Chimelong Guangzhou and Zhuhai: Our Family Trip Planning Guide

Guangzhou has been on our list for a while. When we were in Hong Kong in early 2025, we kept hearing about the Chimelong resorts from other families -- the kind of thing where three separate people tell you the same attraction and you start thinking you really should have already been there. So this summer, we're going. Here's how we're planning it, what we've booked so far, and what we think is actually worth the journey if you're a family of five trying to squeeze real fun out of southern China without losing your mind on logistics.

A note upfront: we haven't done this trip yet. This is our planning article -- the research, the bookings we're eyeing, the Klook deals we've mapped out. We'll update it once we've actually dragged three kids through the Chimelong Spaceship and lived to tell the tale. Use code ADAMANDLINDSKLOOK on Klook to save money on tickets.

Why We're Planning Chimelong This Summer

We spent two weeks in Hong Kong in February 2025 and the whole time, Guangzhou was sitting right there -- a 50-minute high-speed train ride across the border. We didn't make it then because we were deep into Hong Kong mode and the girls had hit their theme park saturation point after Disneyland. That won't stop us this time. Chimelong operates what might be the most ambitious resort cluster in Asia, and the version of us that just watched the Spaceship Park promotional video cannot believe we passed on this.

Guangzhou is also an easy base for Zhuhai (an hour south by train), which is where two of the newer Chimelong properties are located. If you're planning this trip, understand that "Chimelong Guangzhou" and "Chimelong Zhuhai" are different destinations -- the original parks (Paradise, Safari Park, International Circus) are in Guangzhou, while the Spaceship and Ocean resorts are at the Hengqin development in Zhuhai. We're planning to hit both.

The Chimelong Properties: What's Actually There

Chimelong Group runs an empire across Guangdong province. Here's how we're thinking about each property and which ones made our shortlist.

Chimelong Paradise (Guangzhou)

This is the original -- a massive traditional amusement park in Panyu district that's been running since 2006 and still pulls huge crowds. The headline ride is the Behemoth Box, supposedly one of the tallest and fastest coasters in the world, which is either very exciting or very alarming depending on which of our kids you ask. Lily (13) is entirely for it. Cora (10) is tentative. Harper (7) will probably claim she wants to go and then change her mind at the gate, which is her signature move. We're booking this through Klook -- use ADAMANDLINDSKLOOK at checkout.

Chimelong Safari Park (Guangzhou)

This is the one Linds is most excited about. It's a massive open-air wildlife park -- you ride through in a tram watching giraffes, white rhinos, elephants, and lions doing their thing at closer range than feels entirely appropriate. There are also walking zones and animal shows. For families with kids who've done a lot of theme parks and want something a bit more grounded in the actual world, this hits differently. Reviews consistently rate it as one of the best safari experiences in Asia, and that's a category where Asia doesn't mess around.

Chimelong Spaceship Park (Zhuhai) -- Our Top Pick

This is the one. Chimelong Spaceship opened in Hengqin as an entirely indoor theme park -- 400,000 square metres under one roof, which means it doesn't matter whether it's raining or 38°C outside. For a family traveling with kids in summer, that detail alone justifies the trip. The park runs on a space exploration narrative with over 30 rides and experiences across two floors, plus a full marine section with killer whales and 150,000 marine creatures.

We're booking through Klook -- tickets currently run around USD $45 and the Klook deal includes a skip-the-queue option worth having in July. Use code ADAMANDLINDSKLOOK at checkout: Book Chimelong Spaceship tickets on Klook

Chimelong Spaceship Hotel Buffet

Right inside the Hengqin resort, the Spaceship Hotel runs a buffet worth knowing about if you're staying on-site. It's Southeast Asian in theme -- sailor-style decor, food from across the region, and the kind of all-you-can-eat setup that makes post-park evenings much easier when you have three kids who've been on their feet all day. At around USD $14 per person it's reasonable value for the resort context. Bookable through Klook: Book the Spaceship Hotel Buffet on Klook

Chimelong Forest Kingdom (Qingyuan)

This one is a bit further out -- about 80km north of Guangzhou in Qingyuan. It's a newer park that blends a safari concept with full theme park rides, built around African wildlife. A steam train takes you through a conservation zone with white rhinos, elephants, and large animal groups you'd normally only see spread across a reserve. They've also got four animal performance theaters and research experience zones, which is good cover for making it educational. Klook tickets are around USD $35 with free cancellation: Book Chimelong Forest Kingdom on Klook

We're honestly debating this one. It's a full day on its own and Qingyuan requires a separate logistics plan. Depending on how the Guangzhou and Zhuhai days go, it may or may not make the cut.

Hengqin International Circus and Kaka Tiger Show (Zhuhai)

Chimelong's circus shows are genuinely not what you're picturing. This isn't a small-tent touring operation -- the Hengqin International Circus is a permanent venue with productions involving motorcycles on tightropes, 30-person acrobatic pyramids, and theatrical staging that puts most stadium shows to shame. Harper is going to lose her mind. We're also looking at the Kaka Tiger children's show -- a separate production designed specifically for kids, featuring acts from the Monte Carlo New Generation Circus Festival. Tickets are around USD $33: Book the Kaka Tiger show on Klook

Our Rough Itinerary

We're planning to stay near Hengqin for the Zhuhai portion -- there are several Chimelong-affiliated hotels right inside the resort area, which makes the morning logistics infinitely simpler. Getting between Guangzhou and Zhuhai is easy by intercity rail or coach.

Getting Connected in China: Holafly eSIM + VPN

This is the part of China travel that catches people off guard if they haven't thought it through before they land. China blocks Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and most Western apps. Your maps stop working. Your kids can't FaceTime grandparents. Your group chat goes silent. None of this is a disaster -- millions of people live and travel in China fine -- but you need to sort two things before you board the plane: a working eSIM and a VPN installed in advance.

For the eSIM we're using Holafly's China eSIM, which runs on China Mobile's network -- the largest carrier on the mainland, covering everywhere we'll be. You buy it, install the QR code before you land, and data starts flowing when you arrive. No hunting for a SIM card in an airport shop where nobody speaks English. For a family of five managing multiple devices, it's the obvious call. Use code ADAMANDLINDS for 5% off.

Critical note on the VPN: Holafly's China eSIM does NOT include a built-in VPN -- this is something we've seen misstated around the internet and it's wrong. You need to download and set up your VPN before you enter China, because the VPN websites and app stores are blocked once you're inside the firewall. We use SafeShell VPN (code ADAMANDLINDS for 26% off). Install it at home, test it works, then travel with it ready.

If You're Staying Longer Than 10 Days

If you're spending more than a week or two in China (or bouncing between China and other stops in Asia), Holafly's monthly Plans are worth a serious look instead of stacking individual destination eSIMs. One eSIM covers 160+ countries, no per-destination repurchasing, and the math starts working in your favor around 10 days in.

Both Plans include hotspot, which means you're covering the whole family from one subscription. Hotspot in a country where your kids can't get their own local SIM is not a nice-to-have.

Practical Logistics for Families

Getting to Guangzhou

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is the main entry point. Metro lines run directly into the city from there. If you're flying from Vietnam -- we're based in Da Nang until late July -- there are direct flights on Vietnam Airlines and VietJet. If you're coming from elsewhere in Asia, the high-speed train from Hong Kong's West Kowloon station to Guangzhou South takes about 50 minutes and is genuinely one of the more elegant transport experiences in the region.

Guangzhou to Zhuhai

The intercity rail between Guangzhou South and Zhuhai runs frequently and takes about an hour. There's also a ferry from the Nansha terminal to Zhuhai that some families prefer, especially if you're coming via Lantau Island. We'll likely take the train both ways for simplicity with kids and bags.

Cash and Payments

China has moved almost entirely to WeChat Pay and Alipay. Cards are largely useless outside of international hotels. Before you go, link a foreign card to WeChat Pay -- it requires some setup but it works for tourists. Have some cash as a backup. This is not the place to arrive unprepared on payments.

Language

Mandarin is the go. Guangdong is also Cantonese-speaking, so in restaurants you'll often hear both. Google Translate works well in camera mode. Download the Chinese language pack before you enter the country -- Google Translate requires internet and you'll need the offline pack to function without VPN active.

Should You Stay at a Chimelong Hotel?

Probably yes for at least part of the trip, especially in Zhuhai. The Chimelong hotels in Hengqin are integrated with the resort, which means early park entry, zero transfer time, and themed rooms that Lily, Cora, and Harper will not stop talking about for six months. The Spaceship Hotel is the most dramatic option -- it's designed to look like a spaceship. Subtle it is not. The Penguin Hotel and Circus Hotel are also strong contenders for families. Look for package deals that bundle accommodation with park tickets, as the savings can be significant. Always use ADAMANDLINDSKLOOK.

What We're Still Figuring Out

Honestly, China logistics for a family of five require more advance planning than most countries we've visited. Entry requirements, payment setup, VPN configuration, and the geography of the resort cluster across two cities all need to be sorted before we land. We'll be writing a proper trip report once we're through it -- the kind where we tell you what the Spaceship Park queue actually looks like at 10am in July, whether the Kaka Tiger show holds a seven-year-old's attention, and how many rounds of the safari you can do before someone starts crying (our money is on day two, 3pm).

In the meantime, book smart. Lock in Klook tickets early -- summer in China means crowds -- and sort your eSIM and VPN before you leave home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get your Holafly China eSIM here -- use code ADAMANDLINDS for 5% off. Install your VPN before you land. Book Chimelong tickets on Klook with code ADAMANDLINDSKLOOK. We'll update this post once we've actually done it.

This post contains affiliate links. If you book through our Klook links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you -- and you get a discount with code ADAMANDLINDSKLOOK. Holafly links use code ADAMANDLINDS for 5% off. Read our full affiliate disclosure.