As one of Asia's largest wildlife parks, Guangzhou's Chimelong is a top family destination where kids can watch animals in natural habitats and enjoy thrilling activities.
Overwhelmed by too many parks and the fear of melting in long queues under the sun? You don't need a pass that crams everything into one day. Pick two parks that excite you most, and take one park per day. Slow down and you'll see more and enjoy it more.
Our team visits Chimelong multiple times every year. The routes and tips below are tested on the ground, and can save you at least two hours of waiting in line.
Chimelong Safari Park & International Circus Are the Most Recommended among the 5 Parks
There are 5 parks in the Chimelong Resort (as listed below). Visiting all of them usually takes 3 full days.
| Name of the Park | Features | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Chimelong Safari Park | Mini-version of the Great Migration | 1 full day |
| The International Circus | Night acrobatics shows | 1.5 hour |
| Chimelong Paradise | Games for the brave | half day |
| Chimelong Water Park | Water slides, summer fun | half day |
| Chimelong Bird Park | Birds viewing | half day |
For most of our clients, the total time in Guangzhou is only 3–5 days, leaving about 1–1.5 days for Chimelong. So, I recommend spending the daytime at Chimelong Safari Park and the evening at the Chimelong International Circus. Why?
Chimelong Safari Park: It is like a mini-version of the Great Migration. It is where the word "zoo" gets rewritten. There are no cages here, just a cable car gliding above the treetops, giraffes wandering beneath your feet, and koalas dozing off right above your head. This is a place where children will grab your hand and pull you forward.
International Circus: The International Circus is only operated at night. It is the largest circus performance venue in the world. Children will be amazed by thrilling acts such as performers spinning and diving at high speed on elevated poles, and riders leaping through the air on horseback. I bet you and your family won't be able to stop yourselves from pulling out your phone or camera to capture one surprising moment after another.
The other three parks:
- Chimelong Paradise: It is a typical amusement park with the thrilling activities for the brave, such as Roller coasters, the Giant Pendulum, free-fall drop towers, the Ferris wheel, the Magic Theater, and the Carnival Parade. Of course it's fun, and kids will love it. But if you're short on time, I personally don't think it's worth half a day. You can get a similar experience in your own city on any weekend.
- Bird Park: It is a bird-themed park. Here, you'll see hundreds of bird species flying freely through the forest canopy above you. If you're a bird enthusiast, it's well worth spending half a day here. Otherwise, I'd recommend skipping this park, as you'll also have the chance to see many bird species at the Safari Park. Plus, it requires an extra 30-minute drive.
- Chimelong Water Park: It is especially for the summer fun with water slides, and open only from April to October. The Storm Double Salute, Sky-Surfing Dual Wave Board, Water Coaster, Super Tornado, and the Adventure River are worth a try if you going. Why I don't recommend it as priority? Because this is not Guangzhou's specialty.
The Smartest Way to Visit the Chimelong Safari Park: From Eastern Zone to Western Zone
The park is mainly divided into the Eastern Zone and the Western Zone.
- The western zone is the small train safari area, featuring large herds of free‑range animals such as zebras, antelopes, and African buffalo.
- The eastern zone is the walk-through area, with themed animal houses and interactive experiences, including elephants, giant pandas, tigers, giraffes, and bears.
I recommend visiting the east zone first, then the west zone, because the east zone is home to the Panda House. Pandas are more active before 10:00 AM, as they are very sensitive to heat. The east zone is close to the South Gate, so you can enter through that gate and head straight to the Panda House first.
After that, take a 5-minute walk to Panda house station and board the sky gondola for an aerial view of the animals (about 30 minutes). The cable car runs in a loop. I suggest getting off at the North Station (Swan Lake), which is close to the starting point of the small train ride. This could help you save around 30 minutes' walk.
Starting with the small train, you'll already be entering the west zone. The train ride takes about 30 minutes, taking you on a loop through the West Zone before returning to the east zone. On the train ride, you could see grassland animals like zebras and antelopes more active in the morning.
Afterwards, continue exploring the rest of animal zones in the eastern area by walking at a relaxed pace, including tigers, elephants, koalas, and giraffes.
Chimelong Safari Night Tour (only in July and August): During China's summer vacation, Chimelong offers a night safari. It is a good option to avoid the heat and large crowds at the day time.
However, the night session lasts only about 3 hours （6-9 PM）, so you won't have enough time to see all the exhibits as visiting during day time. I recommend focusing on key areas: the western train safari zone and the main walking area in the east, including the pandas, elephants, and giraffes. The cable car closes at 6:30 PM.
How to Book Chimelong Tickets (VIP Skip-the-line Pass)
The five parks at Chimelong sell separate tickets, with prices ranging from $30 to $50 USD. Children under 12 receive a 30% discount, and children aged 3 and under can enter for free.
Tickets can be booked through the WeChat mini-program "Chimelong Resort" or other online travel platforms. You can also buy tickets at the gate.
On holidays and during summer vacation (July–August), the waiting time for certain activities is between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the ride.
If you want to skip queues at popular attractions, consider adding the Fast Pass upgrade (about $40 for multi-attraction priority access). When I took my kids there last summer, I bought the Fast Pass card, which let us skip the lines for multiple attractions.
It's Convenient to Get to Chimelong via Car or Subway
Chimelong is located in the southern part of Guangzhou. Getting there from the city center is very convenient. You can take Metro Line 3 or Line 7, which takes about 30 minutes, or go by car, which takes around 50 minutes.
Staying Overnight in Chimelong for More Efficiency and Fun
When visiting Chimelong, you may wonder should I stay in the downtown Guangzhou or in the resort. My top recommendation is the hotel in the resort.
- The hotels offer the early park access to help skip the traffic time and long queues.
- You can get unlimited re-entry during your stay. So you can head back to the hotel anytime to rest.
Up to 2026, there are 2 hotels in the resort. Choose either of them based on your preference for the theme.
| Hotels | Panda Hotel | Chimelong Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Star Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Location | Resort center | Resort center |
| Price range | 200-300 USD | 200-300 USD |
| Key Highlights | Panda themed rooms and activities | Dine with white tigers & flamingos, Animal Island |
There are also many hotel options near the resort, such as the Xiangjiang Hotel with around 10-minute walking to the resort. If you still hesitate on where to stay, feel free to contact us for assistance.
Tips for Visiting Chimelong Comfortably
- Choose your timing wisely: January to April and October to December offer the most comfortable weather. Guangzhou from May to September is genuinely hot and humid, which becomes an issue when you're walking for hours with kids. Weekdays are significantly less crowded than weekends, and ticket prices are lower too. If your trip overlaps with China's May Day Holiday (May 1-5) and National Day Holiday (October 1–7), expect very large crowds across all parks, it's the busiest travel week of the year in China. It is recommended to book the Fast Pass to avoid the long queues. And staying at a hotel within the resort helps you easy, early access to the park, allowing you to avoid the peak times.
- Pack for the weather. Sunscreen, a hat, and a reusable water bottle are essential. The park provides some shaded rest areas, but large sections are open to the sky. Comfortable walking shoes are non-negotiable.
- Don't bring outside food into the park. To protect the animals (and prevent them from being fed improperly), the park prohibits bringing any food inside. If you'd like to feed the animals, please purchase the designated animal food available within the park.
- Plan your meals around the crowds. There are many restaurants in the park. The 12:00–1:30 PM window is when every restaurant fills up simultaneously. Either eat early (before 11:30) or push through until 2:00 PM. Last time, we ate in the Koala Restaurant near the Australian Zone after 1 PM. It is not very crowded and it's fun to watch koalas from your table while you eat.
- Bring or rent stroller if you travel with young children: the park is stroller-friendly, strollers are available to rent at the entrance, and most pathways are wide and even.
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