And if you like the feeling of adventure in a storytelling way, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure will take you on a zero-gravity journey in the deep sea – with extremely vivid 360-degree effects.

But Disneyland is about more than just the big rides. It’s the little moments – like the gentle drift in Peter Pan’s Flight, seeing Cinderella descend from the castle, or being left speechless as fireworks light up the sky behind Enchanted Storybook Castle – that make it memorable.

Another big plus is that getting into Shanghai Disneyland is incredibly easy: just show your passport or ID and you’re in, no need to print out tickets or queue at the counter. For those who want a more complete experience, staying at an on-site hotel like the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel or Toy Story Hotel will make for a seamless experience from morning to night – from on-site shuttles to early check-in privileges and prime fireworks viewing spots.

LEGOLAND® Shanghai Resort – When the Building World Comes Real

July 5, 2025 marks a special milestone in the Chinese entertainment map: the country’s first LEGOLAND® will officially open in Shanghai. For those who grew up with the legendary Lego bricks, this place is more than just a park – it is a journey back to childhood, where imagination is upgraded to reality.

LEGOLAND® Shanghai Resort is designed with eight themed zones, more than 75 games and a series of interactive activities built around the most famous Lego series. From the world of fire dragons to the knight’s castle, from the journey into space to the Lego Water Park – everything is built with the details you carefully assembled on the floor as a child. Now, you can… step inside them.

A special highlight is the world’s first Lego® Monkie Kid area – inspired by Chinese culture and the myth of Journey to the West, where you will adventure with the Monkey King in the world of Hoa Qua Son recreated with Lego. The combination of traditional elements and modern Lego technology creates a land that is both familiar and strange, very “cool” for both adults and children.

Here, everything encourages you to touch, interact, build, create on your own or simply sit down and admire the giant Lego works made from hundreds of thousands of pieces – something that no other place can offer.

Haichang Ocean Park – Ocean in the Heart of the City

Have you ever dreamed of diving deep into the ocean, swimming with sharks, watching penguins or riding a train through ice and snow? Haichang Ocean Park is the gentle answer to that dream.

The park is divided into five themed areas – each representing a slice of the ocean planet: from Mermaid Bay, Polar Town, to the Ice and Snow Kingdom. Each area is meticulously designed, giving the feeling that you have just stepped into another dimension – cool, deep blue, and full of mystery.

It is no coincidence that Haichang is considered the largest “open aquarium” in Shanghai. Here, you will admire more than 30,000 marine creatures – from polar bears, sea lions, hammerhead sharks, to strange fish living deep in the ocean. What’s most valuable is the way the park arranges its explorations: the space is not crowded but is subtly guided through walkways, escalators, and glass tunnels – as if you were actually traveling under the deep sea.

In addition to the aquarium, Haichang also has exciting games such as the volcano train, the cable car system across the ecological area, and the specially designed parent-child interaction areas, making it the top choice for families with young children who want to combine learning – playing – relaxing.

Happy Valley Shanghai Park – The Land of Youth Energy

If Disneyland is a fairy tale, LEGOLAND is a world of construction, then Happy Valley is the adrenaline rush in the heart of Shanghai. The park carries the true spirit of “fun to the roof” – where youth, speed and laughter echo throughout the slides.

Different from theme parks with cinematic or oceanic colors, Happy Valley is divided into areas with a pure spirit of adventure – like a giant fair, but invested in a scale according to international standards. From the soaring Dream of Shangri-La area to the vibrant waterfall and jungle slide area, every game here wants you to scream – the louder the better.

The newest highlight is the Shanghai Beach area, inspired by the intersection between ancient and modern Shanghai. Here, you will encounter nostalgic architecture mixed with contemporary design, creating the feeling of entering an endless outdoor festival – where there is live music, dancing, games, fake sea and even… the smell of caramel popcorn mixed with cool ice cream.

Happy Valley is a place where you can return to your childhood with just a carousel, then immediately rush to the roller coaster just to feel your heart beat a little faster than usual. And perhaps, it is because of this contrast – between naivety and recklessness – that Happy Valley has become a favorite choice of many young people, dynamic couples, and families who like a “slightly excessive” day of fun but still safe enough.

Yaoxue Water World Water Park – Double-Slides Loved by tourists

If Yaoxue Ice & Snow is the choice for endless winter, then Yaoxue Water World – its summer sibling – is where you can enjoy the sun, cross the water and glide through the space between white foam and light. This is a Viking-themed water park, over 20,000m² wide, designed in a “double-layer 3D” model – meaning there is both an indoor and an outdoor area, operating simultaneously regardless of the weather.

The most special feature is the system of 26 water slides connecting many floors, including cross-layer slides and outdoor hanging slides that are extremely rare in China. The feeling of suddenly rushing from an indoor slide to the outdoors, soaring through the air, then falling into the cool water – is like you are “transporting” between two worlds.

Yaoxue Water World is not as large as Maya Beach, but it scores points for its smart design, clear amenities and uninterrupted experience. This is an ideal place for groups of young people or families who want to have fun and relax without having to jostle too much.

You can spend half a day playing the slides, then rest in the indoor lounges, drink a cold coconut water and watch the kids play in the shallow water area right next to it. The pace of life here is not too frenetic, but it is exciting enough to make you feel “satisfied” – a gentle and neat kind of satisfaction, very worth adding to the schedule.

Maya Beach Water Park – Crazy Like a Festival

If Yaoxue is a quiet snow world, Maya Beach Water Park is a heat wave that hits all the senses – a festival of water sounds, music and even screams as people rush down the towering slides. Inspired by the ancient Mayan civilization, this park is not just a place for you to play in the water, but a place where you can “play the role” of a summer warrior – sweat, laugh and live to the fullest.

The first feeling when entering Maya Beach is the color. Ancient stone walls, sun statues, totem poles and the bright yellow light of the sun create an atmosphere like attending a festival in the middle of the jungle. You can start the day with a spiral water slide from the tallest tower in the park, or simply lie down on a float in the middle of the lazy river winding through the artificial forests.

With more than 20 water games ranging from “fun” to “screaming”, this place is enough for you to play all day without feeling repetitive. For families, the park has specially designed 5 large water play areas for children – where parents and children can go down the gentle slide together or have fun under the artificial rain that suddenly falls from giant buckets above their heads.

Yaoxue Ice & Snow World in Shanghai

In a sunny city like Shanghai, it is hard to believe that you can step into a place where the temperature is always below zero degrees Celsius, where the ground is covered in white snow, the ice skating rink stretches for hundreds of meters, and the air carries the familiar cold smell of northern winter. But Yaoxue Ice & Snow World – recognized as the world’s largest indoor snow rink – is the place where the seemingly impossible becomes a reality.

Covering an area of ​​nearly 100,000 square meters, equivalent to 12 football fields, this snow world has three ski routes with clearly defined levels: from basic trails for beginners, to intermediate trails and even advanced S-shaped slopes for experienced skiers. Each slope is professionally designed, has a modern ski lift system and a well-organized technical training area – worth a try whether you are a newbie or a professional skier.

But Yaoxue is not just for “snow addicts”. If you just want to have some light fun with friends or children, the snow entertainment area with games like Snow Country Train or Snow Mountain Jump will make everyone laugh with excitement. The feeling of being lost in a Nordic snow village with simulated snowfall, small wooden houses and warm yellow lights in the middle of a white space – is truly a “virtual but very real” experience.

Shanghai has no shortage of things to explore, but these parks will make you want to stay a little longer. And if you want to optimize your experience, don’t forget to book your tickets in advance through Klook to skip the lines, save time, and devote all your energy to memorable moments.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Shanghai you can refer to

• Shanghai By Night
• Best of Shanghai Half Day Tour
• Essential Shanghai 3 Day Private Tour
• Shanghai Museum Half Day Tour
• 2 Days Shanghai Private Tour
• Modern Shanghai Private Day Tour
• Shanghai City Walking Tour
• Traditional Shanghai Private Day Tour
• Private Shanghai Classic Full Day Bike Tour
• Shanghai Disneyland Admission Ticket
• Shanghai Disneyland Admission (90 days calendar)
• Huangpu River Cruise（Qingjiang Line）
• Yu Garden Admission Ticket in Shanghai
• Shanghai Tower 118th Floor Observation Deck Ticket
• Shanghai Bund Sightseeing Tunnel
• Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park Ticket
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport Transfers
• [World Highest Skywalk] Shanghai Jin Mao Tower 88th Floor Exclusive Skywalk Experience
• [Bund View·Klook Exclusive] Shanghai Magic Jungle Ticket
• Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden
• Shanghai EF PARK Power Formula Park
• Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass
• Shanghai Disneyland (1 Day Admission/2 Day Admission)
• Oriental Pearl Tower
• CMHK | HK 7 Days unlimited data + 200 HK Local Mins + 1GB Mainland China and Macau data (HK Airport Pick Up)
• [Thailand Pick Up] Dtac GO INTER SIM Card Zone 1(Asia, Australia, USA, exclude Thailand)
• 4G LTE WiFi (MNL Airport Pick Up) for Asia
• 4G Portable WiFi (Manila Delivery) for Asia
• [Unlimited Data] 4G Portable WiFi for Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau from Uroaming (HK Airport Pick Up)
• 4G WiFi (HK Airport Pick Up) for Hong Kong/Macau/China (No Speed Limited) from Song WiFi

Read more: Shanghai travel blog — The fullest Shanghai travel guide for first-timers.