Christmas Month Unleashed! Shanghai’s One-Stop Family Playground: Baoyan Paradise Flagship

Christmas is right around the corner! Have you figured out how to spend the holiday? I still remember back in May this summer, when I took my son Longlong to Baoyan Paradise. He had so much fun he couldn’t stop talking about it, sharing joyful moments with his friends. Maybe it was his enthusiasm that rubbed off on my best friend’s child, who now begs to visit too. We decided to come back around Christmas. What made Longlong want a second visit? What are the must-not-miss highlights? Let’s go through the classics you can’t skip!

Baoyan Paradise Tips

Baoyan Paradise has five floors, a one-stop family playground that easily fills a whole day. Located at No. 11, Lane 3825, Dushi Road, Minhang District, it’s an 850m walk from Exit 1 of Yindu Road Station on Metro Line 5, very convenient. Enjoy free parking for the first 4 hours (collect a voucher at the front desk), then 6 RMB per hour.

Opening hours: 10:30–19:30 (Mon–Fri), 9:30–20:30 (Sat–Sun).

Water park hours: 11:00–18:00

@1F Lobby

The two boys spotted the giant Jurassic dinosaur park outside and excitedly struck poses. I grabbed my phone to capture their spirited antics.

With winter here, the lobby is filled with Christmas trees, their branches decked with colorful ornaments and a twinkling star on top. Kids clamored for photos with the trees and the white-bearded, red-suited Santa. Even just the lobby is bursting with Christmas cheer.

@1F Cute Pet Paradise

A group of adorable animals immediately drew the kids in. So many species—alpacas, prairie dogs, chinchillas, and British Shorthairs too cute to resist! Put on gloves and you can get up close, touch, and feed them. The area is spotless, with gloves provided and sinks everywhere. For Longlong, feeding them a second time felt like reuniting with old friends—the bag of carrots vanished in seconds.

The fluffy alpacas are especially endearing, with big round faces, watery eyes that dart around, and a super cool hairdo—still the drooling, greedy charmers we remember!

The children approached all the animals without fear, and the interaction felt like a healing process, sharing love with little creatures and celebrating nature’s magic.

@1F Super Combination Slide Paradise

This is a must-do at Baoyan. Slides of every slope, especially the 90-degree vertical drop that shoots you from 7.3 meters to the ground in just 4 seconds—so thrilling! It’s a perfect chance to build courage. But remember: wear non-slip socks and long sleeves and pants. Safety first—all equipment is padded and there are safety nets. Even cheeky kids must follow the staff’s instructions.

Beyond slides, there’s a climbing zone where every child can play fearlessly.

@1F VR Action Park

Longlong and his friend tried VR and were totally immersed—it got their adrenaline pumping even more.

@2F Building Block World

The little ones roamed a world of creativity, like junior engineers, shifting pieces to construct their own castle in no time. As the saying goes, “One minute on stage takes ten years of practice off stage”—their LEGO skills really paid off.

The two kids worked in rhythm, fully expressing their natural instincts.

@2F Naughty Castle Paradise

A sea of yellow and white balls where you can go wild! Zooming from the slide into the ball pit is both stress-relieving and exhilarating.

With a busy schedule, getting to play with Longlong, drifting in this dreamy ball ocean and trying all the rides, I felt like a kid again—pure, simple joy!

@2F Delicious Family Restaurant

After so much bouncing, Longlong was drenched in sweat and needed a refuel. Luckily, this floor has a tasty Western restaurant—hot pasta to the rescue!

@2F Mom’s Nail Salon & Parent-Child Craft Room

On the second floor, there’s a nail salon just for moms, where you can enjoy a complimentary manicure while your child plays—so thoughtful. Next door is the craft room; last time, Longlong and I made a special keepsake that’s now framed at home. Christmas decorations are everywhere: hanging reindeer, trees, Santa cards, and “Merry Christmas” window stickers. I can almost hear “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way…” Are you humming along?

@3F & 4F Year-Round Constant-Temperature Water Park

The third and fourth floors are connected, and I suspect the water park on the third floor is what Longlong remembers most. Baoyan brings a full-scale water park indoors, heated to a constant ~37°C (about 99°F) all year, so no need to worry about chilly outdoor winds.

Among the many water attractions, the rainbow slide—5 meters high and 32 meters long—is especially kid-friendly, much tamer than the spiral one. Longlong adored it, going up again and again, soaking wet and beaming. Change into your swimsuit and splash to your heart’s content. Who says water fun is only for summer? Winter splashing is even better!

In the Lake Discovery Zone, there are cute fountains for water-loving babies, and when you’re tired, the adjoining family sauna is perfect for relaxing.

@5F Rooftop Grass Sliding & Children’s Pony Ride

The fifth-floor open-air deck features a carousel, Jurassic Adventure, a happy train, rooftop climbing, and outdoor grass sliding. Right at the elevator, a giant dinosaur biting a car caught us off guard the first time—astonishing!

Grass sliding is a social media hit, but due to maintenance and bad weather, it was closed this time. Luckily, Longlong and I tried it before. Though not real grass, the unique slope design made it tons of fun.

Besides free activities, there are paid ones like the pony ride—50 RMB for a round with protective gear and a staff guiding you.

Once again, we stayed until closing time, reluctant to leave. The Christmas tree at the entrance sparkled. From rainbow slides to the ball pit, from the heated water park to the outdoor Jurassic adventure, the variety made the kids never want to go home. As an adult wrangling two boys, I was amazed that Baoyan let me relax and just enjoy the day. One day is definitely not enough here!

In December, the park has a special lottery: take a photo with the backdrop and show your admission ticket to enter. Everyone wins—don’t forget to try your luck!