Should you stay at the Panda Hotel when visiting Guangzhou Chimelong?

Of course you should!

For the 2025 New Year trip to Guangzhou Chimelong, I booked a three-day, two-night stay at the Panda Hotel, which included access to Chimelong Safari Park, Happy World, Bird Paradise, and the Circus.

Is the Panda Hotel worth staying at? Here are my thoughts:

1. The Panda Hotel's interior is fully themed around the adorable panda triplets. The lobby hosts performances in the morning, and you might even encounter panda mascots, which kids absolutely love. The lobby is always bustling, more like a transportation hub. The first floor has a lovely gift shop and restaurants. The buffet restaurant is huge, with a rich breakfast selection, though getting food can be tiring. The Food Street has many stalls, but prices are steep—for example, a bowl of beef brisket rice or noodles costs 68 RMB, though the portion is generous and tasty. Most other meals are similarly priced. Unfortunately, food delivery isn’t allowed into the hotel; you’ll need to pick it up at the entrance, which is inconvenient. So, you’ll mostly eat at the hotel, but the quality is decent.

2. The guest rooms are packed with cartoon elements and well-decorated. However, soundproofing between floors isn’t great—I had noisy kids upstairs keeping me awake at night. We booked a Prince Room with a small bed, perfect for our child. The bathroom had a stepping stool for kids and a child-sized toilet seat—nice touches.

3. Staying at the hotel grants access to all three parks. In my opinion, the Safari Park is the highlight.
Happy World has height restrictions for most rides—kids under 1.0m have very few options, and the available ones aren’t as fun as those at local parks. Exciting rides like the Rapids Ride, Family Roller Coaster, and Bounce Machine require kids to be over 1.0m, and staff are strict about height checks.

Bird Paradise is outside the Chimelong resort, about a 20-minute drive away. It’s fairly average—small and easy to explore, with lots of birds and reptiles. Younger kids might not be too interested. However, there’s a children’s playground inside, perfect for little ones—a simple, non-powered play area with climbing structures and slides. My kid loved it! In fact, their favorite part of the whole trip was this playground.

4. Hotel guests can enter the Safari Park early to avoid crowds—but you’ll need to wake up early!

5. Final thoughts: The best parts of Guangzhou Chimelong are the Safari Park and the Circus. The other two parks are optional.
Whether to stay at the Panda Hotel depends on your budget. Off-season prices are reasonable—just go for it. During peak seasons, consider the premium—if you can afford it, it’s a great choice; if it’s too expensive, opt for nearby hotels. After all, one day is enough for the Safari Park and the Circus.

Post by NoahO Donnell05 | Jul 24, 2025