Despite all the great things Guangzhou has to offer, there are times when city life can get a bit boring. The weather is gloomy, the days slow down, and you fall into a routine that you find hard to break. If you have children, the usual DVD and toy routine can get stale. Luckily, Guangzhou has some of China’s best attractions to help shake you out of your rut. If you need a fun pick-me-up, or a way to keep the kids amused, try one of these activities.

The first and foremost stop to make at any time of year is the Chimelong Paradise Amusement Park. One of the largest theme parks in China, it has some of the most impressive rides in the entire world. Since it opened in 2006, the park now offers over 70 massive rides. Its biggest draw is an enormous rollercoaster featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for its 10 consecutive loops. The rides are the main draw, but the park also runs a water stunt show in which performers entertain with vertigo-inducing dives.

Chimelong Paradise Amusement Park 长隆欢乐世界View In Map
Add: Yingbin Lu, Panyu, Guangzhou 广州番禺迎宾路
Tel: 020 3993 2888
Open: 09:30-19:00
Price: 170 RMB adults, 90 RMB children
Website: www.chimelongparadise.com/Index.aspx
Getting There: Bus numbers 221, 247, 512, 562

If it happens to be particularly hot and humid (typical for Guangzhou), it might be wiser to set your sights on the Chimelong Water Park. This is the largest water park in the world, and one of the few in China, so visiting is a must since it’s so close - a prime location to cool off during those unbearable summer days. Chimelong Water Park currently holds records for the world’s longest lazy river, the world’s largest wave pool, and some of the world’s fastest slides. It can get busy in high season, but never gets too crowded thanks to its immense size. So if you’re looking for a place to beat the heat, Chimelong Water Park is a good first stop.

Chimelong Water Park 长隆水上乐园View In Map
Add: Yingbin Lu, Panyu, Guangzhou 广州番禺迎宾路
Tel: 4008-830083
Open: 09:00-22:30
Price: 180 RMB
Website: http://waterpark.chimelong.com
Getting There: Bus numbers 221, 247, 512, 562

Scaring yourself silly at a theme park or getting soaked at a water park might not be your idea of fun, so you might prefer the Xiangjiang Safari Park. This is the largest zoo in China, and has one of the widest collections of animals of any zoo in the world. There are 20,000 animals in total, from 460 individual species, including Chinese pandas, koalas from Australia, and polar bears from Norway. There are also 130 white tigers – a product of the park’s breeding program. Believe it or not, they account for half the white tiger population in captivity. Xiangjiang offers daily animal shows, and a safari section in which guests can drive their own cars through some of the habitats.

XiangJiang Safari Park 香江野生动物园View In Map
Add: Yingbin Lu, Panyu, Guangzhou 广州番禺迎宾路
Tel: 020 84783333
Open: 09:30-18:30
Price: 150 RMB adults, 80 RMB children
Website: www.xjzoo.com.cn
Getting There: Bus numbers 221, 247, 512, 562

But if you’d rather sit back and enjoy a show than walk around a park of any kind, head to the Chimelong International Circus. Opened in 2005, it is the world’s largest permanent circus. The show features award-winning performers from America, Russia, Africa, Columbia, Kazakhstan, and China. The set design, lighting, and costumes are all incredible, and the performances are breathtaking. For a night you won’t forget, the Chimelong International Circus is a great choice.

Chimelong International Circus 长隆国际马戏大剧院View In Map
Add: Yingbin Lu, Panyu, Guangzhou 广州番禺迎宾路
Tel: 020 8479 6600
Open: 19:30-21:00
Price: 150 RMB adults, 90 RMB children
Website: www.clcircus.com
Getting There: Bus numbers 221, 247, 512, 562

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