You’ve seen the photos. A massive, pink-tinted Ferris wheel with Hello Kitty’s face staring out over the lush green mountains of Anji. It looks like a fever dream or a Sanrio fan’s ultimate pilgrimage. But honestly, if you go into the original Hello Kitty Park in China expecting a high-octane Disney clone, you’re going to be disappointed.
That's the tea.
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Located about a three-hour drive from Shanghai in Zhejiang Province, the Anji Hello Kitty Park is a weird, wonderful, and occasionally polarizing place. It’s China’s first large-scale outdoor Hello Kitty theme park, and since its shaky debut in 2015, it has carved out a very specific niche. It isn't for thrill-seekers. It isn't for people who hate the color pink. It is, basically, a paradise for toddlers, Instagram influencers, and anyone who actually knows who Pompompurin and Cinnamoroll are.
The Ferris Wheel that Actually Moves
Let’s talk about the landmark everyone sees first. The Colorful Ferris Wheel.
Standing 42 meters high, it’s the only slide-style Ferris wheel in Asia. What does that mean? Most cabins are "fixed," but some are on tracks that slide back and forth as the wheel rotates. It's surprisingly terrifying. You expect a gentle glide, but then your cabin suddenly lurches inward. It’s one of the few things in the park that might actually make a grown adult scream.
The view from the top is genuinely stunning. Anji is famous for its bamboo forests—the ones from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon—so seeing that greenery contrasted against a neon-pink theme park is surreal.
It Isn't Just One Park Anymore
A common misconception is that there’s only one "Hello Kitty Park China." Things have changed. While the Anji location is the classic outdoor experience, there are other spots popping up.
- Shanghai’s Hello Kitty Theme Park: This one is an indoor "Time Travel" themed attraction located in the Shimao Festival City building. It’s much smaller, focusing on a retro Shanghai aesthetic mixed with Sanrio characters.
- The Sanya Resort (The New Kid): As of early 2026, the buzz is all about the Sanya Hello Kitty Resort in Hainan. This is a massive $1.6 billion project. Unlike the smaller Anji park, this one is a full-blown luxury resort experience with over 50 attractions.
If you’re looking for a day trip from Hangzhou, go to Anji. If you want a tropical vacation with Kitty White, you head to Sanya.
Survival Guide: The Anji Experience
Most people visit the Anji park. It's divided into six zones, including the Friendship Square and the Steam Kingdom. If you have kids under 1 meter, they get in free, which is a huge plus. But measure them before you go. The staff are strict. Even 1cm short of a requirement can lead to a "no" for certain rides like the Magic Bicycle.
What to actually eat?
The Castle Restaurant is where everyone goes because the rice is shaped like Hello Kitty’s head. Is it the best meal you'll have in China? Kinda... no. It’s pricey, around 68 to 99 RMB for a set meal. Most locals suggest bringing your own snacks or driving 15 minutes to the nearby Jiuzhou Night Market for some "real" Anji noodles.
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Wait times and crowds
Weekdays are ghost towns. You can walk onto the "Happy Rafting" water ride (bring a raincoat, they charge 30 RMB for one inside) without waiting. Weekends and public holidays are a different story. The lines for the "Star Meet & Greet" can stretch for an hour just to get a 30-second photo with My Melody.
The Castle Hotel Factor
If you really want to lean into the madness, you stay at the Yinrun Jinjiang Castle Hotel. It looks like a European fortress from the outside. Inside? It’s a Sanrio explosion.
They have specific "Pink Rooms" where everything—the carpet, the wallpaper, the towels—is branded. It’s expensive, often over 800-1,200 RMB a night, but it grants you easy access to the park. For many families, the hotel is actually better than the park itself. It feels more "premium" and less like a localized amusement park.
What Most People Get Wrong
Critics often bash the Anji park for being "small" or having "boring" rides. That’s missing the point. This isn't Universal Studios.
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It’s a "healing" park. The shows, like the Dream Float Parade at 2:30 PM, are about friendship and cuteness. The rides are meant for five-year-olds. If you go there as a couple looking for coasters, you’ll be bored in two hours. If you go there to take 500 photos of pink architecture and see your kid hug a giant penguin (Badtz-Maru), it’s a win.
Actionable Tips for Your Trip
- Download the App: Use the WeChat mini-program for the park to check show times. The parade and the theater performances are the highlights, and you don't want to miss them because you were stuck in a line for a spinning tea cup.
- Wear Light Colors: If you’re going for the "aesthetic," white or pink outfits pop best against the park's pastel palette.
- Check the Weather: Most of Anji’s rides are outdoor. If it rains, they shut down the Ferris wheel and the rafting immediately.
- Transportation: Take the high-speed rail to Anji Station. From there, it’s a 30-minute taxi. Don’t try to bus it unless you speak fluent Mandarin and have a lot of patience.
The Hello Kitty Park China in Anji remains a quirky piece of Sanrio history. It’s a bit kitschy, a bit aging, but undeniably charming if you’re in the right headspace. For a more modern, high-tech experience, keep an eye on the Sanya developments, but for that classic, over-the-top pink mountain vibe, Anji is still the place to be.
To make the most of your visit, book your tickets through a platform like Trip.com or Klook at least 24 hours in advance to save about 20% compared to the gate price. Stick to a weekday visit if possible, and aim to arrive at the gates by 9:45 AM to beat the tour buses coming in from Hangzhou.