A Village Amusement Park: The New Go-To Spot for Kids, Where Children Go Wild

If you ask kids where they love to go most, amusement parks always top the list, filled with laughter and joy all year round. I've taken Yuanbao to many amusement parks—Disney, Happy Valley, Sky Grassland, Oriental Landscape—each time we had a blast. Maybe because Yuanbao is still under 5, at some parks he'd run into height restrictions that left him a bit disappointed. Last weekend, I took him to the newly opened Fenghuang Paradise in Xiaoshan, Hangzhou. It might just be the perfect match for his age now! It was the most fun he's had recently—he tried over a dozen rides in one day and didn't want to leave. I highly recommend it for families with young kids.

Fenghuang Paradise is a family amusement park built by Fenghuang Village in Yaqian Town. It's at 39 Huanshan West Road, Fenghuang Village, Xiaoshan, Hangzhou. It's currently in a soft opening phase and will officially open around New Year's Day. Driving is recommended—just navigate to 'Fenghuang Paradise.' There's a large outdoor parking lot in front. We drove from Shanghai, about 3 hours.

Admission is 20 yuan, and individual rides cost around 20 to 30 yuan. With top-up promotions you can get up to 50% off, a great deal. After the official opening, it may switch to an all-in-one ticket system.

Fenghuang Paradise combines family rides, cute animals, trendy extreme experiences, a retro game arcade, a scenic sightseeing train, a train-themed restaurant, and folk culture. With over thirty attractions, it's perfect for family outings.

Once inside, Yuanbao was like a mouse in a grain jar, buzzing with energy. That day he tried the Rainbow Slide, Coiling Dragon Pillar, Little Excavator, Countryside Roller Coaster, Go-Kart, Swinging Chair, Carousel Sea Horses, Mini Train, Bouncy Fun, Water Walking Balls, and more. He also fished, rode a horse, fed an alpaca, and ground soybeans—he was over the moon.

1. Rainbow Slide

Thrill level: ★★★★★

When we visited Sky Grassland in September, Yuanbao was mesmerized by the rainbow slide, but height restrictions stopped him. Fenghuang Paradise's version is designed for kids, with a gentler slope. The colorful stripes instantly catch children's eyes—visually perfect. It combines a rainbow slide with snow tubing, allowing adults and kids to ride together, romantic and thrilling.

2. Coiling Dragon Pillar

Thrill level: ★★★★

Right next to the Rainbow Slide, this winding spiral slide has kids don safety helmets and zip down from the top in seconds—one of the most thrilling slides, no doubt.

3. Countryside Roller Coaster

Thrill level: ★★★★★

Opposite the Rainbow Slide, these animal-shaped cars are adorable. The track twists and turns with ups and downs. Adults can ride with kids, making it great for those who want roller-coaster excitement without the adult intensity.

4. Little Excavator

Thrill level: ★

Also near the Rainbow Slide, this taps into boys' innate love for diggers—Yuanbao included. You often see boys digging in sandpiles, driven by a desire to conquer. Kids who love diggers can indulge here, letting their fascination with machinery and space run wild.

5. Go-Kart

Thrill level: ★★★★

Almost every child dreams of racing. There's a double-seater for parent-child rides and a single electric kart for kids. Yuanbao first rode with Dad, experiencing speed and thrills, then drove solo, operating brake and steering wheel—hand-eye coordination practice and pure driving joy.

6. Swinging Chair

Thrill level: ★★★

Like a flying carousel, it rises and falls as if mastering flight. Yuanbao had a great time.

7. Carousel Sea Horses

Thrill level: ★★

A dreamy ocean-themed merry-go-round; when music plays, kids feel like underwater princes and mermaids.

8. Bouncing Treasure

Thrill level: ★★

Next to the Carousel Sea Horses, with cute animal-shaped seats, perfect for younger children.

9. Mini Train

Thrill level: ★

A single-seater vintage-style train, each child with their own car, chugging slowly along the track—a fairy-tale, leisurely ride.

10. Bouncy Fun

Thrill level: ★★★

Kids love trampolines. Fenghuang Paradise's Bouncy Fun area has clearly separated sections with staff supervising, ensuring safety.

11. Water Walking Balls

Thrill level: ★★★

In the water park, these balls let kids walk on water like storybook heroes, stepping as if on flat ground.

12. Cute Pet Village

Thrill level: ★

A miniature animal world: watch peacocks spread their feathers or get close to adorable pigs. Feed sheep, rabbits, or alpacas. Yuanbao eagerly fed an alpaca with carrots, a heartwarming moment.

13. Horse Riding Field

Thrill level: ★★

Next to the Pet Village. The big brown horse is for parent-child rides, and the small white pony lets kids ride solo around the paddock—little princes charming, indeed.

14. Fishing Game

Thrill level: ★★

Across from the Pet Village, kids use nets to catch fish. Yuanbao's best catch was four at once, proudly shown off.

15. Soybean Grinding

Thrill level: ★

At the park entrance, in the Stone Culture Garden, try hand-grinding soybeans—a traditional culture experience. Yuanbao worked hard, even carefully brushing residue into a basket. Fun and meaningful.

16. Fenghuang Train

Thrill level: ★

A vintage train that circles the park, puffing real steam. It passes through a neon-lit tunnel, a big hit with kids.

Additionally, some trending rides suit older kids due to height restrictions.

Fenghuang Paradise has 24-hour vending machines for drinks and small shops for snacks and souvenirs. For meals, don't miss the unique train restaurant, converted from a real green train carriage. Chinese and Western set meals cost around 30 yuan—affordable, clean, and distinctive.

Nearby, a charming guesthouse village offers elegant, greenery-filled pastoral villas, perfect for multi-generational family trips.

To thoroughly enjoy Fenghuang Paradise, we stayed overnight in Hangzhou and explored Fenghuang Village. Named after a mountain shaped like a resting phoenix, the village is crossed by a canal, creating picturesque scenery. It's also the birthplace of China's modern peasant movement and a great red tourism destination in Zhejiang.

After learning about the 'a single spark can start a prairie fire' history at the Yaqian Peasant Movement Memorial Hall, we climbed Fenghuang Mountain. It's not high—perfect for a little exercise. At the summit, the views were refreshing. Dongyue Temple turned out to be a hidden gem. Built in the Southern Song Dynasty, it has a history of 888 years. The main building was lost to fire, but the temple has been reborn. The design is pleasing, with the potential to become an internet-famous temple. In winter, it's peaceful and serene, even more imbued with Buddhist essence.

Remarkably, Fenghuang Village has a village history museum, showcasing its glorious thousand-year history in every detail—the cultural heart and soul of the community.

So, at the end of 2020, with Yuanbao we spent another joyful and meaningful weekend in Hangzhou. On our repeated family journeys, Yuanbao slowly grows up, and we seem to relive our golden childhood. Our childhood memories gradually intertwine, and this joy is enough to warm the rest of our lives.