We first visited Guangzhou back in 2018, and the memories of its modern, spotless streets and vibrant shopping scene were still fresh in our minds. This time, with the two Boays in tow, I was even more determined to make the trip action-packed and memorable.
Adding to the excitement was the fact that we were coordinating it with my brother’s family — they would arrive earlier and leave earlier, so our schedules only overlapped for part of the week. That meant carefully planning activities we could enjoy together, while also carving out time for our own little adventures.
7D6N Family Adventures in Guangzhou
Days 1–3: Chimelong Resort Stay
We kicked off our trip with a 3D2N stay at Chimelong Panda Hotel, a whimsical, self-contained resort that gave us unlimited access to several of the parks in the Chimelong complex. It was clean, safe, and bursting with family-friendly fun — the perfect base for the Boays’ first experience of Guangzhou.
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On our first day, we checked in and headed straight for the Safari Park. Must-sees included the gondola ride (which felt almost as long as a round trip between Mount Faber and Sentosa), the safari-on-wheels tour, the Jurassic Forest, and the ever-charming Panda Village.
Each enclosure was sprawling — more like a mini-park than a typical zoo habitat — which gave the animals space to roam freely. One of the most unforgettable moments was watching an entire herd of zebras trot gracefully across the open plains, a sight that made the whole safari feel wonderfully alive and untamed.
For meals, don’t bother with food delivery apps while at Chimelong. Drivers aren’t allowed inside the resort and can only drop off orders at the main gate — a good 30-minute walk from the hotel. Instead, try the resort’s own food outlets; we were pleasantly surprised at both the quality and the variety available.
Day two began with the waterpark, which is more suited for older children and thrill-seekers. Since many rides had height restrictions, we focused instead on exploring the sprawling grounds before heading in the afternoon to the Bird Park.
That evening, we capped off the day with the International Circus, which was dazzling from start to finish. I had my doubts whether the Boays would follow the stunts, but they were wide-eyed the whole way through — and continued talking about it long after the show ended.
Read our full review of the four parks in Chimelong resort.
Day 3 – A Break from Theme Parks
Our hotel package still covered another Chimelong park, likely Chimelong Paradise, but we were ready for a change of pace. Instead, we made a short 20-minute trip to the Crazy Maggee Experience Center, where the Boays got to live out a real-life Chinese game show.
The challenges combined trivia questions (all in Mandarin) with physical stunts — from scaling an ever-inclining wall to dodging bricks that popped out closer to a drop every time we answered incorrectly.
The runaway favourite, though, was the treasure room, where the boays had 20 seconds to fling open chests and grab as many goodies as possible before the door shut. They loved it so much that they’ve since started watching the TV show itself!
For me, there was an extra nice touch — the shop actually offered us the CCTV footage of our challenges from multiple angles. It was an absolute joy to be able to replay our mad scrambles again and again, like our own personalised highlight reel.
Do note: the games may be too intense for younger or more cautious children (Ashriel gave some rooms a pass), and it’s best to have some command of Chinese.
Tickets are pricey too — around SGD300 for four games (good for 3–4 players, lasting about 90 minutes). Still, the laughter was worth every cent.
From there, we headed to Xiongfeng City. Walmart alone made the detour worthwhile, with aisles of affordable finds. We snagged a full Plants vs Zombies set for SGD20, while my brother happily lugged home high-quality pots and pans.
The supermarket was an experience by itself, full of free samples and quirky products. Around the complex, I also spotted a toy warehouse, an educational supplies store, and yes, a Chagee outlet, though time didn’t allow us to explore further.
In the evening, we checked into our new accommodation in Tianhe District, the Oakwood Premier. We had considered smaller hotels like Mercure on Beijing Street for its vibrant neighbourhood, but with two kids in tow we needed more space and better amenities.
At about SGD140 per night, our serviced apartment gave us 50–60 square metres to spread out in, complete with a washing machine, dryer and kitchenette.
Those small touches made all the difference — my wife was delighted to cut down the laundry load before flying home, and on nights when we wanted a quiet dinner in, the kitchenette was a real lifesaver.
The Oakwood also offered a gym, a sheltered pool, and even a traditional Chinese medicine centre with pediatric services downstairs.
Day 4 – Play and Explore
The next morning, we visited Meland Sports, an indoor playground located in Liwan Link Square. Guangzhou has no shortage of playgrounds, but this one stood out for its focus on active, sports-based play.
Instead of the usual slides and ball pits, we found treehouse obstacle courses, trampolines, gaming zones, driving simulators, karaoke booths, and even go-karts. The high elements section, open only to children above 1.4 metres, featured steep slides, gondola rides, and climbing walls.
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Safety was clearly a priority — staff monitored each ride closely — and the Boays had a fantastic time exploring every corner.
In the evening we drifted back to Grandview Mall, this time with tickets to its much-talked-about aquarium, billed as the longest in any shopping mall in China. The entrance tunnel, with its glowing laser light displays, created an immersive build-up, and there were some unique Arctic creatures on display.
Unfortunately, the night visit proved underwhelming; while evening tickets are cheaper, they exclude many of the daytime interactive activities like the starfish pool, mermaid shows and magic performances. To make matters worse, several adults in our group had by then come down with a stomach bug, which dampened the mood.
Day 5 – Science and Shopping for Nailong
With my wife temporarily transformed into a “Guangzhou Merlion” and whisked off to hospital by the ever-helpful Oakwood Premier staff (their service really deserves a mention), and my brother’s family already back in Singapore, I suddenly found myself in charge of the Boays for the day — and we made the most of it at the Guangzhou Science Center, one of the largest in the world.
From the outside, the building isn’t as visually striking as some other science museums we’ve visited, but inside it is easily one of the most interactive we’ve ever experienced. Entry is affordable — free for children under 1.3m and reasonably priced for adults — and the scale is staggering, with seven themed zones packed with experiential, hands-on exhibits.
The Boays gravitated towards the colourful Kids’ Zone, which was practically a giant playground disguised as a classroom. They gleefully put out a “virtual fire” with water cannons, raced around a trike-bike circuit, and experimented with pulleys and conveyor belts to simulate the work of a construction site.
Another big hit was the Information and Communication Technology Zone, where they strapped on headsets and played their very first VR shooting game. Going during the off-peak season was a bonus — there were no queues, so the boys could repeat their favourite activities as often as they liked. For families, this place is a must-visit.
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After the museum, I decided to explore the malls adjacent to Grandview. Tianhe City was first on the list, but we quickly skipped it after realising there wasn’t much child-friendly beyond a single arcade. For branded shopping, though, Parc Central was far more impressive. Built in a sunken “bowl” design, the open-concept mall houses global names like Apple and Shake Shack.
Now, you might be wondering how I managed to coax the Boays through hours of mall-strolling without complaint.
Two reasons: first, mummy wasn’t around for them to display their “tired” faces.
Second, I cleverly framed it as a mission — we were on the hunt for a silly but adorable yellow plushie called Nailong. I promised to buy one if we found it. In the end, Nailong eluded us, but our treasure hunt brought us back, unsurprisingly, to Grandview Mall once more.
There, on Level 5, we stumbled into a brand-new game show concept store that had just opened over the weekend. Compared to Crazy Maggee, this version was less intense and more child-friendly, with light-hearted quizzes and tasks that had us laughing together at every turn. It was the perfect way to wrap up a day that started with science and ended with shared joy.
Day 6 – Beijing Street & One Last Adventure
Our final full day in Guangzhou began at Beijing Street, a lively pedestrian thoroughfare lined with murals, trendy stalls, and shopping malls. On a cooler day, it would have been perfect for leisurely strolling, but since my wife was still regaining her strength after her bout of illness, she decided to head back to the hotel at midday for some rest.
The Boays and I, however, pressed on with our ongoing quest for the elusive Nailong plushie. This led us underground, quite literally, into Tianhe Fashion City, which is directly connected to Grandview Mall.
Once a rather ordinary space, it has been revamped into a sprawling underground shopping haven, filled with food stalls, boutique shops, and amusement outlets.
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The highlight was the Old Shanghai zone, a beautifully themed section designed to look like the streets of 1930s Shanghai. This was where most of the entertainment was clustered — VR games, escape rooms, carnival-style booths — all buzzing with energy.
Inevitably, the Boays gravitated toward the go-karts. The children’s circuit was surprisingly large, and there was a separate track for adults too. At about SGD15 for an eight-minute ride, it was a fitting grand finale to our week of family adventures.
By then, it was time to head back to the hotel, pack our bags, and get ready for our early departure the next morning. Our Guangzhou journey was coming to a close, but it had left us with memories — and stories — that we’ll be retelling for years.
Reflections on Our Guangzhou Adventure
We went into this Guangzhou trip with high-octane plans — a meticulous itinerary packed with attractions we wanted to cover — but what we got instead was a week full of surprises and the occasional hiccup.
The biggest of these was my wife’s sudden stomach bug, which threw our schedule off balance. Yet, in those unexpected moments, I found myself making new kinds of memories with the Boays: discovering their interests, braving new adventures together, and seeing the city through their eyes.
It was in these detours that some of the most meaningful experiences emerged. The boys lit up at the Science Center, compared the experiences at different shopping malls , and couldn’t stop talking about their Crazy Maggee challenges.
Even back home, the impact lingers — they’ve since turned to watching the Nailong Chinese cartoon and replaying episodes of the Crazy Maggee game show on YouTube. Sometimes, simple exposure — to a new culture, a new language, or just a new way of having fun — plants the deepest seeds of learning.
Guangzhou itself had its quirks. Prices in tourist areas and Tianhe were closer to Singapore than I expected — a simple café coffee or an eight-minute go-kart ride could feel pricey. However, bargains at Walmart proved that wallet-friendly steals are still there if you look in the right places.
The cityscape, too, has evolved since our 2018 visit. Streets were now busier with Meituan riders weaving through on motorised bikes, requiring parents to keep a sharper eye on the kids. And unlike smoke-free Singapore, cigarette smoke was hard to avoid, even in malls and theme parks.
Still, the warmth of Guangzhou shone through. From the thoughtful service at Oakwood Premier to the energy of Grandview Mall and the immersive fun at Chimelong and the Science Center, the city offered endless opportunities for families to bond, explore, and learn.
As we packed up on our final night, I couldn’t help but think of the places on our plan that we didn’t manage to visit — the Guangzhou Children’s Activities Center, Xihua Road, Canton Tower, Guangzhou Children’s Park, Dongshan Kou, and even the scenic Haizhu Tram ride.
If you do get to explore them, I’d love to hear what you think; perhaps they’ll make it onto our list the next time we return. Oh, and yes — I finally found the elusive Nailong plushie for the Boays… by buying it straight from a carnival game owner’s stash of prizes.
