During our stay at Chimelong Panda Hotel as part of our 8D7N Guangzhou trip, we also visited four parks. The resort is sprawling, with four main attractions within the area — Chimelong International Circus, Safari Park, Water Park, and Chimelong Paradise — plus the Bird Park, located about 30 minutes away.
Since we only had two full days (and plenty of kid-friendly places in Guangzhou still on our list), we decided to skip Chimelong Paradise this round. With our preschoolers, the thrill rides would have been out of reach.
But if you have older kids (10+), they’ll likely enjoy the roller coasters, drop towers, and other high-speed rides. There’s also a dedicated kids’ land, so we’ll definitely keep it in mind for our next visit. (Tip: check out the wiki page for a detailed breakdown of rides and height requirements.)
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Four Family-friendly Parks in Chimelong, Guangzhou
Safari Park – The Highlight
Our first stop was the Safari Park, famous for its size, rare animal collection, and of course the panda triplets (hence the many panda statues!). September is typhoon season in East Asia, so we were worried about rain and humidity.
However, we lucked out: cloudy skies, no rain, and moderate crowds since the local school holidays had just ended. (Trust me, you don’t want to get caught here during peak season!)
The park is huge but stroller-friendly — bring one if your little ones tire easily.
Sky Gondola
We kicked off with the Sky Gondola. There are three lines, but during our visit, only the Swan Lake route was open. Still, the 30-minute ride gave us a sense of just how massive the park is (for context: about the same duration as a round trip on the Mt Faber–Sentosa cable car). A nice breather… unless your preschooler decides otherwise.
Safari on Wheels
Next up, the Safari on Wheels — the highlight for us. The tram takes you through free-roaming animal zones where you see herds of camels, bloat of hippos, sloth of bears (yes, I googled the collective nouns), and even zebras galloping across the open “savannah.” It felt straight out of The Lion King.
The tram ride is included in the park ticket, but for 300 RMB per car, you can also drive your own vehicle through the safari, stopping wherever you like. We even saw special trucks that let visitors feed giraffes up close.
Tip: beware of touts outside the zoo offering to drive you in for a fee (sometimes 1,000 RMB). Don’t engage — it’s not worth the risk.
Jurassic Forest
From there, we explored Jurassic Forest at QingLong Mountain.
Think time-travel tunnel into a prehistoric world, complete with animatronic dinosaurs hidden in the bushes. The finale features a roaring T-Rex against a huge HD screen showing the age and extinction of dinosaurs. Surprisingly immersive — easily on par (if not better) than the version at Gardens by the Bay.
Of course, the exit leads straight into a dino-themed souvenir shop — parents, consider yourselves warned.
Detours on the Way to Panda Village
First was a zone called Miniland — at first I thought it was a kids’ play area, but it turned out to be for very small animals. We then stumbled into the white tiger enclosure, where I actually saw the tigers swimming and playing together in the pool! It’s one thing to spot animals resting, but seeing them so active was a whole different experience.
Panda Village
Finally, Panda Village, home to 15 giant pandas including the famous triplets. While I was hoping to see an “embarrassment of pandas” (yes, the actual collective noun), each panda had its own enclosure. Most were either munching on bamboo or napping.
The village itself is spacious and colourful, reflecting the playful panda theme. Just outside, there’s a small carnival area with family rides — from a 4D panda show to a carousel and gravitron — all included in the ticket price. A lovely bonus for families with younger kids.
Verdict: Just when I thought I’d seen enough zoos, Guangzhou’s Safari Park impressed me with its sheer scale and variety of encounters. Definitely a must-visit if you’re in Guangzhou.
Chimelong Waterpark – The Anti-Climax
Water play is always a hit with the BoAys, and this time was no exception. Having had a blast at Desaru’s waterpark, we were looking forward to reliving the fun in Guangzhou. Unlike the Safari and Circus, waterpark tickets weren’t bundled into our hotel package — but there was a promo of 1 free child ticket with every adult ticket (about SGD40).
The first thing that caught our eye? A rotating tube slide that spins 360°. Add to that the Super Tornado, Python slides, and the world’s first HIVE 35 Hydromagnetic coaster, and thrill-seekers — especially families with older kids — will have a field day. For us, it was an easy pass. The BoAys neither had the height nor the guts, and frankly, we weren’t keen to queue either.
So we stuck to the Kids’ Splash Zone — ankle-deep pools, fountains, and gentle slides. The park’s strong safety culture stood out: every child had to wear a life vest, slides were strictly staffed, and rescue floats were everywhere. Comforting for parents, but it also meant many slides were closed, and those open had long waits.
Add in weight restrictions (which disqualified me), and note that the main play structure only opened at 11am, so our early-bird enthusiasm was dampened, the entire experience felt… constrained.
We also checked out the Lazy River. I was hyped after watching the TV ad — floating along while blasting water guns at targets sounded like fun. But reality check: floats had to be rented (not wallet-friendly), and water guns had to be purchased separately.
Thankfully, the Tidal Pool redeemed the day — massive waves every 15 minutes kept the BoAys and my brother squealing with laughter.
Verdict: On paper, it looked like an impressive park with record-breaking slides and a strong safety culture. In reality, restrictions, queues, and extra costs dulled it for us. Families with older thrill-seekers may walk away with a very different (and more positive) impression.
Chimelong International Circus – The Classic Must-See
8 years ago, when I first brought my parents and in-laws to Guangzhou, we came just for this circus. Back then, the elderly were completely entertained — and until today, they still talk about it fondly. So this round, I had to bring the BoAys here.
The circus has a range of seating from Regular, First-Class, to VIP seats (plus an “Interactive First-Class” zone). Our show started at 7.30pm and ran for a solid 90 minutes — non-stop, no intermission. One act flowed seamlessly into the next, keeping us hooked throughout.
The performers were world-class, with precision, energy and timing that kept the arena buzzing. The crowd favourites returned — gravity-defying acrobats, the firemen trampoline act, and the heart-stopping motorcycle stunts. Even though I’d seen them before, the tightrope acts still had us clutching our seats.
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One noticeable change: animal stunt acts are gone (except for a short horse-riding segment). Now animals mainly appear in parades — a shift that addresses animal-rights concerns without losing the magic. The clowns also surprised us: no slapstick humiliation, just lighthearted comic relief and audience interaction. The BoAys were hooked.
Outside, the vibes have levelled up too: more F&B kiosks, souvenir stores, and even a mini petting zoo. Needless to say, the kids didn’t want to leave.
Verdict: Still a must-see. And if you’re staying at Chimelong resort, the convenience makes it even better.
Chimelong Bird Park – The Unexpected
We also ventured to the Bird Park — but here’s what we didn’t realise: it’s actually 30 mins outside the resort! So plan enough time. We didn’t, and ended up rushing through.
Amusingly, though it’s called a Bird Park, the stars were the wetland animals — hippos, crocodiles, capybaras, and more. Still, There are some unique bird activities too, like walking into a whole flock of flamingoes to feed them (yes, up close). Unfortunately, we arrived too late for most of them.
The highlight? Hippo feeding. Visitors can buy cabbage or melon and toss it into their mouths — Adriel nailed a perfect shot with a melon, and watching the hippo chomp it down was unforgettable.
Here are some tips if you go:
Free shuttle buses run every 30 mins from the resort.
Short on time? Use Didi (China’s Grab) — quick and affordable.
Go earlier in the day to catch the special feeding activities.
Verdict: A fun detour with more to explore than we managed. I wish we had gone earlier in the day to experience more.
Final Thoughts on Chimelong’s Parks and Attractions
Chimelong Resort is more than just a hotel stay — it’s a destination packed with family attractions. From the epic scale of the Safari Park, to the adrenaline of the Waterpark, the timeless thrill of the Circus, and the surprises of the Bird Park, there’s something for every age group.
For families with preschoolers like us, the Safari Park and Circus were the highlights. If you’ve got older kids or teens, the Waterpark and Paradise will easily fill your days.
Check out our reels on IG to catch snapshots of our adventures in action — from panda spotting to circus thrills. Hopefully it helps you plan your own Chimelong adventure!
