Ten kilometers from Tiananmen Square, on the southeast corner of the East Fourth Ring Road, a crystal city rises from an imagined seabed. This is Atlantis -- or at least Beijing's version of it -- the centerpiece of Happy Valley Beijing, a theme park that has been expanding steadily since it opened in July 2006. In a city defined by its imperial palaces and revolutionary monuments, Happy Valley offers something the capital's more solemn attractions cannot: the pure, uncomplicated joy of being flung through the air at high speed.
Happy Valley Beijing sprawls across six themed areas, each drawing from a different mythology or geography. Atlantis serves as the focal point, with its towering Crystal City acting as the park's central landmark. The Aegean Sea zone borrows from Greek culture, history, and mythology. Lost Maya uses the ruins of Mesoamerican civilization as its backdrop. Shangri-La draws on the landscapes and cultures of Tibet and southwestern China. The Ant Kingdom caters to younger visitors with fictional cartoon ant characters. Fjord Forest rounds out the collection with Nordic-inspired landscapes. Across all zones, more than 40 rides operate, ten of which qualify as extreme -- the kind that turn riders upside down or launch them at speeds that make Beijing's traffic seem tranquil.
The park is a product of the Overseas Chinese Town Company's Shenzhen-based entertainment division, and its development has been incremental and ambitious. The original 2006 opening established the core six areas. Phase II, the "Happy Time Zone," opened on June 27, 2010, introducing large-scale automobile-themed rides for racing enthusiasts. Phase III arrived on May 31, 2014, with 500 million yuan invested in a 50,000-square-meter marine culture theme, including an indoor rafting experience called "Happy World" and a stunt comedy show set in the Lost Maya district that channeled the charm of old Beijing. Phase IV, the Dessert Kingdom, opened on May 1, 2018, at a cost of 1 billion yuan and covering nearly 100,000 square meters with 13 new amusement projects. The fifth and most recent phase, the Shangri-La District, opened on June 28, 2019.
Happy Valley is not just roller coasters. The park hosts an IMAX theater complex with seven screens and a shopping area that together make it a full-day destination. Since 2007, the park has staged "Golden Face Dynasty," a large-scale dance performance that runs regularly. Each October, the International Magic Festival brings magicians from around the world, and visitors can participate in close-up magic interactions. Seasonal events -- a Maximal Exercise Festival, Chinese Spring Festival celebrations, a Water-Splashing Festival -- keep the calendar full. A miniature train encircles the park's perimeter, offering scenic views for visitors who prefer their thrills at a gentler pace. The park is easily accessible via the Beijing Happy Valley station on Line 7 of the Beijing Subway, placing it within quick reach of the city center.
Located at 39.866N, 116.489E in Chaoyang District, eastern Beijing. The park is visible as a large entertainment complex at the southeast corner of the Sifang Bridge on the East Fourth Ring Road, approximately 10 km from Tiananmen Square. Nearest airports: ZBAA (Beijing Capital International, 20 km NE) and ZBAD (Beijing Daxing International, 40 km S). Best viewed at 3,000-5,000 ft AGL.