Soul-Searching Question: Where to Take Kids in Magic City This Summer to Burn Off Energy?

📍 Shanghai · 👁 5 reads · ❤️ 574 likes

The summer soul-searching question for Magic City parents is back again. In this blazing heat, where on earth can you take your kids, who seem to have an endless battery life, to burn off that energy? This clever and frugal mom had a lightbulb moment—ah-ha! I’ve got it!

I’d long heard great things about Baoyan Amusement Park, and at last, we got the chance to explore it. A quick scan of their official WeChat account—oh my! Their summer season is on, and it truly lives up to the hype. This is hands down the biggest and most diverse family park I’ve ever visited: dinosaurs, a mini train, game rooms, ball pits, a building block castle, an indoor heated water park, plus dining and drinks—it’s a one-stop wonderland for family fun! Sold, it’s decided! I’ve put together some tips for fellow moms:

🎫 Ticket Tips:

Walk-in price is ¥399 for one adult and one child; the mini-program price is ¥390 for one adult and one child, and ¥499 for two adults and one child. The Cute Pet Park is ¥88 for one adult and one child.

🕘 Opening Hours: The summer season runs from July 1 to August 31, 9:30 AM – 8:30 PM. Arrive early when it’s less crowded—you’ll have a top-notch experience.

🅿️ Parking: B1 is the parking garage, offering four hours free; after that, it’s ¥6 per hour.

We arrived at 10 a.m. Allen, my little dinosaur fan, was immediately awestruck by the huge dino statues and a jeep at the entrance. “Wow! So cool! T-Rex! T-Rex!” He insisted on photo after photo—there was no dragging him away.

After much coaxing, we finally got Allen inside, picked up our tickets at the front desk, and let the day of wild fun begin! The first-floor highlights are the Cute Pet Park, Slide Park, and VR Motion Park.

To the left of the entrance is the Slide Park, with about a dozen slides of varying slopes for kids of all ages. Laughter echoed everywhere, and many parents were snapping pics and videos to share on social media. Allen went wild at the sight of slides and vanished into the Slide Park in a flash. He must have gone down over a dozen times without a hint of tiredness. (Note: Kids must wear non-slip socks inside the park, and long-sleeved tops and long pants are required for the slides to prevent scrapes.)

I (KiKi) tried the towering 90-degree Devil’s Slide—absolutely thrilling and so stress-relieving on the way down! (FYI: You must wear the park’s fluffy bodysuit for this slide.)

The 5D and 9D cinemas screen different movies in the morning and afternoon, each about 10 minutes long. I took Allen to a 5D film called “Turtle’s Journey”—the effects felt surprisingly real and kid-friendly. If you want to catch other movies, listen out for announcements and queue up early.

Due to special circumstances this year, Allen has missed out on close encounters with animals at the zoo. He kept pestering me to see alpacas and feed rabbits. Lucky us! Next to the Castle Park is the Cute Pet Park, designed like a rainforest cave that really makes you feel like you’re exploring nature.

At the entrance, staff hand out gloves. Right inside, two adorable alpacas greet you—totally unafraid of people. Further in, there are bunnies, squirrels, hamsters, marmots, fish, and more. A ¥10 bag of treats lets you feed them, and with gloves on, you can even get up close. Allen adored the fluffy bunny rabbits and fed them so many carrots alongside me. Once full, the bunnies plopped down contentedly—and Allen just couldn’t bear to leave.

Reluctantly, we said goodbye to the Cute Pet Park, with a ton more fun still waiting. Lunch was at the Seafood Workshop on the first floor. They serve a variety of fresh seafood at reasonable prices and great taste. Per person, it runs around ¥150–200. We picked out a few items casually, and everything was both beautiful and delicious—every bit as good as any seafood restaurant outside. For non-seafood eaters, there are also staple dishes and dim sum.

Time flies when you’re having fun. We had to make the most of the afternoon! Up on the second floor, you’ll find a free storage room for shoes and bags, so you can roam the attractions hands-free.

There’s also a parent-child craft area where kids can do simple projects with help from Mom or Dad—this was a bit challenging for Allen, so we headed straight to the Building Block World. Giant blocks in every color filled the space—a dream come true for little ones. One extra-large block zone left Allen stumped at first, but after stacking and experimenting, inspiration struck. He ended up finishing a puzzle taller than himself, brimming with a sense of accomplishment.

Exiting the block area, you’ll spot the Joyful Play Fort surrounded by an ocean of ball pit balls, plus trampolines, a rope-net tribe, and more. Staff members keep a watchful eye. Kids gleefully roll, bounce, tumble, and play tag on the trampolines without tiring. The ball pit is insanely huge—adults sink up to their thighs—and Allen buried himself completely, almost like swimming. He even had a bouncing competition with new friends, full of giggles.

A parent-child Western restaurant on the second floor is a great spot to recharge. During peak times, you might wait for a table. We ordered steak, pizza, and small desserts—everything hit the spot, prices were friendly, and you just pick up your food from the counter when your number is called. Dining while watching kids play through the windows was unexpectedly relaxing.

Near the Play Fort, the parent-child baking room has little ones in aprons and chef hats making cookies and cakes. Across from it, there’s a nail salon—perfect for exhausted moms who’ve been chasing kids all day. A chance to pamper yourself while the little ones are occupied? Don’t pass it up! (Note: single-color manicures are free!)

(Birthday party room)

The Joyful Amusement area on the second floor requires separate game tokens. It’s packed with arcade games, a mini train, and claw machines. Bumper cars are free. For just ¥10, we won a doll Allen had his eye on—total score! The claw machines here are surprisingly fair.

Before we knew it, 3 p.m. had arrived. As we reached the third floor, Allen was still daydreaming about the Building Block World, but the massive water park instantly caught his eye.

The Four-Season Indoor Heated Water Park on the third floor is the park’s most popular attraction. Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., lockers cost ¥10 and use facial recognition payment—so much easier than the old wristband system. Even better, there are family changing rooms where we could shower and freshen up; they provide slippers, shower gel, and hair dryers, saving a ton of hassle. If your child can’t swim yet, you can buy swim rings and water toys at the front desk, but do remember to bring your own swimsuits, caps, goggles, and towels. If you forget, no worries—the shop at the entrance sells everything.

The water world has several pools, the water wonderfully warm at around 37°C and just over a meter deep. A wide array of water slides awaits: wavy, spinning, cartoon-themed. For the rainbow slides, start with the twisting red one—it’s slower and gentler—before braving the straight drop. Allen tried every rainbow slide, and the vibrant colors made for great photos. We spent two blissful hours splashing around; even simple water fights felt endlessly entertaining.

On a boiling summer day, spending the whole afternoon indoors with AC while the kid plays in water—pure comfort. As the sun began to set, we headed up to the fifth-floor outdoor area, home to Allen’s favorites: Dinosaur Land, the mini train, and horseback riding.

The outdoor playground is just as impressive, set up like a dinosaur world with lifelike dino models and incredibly realistic wild animals. We snapped a bunch of pictures. The carousel, pirate ship, mini train, and grass sliding are all free.

First, we took the happy little train through a tunnel and into a Jurassic adventure. On the Dino Battle Car, the kid sits inside a dino’s mouth as it rocks and sways, with Jurassic Park clips playing on a screen—it felt so real. (Carousel)

(Rope-net climbing cave)

Because of the summer heat, grass sliding only opens at 5 p.m. Sitting in a sliding cart and racing down the slope is thrilling. Allen went again and again, still wanting more. The rope-net climbing cave and grass sliding are kids-only attractions.

Horseback riding is a paid activity—¥60 including a feeding fee. A coach outfits the child in proper riding gear, and Allen looked so dashing as he rode around. We even got a photo with the handsome horse. A truly special experience.

And so a perfect day came to an end. Exhausted, Allen fell fast asleep in the car on the way home. Energy—successfully burned!

Overall, I highly recommend this park as a summer destination for families. You can easily spend a whole day here, and it’s an absolute paradise for kids. If you live nearby, get an annual pass—dropping the little one here to burn off steam is just perfect!

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