Beijing Happy Valley: A Model of Joy in Chinese Theme Parks
Overview
Beijing Happy Valley is located at the southeast corner of Sifang Bridge on the East Fourth Ring Road in Chaoyang District, Beijing. It officially opened on July 9, 2006, and is the fourth-generation theme park launched by OCT Group after Shenzhen Happy Valley. The park covers an area of 560,000 square meters and consists of seven themed cultural zones: Fjord Forest, Atlantis, Lost Maya, Aegean Harbor, Shangri-La, Sweet Kingdom, and Happy Times. With the core concept of "dynamic, fashionable, joyful, and dreamy," Beijing Happy Valley integrates amusement rides, themed performances, science education, and festival events, receiving over 4 million visitors annually. As a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, it is not only an important leisure and entertainment venue for Beijing residents but also one of the preferred destinations for domestic and international tourists to experience modern theme park culture.
History
The planning of Beijing Happy Valley began in the early 21st century, marking an important step for OCT Group in deploying the Happy Valley brand nationwide. In 2002, OCT signed a cooperation agreement with the Chaoyang District Government of Beijing, selecting the former site of the Beijing Coking Plant to drive regional transformation through cultural and creative industries. The project officially broke ground in 2004, with a total investment of approximately 2 billion RMB. On July 9, 2006, Phase I of Beijing Happy Valley opened, featuring five themed zones: Fjord Forest, Atlantis, Lost Maya, Aegean Harbor, and Shangri-La. In 2010, the park expanded with the "Happy Times" zone, introducing large roller coasters such as the Extreme Speed. In 2018, it collaborated with the domestic animation IP "Sweet Kingdom" to add a family-friendly themed zone. In 2021, the park underwent a large-scale upgrade, introducing the "Night of Sky and Light" nighttime project to extend visitor stay. To date, Beijing Happy Valley has developed into a comprehensive theme park integrating daytime amusement and nighttime performances.
