At Beijing Happy Valley, the 99-meter-tall EyeJing Ferris wheel lit up slowly, painting a dazzling summer night skyline above Beijing alongside the lighting matrix at Galaxy Plaza. Visitors on site raised their phones to capture the moment, with cheers echoing across the park as they celebrated Beijing Happy Valley's 20th anniversary on Wednesday night.
On this special day, visitors not only received limited-edition commemorative tickets but also had the chance to win lucky scratch cards with prizes including fast passes to skip long lines for popular attractions. With the melody of Happy Birthday, performers and visitors sang blessings together, immersing the theme park in a joyful and festive atmosphere.
Over the past two decades, Beijing Happy Valley has gradually evolved from a traditional theme park into an urban lifestyle destination with cultural experiences, leisure and entertainment, and premium consumption, meeting the diverse demands of local residents.
Tourists can watch performances such as singing, dancing and magic while they stroll around in the theme park, and interact with NPC (nonplayer character) performers and take photos with them. During the float parade, performers dressed in various styles dance along both sides of the route and pose for photos with visitors. At present, the theme park is hosting a music festival at Galaxy Plaza every evening, showcasing a variety of musical styles.
Officially opened in June, the EyeJing Ferris wheel offers a 22-minute cloud-top viewing experience, where visitors can enjoy bird's-eye views of the city's landmarks including the CBD area. Among the 46 panoramic gondolas, 10 are specially themed, ideal for occasions such as birthday celebrations and romantic moments.
Data show that since the Ferris wheel came into operation, visitor numbers at Beijing Happy Valley have increased by 20 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, consumption in catering, retail, performances and other sectors has also risen simultaneously.
Dai A'yong, who's in charge of Beijing Happy Valley's marketing, said that the big wheel is driving the theme park to foster a new integrated model of performances, amusement and commerce. It encourages more visitors to stay longer and experience more, while also injecting new growth momentum into Beijing's night economy.
