If you’ve been tapping through your friends’ holiday escapades on IG stories lately, it seems like a whole lot of people have crowned China as the next holiday hotspot. Honestly, we can’t blame the crowds for jetting over en masse. You’ve got the Cyberpunk-like Chongqing city to explore, while pictures just cannot do justice to portray the beauty of national parks like Zhangjiajie.
In case you’re tempted to visit yourself, here’s one more to put on your itinerary: OMG Heartbeat Paradise. From breathtaking views to adrenaline pumping rides, here’s what you can expect at this lesser-known attraction nestled in the mountains of Hangzhou.
OMG Heartbeat Paradise is an amusement park located in East China, in the Tonglu county of Hangzhou. It’s situated a 2-hour drive from Hangzhou International Airport, which you can get to from Singapore via non-stop, 5-hour round trip flights with airlines like Scoot (from S$330).
Since it’s a tad out of the way, this lesser-known attraction is nowhere as crowded as tourist magnets like the Disneylands in Shanghai and Hong Kong. However, those who’re willing to stray from the beaten path to visit OMG Heartbeat Paradise are sure to have a whale of a time.
The park is split into 3 areas, with attractions high up in the sky and even deep underground. It’s packed with thrilling rides as well as family-friendly activities, so both adrenaline junkies and those travelling with little ones can spend the entire day exploring everything this hidden gem has to offer.
Tickets are starting from S$71.51/pax on Trip.com, and families can opt for the 2 adults +1 child package that’s going for S$164.40. Although the amusement park is found high up on Hangzhou’s mountains, there are a slew of accommodation options nearby, so feel free to book a stay at any one of the many hotels or homestays in the area to crash for the night.
Image credit: 爱玩的豆芽 via RED
Much like the Skyline Luge we have over at Sentosa, OMG Heartbeat Paradise’s Skyway Ride will have you piloting luge carts to whiz down a winding track with the help of gravity. The only difference is that the Skyway Ride runs over 3 times the length of its Singaporean counterpart, plus you’ll get a backdrop of the gorgeous, rolling mountains as an added bonus.
After you’ve conquered the impressive 2,000m track, you can make a pit stop at a nearby watermelon stand. Here, you can “fish” for your own watermelons from a pool, and they’ll split them open for you to get mouthfuls of the sweet fruit.
For another round of heart-thumping action, go rafting on a 1,350m-long track made out of glass panes. Those who don’t mind getting a lil’ wet will weave in and out of the tranquil mountainside forest for this ride; make sure to keep your eyes peeled for quirky landmarks along the way, like this animatronic dragon perched atop a rock.
Adrenaline junkies will absolutely have a field day at the Cliff Swing. Like its name suggests, you’ll be strapped into a seat, safely, of course, and be left to oscillate over the hills. You’ll be suspended 400m above sea level, so this one’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but anything for the ‘Gram, right?
Image credit: 小熊打卡日记🐻 via RED
Right below the Cliff Swing, you can lower your heart rate by taking a breather at the Lonely Cliff Café. Contrary to what’s going on above, It’s a quiet nook built into the highlands’ slopes where visitors can enjoy pastries, cakes, and drinks while admiring the view from behind floor-to-ceiling windows.
When you need a breath of fresh mountain air, bring your tea party out to the café’s balcony. Needless to say, you can grab some pretty pics here as well while you enjoy your afternoon tea.
Image credit: 润土 via RED
The affair with heights and IG-worthy scenery don’t end there, as OMG Heartbeat Paradise also has the Lingyun Bridge to check out. Just like the rafting ride, the bridge is constructed using transparent glass panes, revealing a sea of dense forest beneath your feet when you peer down from above – if you dare, that is.
Since you’re already all the way up here, swing by the Jiutian Cloud Gallery too. It’s a glass boardwalk jutting out of a cliff face, where you can get astounding views of the lofty mountains all around you.
If you need some inspiration for your shots, there’s no lack of photo spots here as well. Live out your dreams of becoming a Victoria Secret angel with this huge pair of wings, or rub shoulders with an oversized astronaut at the entrance of the Jiutian Cloud Gallery. The moon replica above this otherworldly visitor even shines beautifully at night.
Image credit: OMG心跳乐园 via RED
In fact, the whole of OMG Heartbeat Paradise lights up wonderfully once dusk falls too. Although admission ends at 7.30pm, they’re open all the way till 11pm daily, so consider swinging by to watch the mountains come to life in the dark.
Back down on Earth, there’s a couple of kid-friendly activities to keep the little ones entertained. There’s a mini construction site where aspiring tradies can operate pint-sized excavators to shovel dirt. Those a bit more rowdy can run wild at the Black Forest Adventure obstacle course; they’ll conquer rickety rope bridges and hop between elevated platforms at this arboreal attraction.
Image credit: Trip.com
Other activities the tots will have a blast with include feeding colourful koi fish, bouncing about a trampoline park, and even longkang fishing.
By the way, don’t forget to fill out your stamp card that’ll be given to you upon entry into OMG Heartbeat Paradise. You’ll find stamp stations at the various attractions in the park; collect 9 of them, and you can bring home a Japanese-style omamori charm that’s said to ward off evil and usher in good luck.
Image credit: Trip.com
Now that you’ve seen it all on the land and in the sky, it’s time to go deeper. That’s right, OMG Heartbeat Paradise has a whole underground section which sees visitors venturing into the heart of the mountains. The Earth Center Exploration Team experience begins with a tranquil boat ride on a lake near the park’s entrance; keep your eyes peeled for the schools of koi fish that reside here.
As you approach the mouth of the mountain’s cave, you’ll be greeted by the soft glow of the lights that illuminate its otherwise pitch-black interior as you drift down an underground river. Mesmerising hues of blue, red, purple, and orange envelopes the whole cave, highlighting peculiar rock formations like stalagmites.
There’s a portion of the cave to be covered on foot too. Once you’ve docked, you’ll be given hard hats to don for your safety, that conveniently doubles cute lil’ props for your spelunking snaps.
Image credit: Trip.com
If you’re feeling a little chilly, that’s because temperatures in the cave hover around a cool 18°C all year round, perfect for when the sun gets slightly too overbearing. While on your subterranean expedition, feel free to reach out and touch the moist limestone walls; they were formed after millions of years’ worth of erosion.
It’s never too early to start planning for your EOY getaways, so if you happen to be flying off to China, do consider spending an entire day at OMG Heartbeat Paradise. They’ve got plenty to do here, and unless you’ve got a crippling fear of heights, it’s a great alternative to the perpetually crowded amusement parks elsewhere.
For more thrilling them park-related reads, hop over to our neighbours for these adventure and theme parks in JB. If you’re headed for the beaches of Bali, swing by Trans Studio Bali in Seminyak, while Japan-bound folks simply can’t miss Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan.
Address: OMG Heartbeat Paradise, Tonglu County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 311515
Opening hours: 8am-11pm, Daily
Contact: +86-571-64372399
Cover image adapted from: 爱玩的豆芽 via RED, Trip.com
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