Where to Go for Christmas? Baoyan Paradise – Constant-Temperature Water Fun for All!

As soon as winter hits Shanghai, outdoor places for kids become scarce. But I found a one-stop wonderland for children: Baoyan Paradise! This time, I brought Pao Ge to its Shanghai flagship store. It's our first time at such a richly-featured indoor amusement park, and both Pao Ge and I were super excited.

Arriving at Baoyan Paradise, the first thing that catches your eye is a group of giant dinosaurs surrounded by trees, with a crushed jeep underneath—creating an instant jungle adventure vibe.

With Christmas approaching, a giant Christmas tree decorated with baubles stands in front, looking spectacular. Pao Ge tugged at me, insisting we take a photo here.

Baoyan Paradise covers a massive 20,000-square-meter, five-story standalone building. It's packed with attractions: a 90-degree vertical slide, a huge Naughty Castle, a year-round heated water park (five-star!), a Cute Pet Paradise, a building block world, and more—each offering its own kind of fun.

Upon entering, cute mascots greet the kids. Health checks are in place: scanning the health code, temperature check, hand sanitizing—standard pandemic measures.

1st Floor: Slide Paradise

Even before Dad could store his shoes, Pao Ge rushed into the slide wonderland on the first floor. It's a playground made of all kinds of slides, the busiest and most popular spot for kids and adults alike.

Look, we hadn't even taken off his coat, and within minutes, Pao Ge had already gone down the rainbow slide several times.

Finally caught him to take off his coat. And he's off again—this time the staff showed him the proper sliding posture. I captured a rapid-fire series of photos where Pao Ge's grin is a happy blur.

Finally managed to peel off his thick coat and hoodie. Soon he was dripping sweat. Look at that smug expression—he thinks he's the bravest kid ever.

Dad and Pao Ge slid down together. While Dad was still catching his breath, Pao Ge had already run back up for yet another go.

One of the park's signature attractions is the vertical slide—a red, 90-degree drop straight down. It's a thrill-seeker's favorite: from 7.3 meters high, you plummet in just 4 seconds, a true free-fall experience.

Yi Dao (Dad) mustered up the courage to try it. He screamed all the way down and afterwards said, 'That was terrifying!' Haha, I didn't even dare try the blue 45° slide next to it. I went up and came back down trembling. Yi Dao teased me mercilessly. PS: For safety, this slide requires participants to be over 8 years old and to wear the park's cute onesie.

Pao Ge, growing bolder, started challenging harder slides. He's not yet 8, or he'd have tried the 90° vertical slide for sure. This blue 10-meter-long 45° slide has a gentler slope, but it's still fast and plenty thrilling for kids. I stood at the top with shaky legs, but plenty of kids braved it. Big thumbs up to them!

Look at that blissful expression—his sliding technique is getting more and more polished.

To redeem myself after chickening out on the blue 45° slide, I chose this rainbow slide, thinking, 'This should be fine!' Sorry, I was wrong! Totally overestimated myself. I felt like I flew out as I slid down, and before I knew it, my hat had flown off.

After we'd had our fill of slides, there were other small attractions like the 'Brave Trail' to enjoy.

Pao Ge discovered something new: 'Dad, look! I can see the second floor from here!'

[VR Dynamic Cinema]

The dynamic cinema has 5D, 7D, and 9D theaters, tailored to different age groups. 9D requires kids aged 5+, while 5D is suitable for children as young as 3. Screenings differ between morning and afternoon; a schedule is posted at the entrance so you can plan accordingly.

7D has two rooms that start once five people are seated. Each seat has a gun, and at the end your score is displayed. This time, Pao Ge scored higher than me!

9D is more common; you just put on VR goggles for thrilling, adventurous scenes. Pao Ge watched a giant pendulum ride. This fearless kid actually looked down! He wasn't scared at all. Dad didn't believe it, tried it himself, and then said, 'Pao Ge is amazing!'

There's also a VR family chair for multiple viewers.

[Cute Pet Paradise]

The Cute Pet Paradise requires an extra ticket, but who can resist adorable animals? It's like a mini zoo where you can get up close and personal with the critters.

Right at the entrance, two cute alpacas: one white, one brown, both so gentle and fluffy you can't help but stroke their soft wool.

Oops, does my outfit resemble your wool too? Haha.

No outside food allowed; if you want to feed the animals, you can buy food at the entrance—fish food and carrots for 10 yuan per serving.

Inside this compact pet paradise, you'll find raccoons, squirrels, parakeets, chinchillas, and adorable meerkats.

The champion of cuteness: the prairie dog, once an internet meme king! Haha, seeing it makes me think of that famous expression.

Too bad we didn't see a peacock displaying its feathers this time.

2nd Floor: [Naughty Castle]

The second floor is a huge indoor play area. The Naughty Castle is a staple at every Baoyan Paradise. Some locations have pink ball pits that are super dreamy.

Warmed up from the slides downstairs, this wild little horse couldn't contain his excitement and pulled me inside. The Naughty Castle here looks like a real castle, with a yellow ball pit—like falling into a sea of dreams.

Pao Ge tried climbing a few times but failed, so ball games suit him better.

I'd never seen such a huge ball pit. Pao Ge wasn't the only one going crazy—I went wild too! We played together in the sea of balls.

Slides are a Baoyan signature, so you'll find them in the Slide Paradise, Water Park, and Naughty Castle. The slope design is thoughtful, with a gentle deceleration near the ground to keep kids safe. Staff are always on hand; if they spot unsafe behavior, they blow a whistle and intervene—very safe.

I love taking photos in the ball pit, especially since today I'm in my favorite yellow ball pit. I could easily snap a beautiful set of photos here.

We had a blast together.

Pao Ge loves this projection ball-smashing game the most, even if his hit rate is 8 out of 10, haha.

Hey, look—another fun spot! A huge, colorful woven net with multiple layers inside.

Like falling into a wormhole. Pao Ge happily wobbled around inside.

Hey, I want to play too! Not to be outdone, I crawled in as well. Ah, whose dreamcatcher have I fallen into?

'Mom, Mom, bury me with balls so Dad can't see me!' 'Hey, I'm still taking your picture,' Dad laughed.

The trampolines next to us were empty, so Pao Ge dashed in. Two rows of trampolines all to himself—jump your heart out!

[Building Block World]

At home, Pao Ge loves Legos. So when he saw this giant foam 'Lego' world, he got excited again. Head down, he searched for building pieces, and in no time constructed a little house, then said he was going to sleep inside.

'Hello? This is Pao Ge. Who are you?'

For me, how could I miss such a great photo spot? I refuse to leave without snapping a few pictures. It's super Instagrammable!

'Dad, would you like to visit my house?'

[Happy Games]

The arcade area on the second floor is more suited to older kids. Bumper cars here are free; other games charge extra. No need to top up a card—just scan to pay for each game. Pao Ge was mesmerized by the Transformers at the entrance. Let's go check it out!

Pao Ge's favorite: the police car.

There's a huge variety: motorcycles, racing cars, fishing games, basketball machines, carriages, bowling, and more.

Oh yeah, on the motorcycle, I'm the coolest!

Bumper cars—Pao Ge's first try! He figured it out instantly and started chasing other kids' cars to bump into them.

Haha, didn't win a plush from the claw machine? No worries—pose in front of the plush wall to fulfill your sense of achievement!

3rd & 4th Floor: [Year-Round Heated Water Park]

Arriving at the 3rd floor, the water park Pao Ge had been longing for was finally within reach! Right outside the elevator is a swimsuit shop. There are three changing rooms: male, female, and family. The family room, naturally the busiest, has private cubicles where parents and children can shower and change together. PS: Lockers are available; scan to store items for 10 yuan each. Pay via facial recognition, and you can access it repeatedly by scanning your face.

A collection of water slides! Guess which one Pao Ge prefers—the rainbow slide or the spiral slide?

The indoor water temperature is kept around 37°C (98.6°F). Even on the coldest winter day, you can play in the water without feeling cold.

The water park has three themed areas for different ages. There are height requirements for kids: the rainbow slide requires 1.2 meters, and the spiral slide requires 1 meter.

The super thrilling rainbow slide zone is themed 'Jungle Challenge.' Six vibrant rainbow tracks, 30 meters long, look spectacular! Lie flat at the 5-meter-high top, then whoosh—the powerful splash instantly plunges you into the water like a rapid river, water spraying everywhere. Look at that huge splash I made—hahaha!

Around the slides, there's an area for toddlers with a cute frog-shaped slide, floating turtles, water seesaws, and more—very thoughtfully designed.

I thought the ball pit was Pao Ge's favorite, but it turns out the water park is his absolute favorite! Haha, he refused to get out of the water.

Splashing up and down in the heated pool, even though he's still a non-swimmer, it didn't dampen his love for water. He had a blast having a water fight with Dad.

In winter, the water park gets a bit steamy, so your camera lens fogs up. I suggest bringing a GoPro to capture every watery moment.

5th Floor: [Outdoor Adventure Area]

On the rooftop, right out of the elevator, you see an angry dinosaur lifting a car in its mouth, shaking it up and down, with synchronized sound effects—very realistic!

You'll also find common rides like a mini pirate ship, carousel, and a brave trail.

Hearing music, Pao Ge started dancing on the jungle stage.

The pony ride area requires an extra fee: 50 yuan per child for one turn.

The staff helped Pao Ge put on riding gear. He was a bit scared—his first time on a real horse, excited yet timid.

Once on the horse, Pao Ge told the coach, 'This is my first time.' The coach led him around the ring.

Into the cave for an adventure!

After a lap, Pao Ge wasn't afraid of the pony anymore.

He reluctantly patted the pony—we'll ride again next time.

You know, looking at him like this, Pao Ge looks pretty dashing!

Outdoor grass sliding, 5.2 meters high and 30 meters long, opens on schedule in the afternoon. Pao Ge didn't seem too interested in grass sliding, probably because he'd just had enough thrills on the slides.

The outdoor area is also called 'Jurassic Adventure.' The dinosaurs here are 'alive'—look, this one wags its tail, that one blinks...

'Mom, Mom, is that a T-Rex? I'm scared!' Pao Ge suddenly hugged me, nearly knocking me off balance.

'Wow, Pao Ge, look—aren't its teeth sharp?'

Upstairs, there's also a little train, another favorite of Pao Ge's. Whenever he sees a train, he must ride it! So we hopped on to relax and soak in the park's joyful atmosphere.

Practical Tips

Don't forget: Baoyan Paradise has Christmas month gifts! Both kids and adults can find joy here, letting parents join in the play, share laughter, and grow together. PS: Prepare non-slip socks (or buy them inside) and a T-shirt; it's warm indoors, you won't feel cold.

Address: Baoyan Paradise Flagship Store: 3825 Dushi Road, Minhang District

Self-driving is the most convenient; the park has a parking lot, free for the first four hours, then 6 yuan per hour after. The nearest subway station is Yindu Road on Line 5, but it's a long walk. We recommend driving. If not, take the subway to Xinzhuang Station and then a taxi—about a 10-minute ride.

Tickets:

Opening Hours:

Park Layout: Baoyan Paradise Flagship Store has five floors, with indoor and outdoor areas. 1F: Cute Pet Paradise (11:00–18:00), Slide Paradise, and 5D/7D/9D cinemas. 2F: Naughty Castle, Building Block Area, Nail Art Room, Arcade (10:30–18:00), mother-and-baby room, birthday party room, baking classroom, restaurant. 3F–4F: Heated Water Park (11:00–18:00). 5F: Outdoor Adventure Area, with pony rides, grass sliding, pirate ship, carousel, etc.

Preparation Tips:

Clothing: Though it's winter, the temperature inside is moderate, and kids are constantly active, so a single long-sleeved T-shirt underneath is enough. Bring an extra set of inner wear for changing. Pants don't need to be too thick; if wearing thermal leggings, you can take them off. Store coats and other items in lockers. Water Park: Bring swimsuits, towels (not provided by the park), and goggles/swim caps if needed. PS: If you have plans after and want to look put together, remember your makeup essentials.

Suggested Itinerary:

Morning: 1F Slide Paradise → 2F Naughty Castle, Building Blocks, Nail Art, Arcade → Lunch at the 2F restaurant. Afternoon: 5F Outdoor Adventure → 1F 5D/7D/9D cinema → 4F Water Park → 1F Cute Pet Paradise. PS: We put the water park in the afternoon because after a sweaty morning, you can take a hot shower and then enjoy the water fun. After a full day of excitement, end with the pet paradise to calm down and get close to the animals.

Storage Tips:

The lockers on the 1st floor are small, 5 yuan each, usable all day with unlimited access, but winter coats won't fit, let alone for a family of three. I recommend storing your things in the 4th-floor water park lockers, which are bigger, 10 yuan for unlimited access. The 3rd floor also has family changing rooms, very convenient.