Harry Potter: Forbidden Forest Experience (Shenzhen)

I was worried after seeing the negative reviews from mainland China, but I was pleasantly surprised after going. The forest lighting effects are very beautiful, plus the movie OST and scene recreations, as well as magical interactions and character easter eggs. Harry Potter fans definitely shouldn't miss it. I entered at 7:45 PM that day, there were very few tourists, and the staff were friendly even after standing for a long time. Thank you! If it weren't for the 20-minute walk uphill to the entrance, which was a bit tiring, I would really want to go again. But the weather is cooler now, so it feels okay. In the end, I still highly recommend Harry Potter fans to go once!

We visited the place on Tuesday evening and literally had the whole forest to ourselves.. feels like a VVIP. Ticket redemption was super easy, just show your look booking and they will print out the physical ticket. The experience was phenomenal and it was far beyond my expectations. As a potterhead, I am impressed by how well they managed to recreate the movie scenes will all the little details. You will immersed in the set up and feels like living the magical world of Harry Potter. Experience of a lifetime. Upon entering, take a bottle of water with your house lanyard and free copy of newspaper printout with your picture on it.

The Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience in Shenzhen was by far the best Harry Potter exhibit that I have ever been to. The experience itself was very realistic, from the little village to the finest of details, as well as the characters roaming through the forest, greeting, interacting, and overall entertaining guests. As an avid reader and fan of the series, I must say I am quite impressed with The Forbidden Forest.

Definitely worth seeing! Relived many famous scenes. The kids were very happy chanting the spells. Some of the NPCs in the interactive sections give you gold coins. Another tourist told us when they finished that they had collected 10 gold coins, which could be exchanged for a blind box in the shop, but I was too tired at the time and didn't want to walk back, so I didn't confirm if it was true 😅. The lighting and sound effects are very good. There are a lot of slopes, so it's not very suitable for older people. You can take a small train when entering the park. We didn't know there was a small train, and we walked a long way to get in, walking until we doubted our life 🫣. And the small train is only $5 per person, great value for money. It's a pity that we only found out we could take the small train when we were leaving. The small train is very cute, and the kids love it. The main thing is that you don't have to walk so far 🤣.

It's very convenient to buy tickets on Klook. Upon arrival at the entrance, you can exchange your Mainland Travel Permit and QR code for physical tickets. There weren't many people on the day I went, so the admission process was quick. However, because there weren't many people, there was no need to buy a fast pass (it only speeds up entry; there's no difference inside the park). Of course, the flow of people is unpredictable. The entire forest experience was more enriching and elaborate than I imagined. The decorations and sound effects were excellent, making it easy to immerse yourself in the atmosphere. There are many interactive spots where you can wave your wands and beautiful photo spots. The staff are very nice! Also, there are some slight slopes along the way, which children can handle. Just be aware that you have to walk 1 kilometer to the entrance and another 1 kilometer to get out. The hot weather can be tiring. There's a small train that takes you in and out (for a fee), but it only runs every half hour and has very few seats. But overall, Harry Potter fans will be very happy going!

Because the event is nearing its end, ticket prices are even more favorable. There aren't too many people, so you can take your time and enjoy the experience. The staff on-site even dressed up as Voldemort and Cho Chang, and the lighting combined with the sound effects created a more immersive atmosphere.

The moment you enter the forest, the lights, sound effects, and fog instantly pull you into a magical world! Glowing runes are dotted among the trees, and the background music is familiar John Williams scores, making you feel like you're in the book – eerie yet full of surprises. Along the way, you'll encounter various magical creatures, such as a giant Acromantula spider, a mischievous Niffler, a lovable house-elf Dobby, and even the classic scene of a flying car crashing into the Whomping Willow. These props are thoughtfully made, some even moving and making sounds, making people can't help but scream or take pictures.

Finally made it to the "Forbidden Forest" of Harry Potter! I'm so glad that each checkpoint showcases different magic! It's so much fun and unique, I've never experienced anything like it before! The staff member playing Draco Malfoy's father was very dedicated. Seeing my daughter wearing a Gryffindor uniform, he asked her if she belonged to that house, and even in his villainous persona asked, "Do you want to challenge me?" He was very into character, and I really appreciate him. Also, although I went on the evening of November 7th, it wasn't cold, so wearing a Hogwarts robe would be too hot. I really appreciate that the staff there still professionally wore the full school uniform, even with scarves, and I'm very grateful for their dedication in creating the atmosphere of the whole place. I finally understand why people say you can't drive up there, and I also understand why online it says the little train is infrequent, because it's a running path. They need to allow half the people to run, half to go to the Harry Potter venue, and occasionally let the little train run, so there's simply no road for cars to travel. Because the location is remote, after exiting the Mission Hills E exit, I didn't know how to get there. Fortunately, a Hard Rock Hotel staff member told us. I hope they put up more signs in the future to indicate the way to the venue and the station for the little train. It turns out there are snack stalls before entering, but the beer is on the other side, near the customer service center. Luckily there were online guides reminding me to bring a wand to play at the checkpoints, and to bring a notebook to get stamps at the souvenir shop. Regarding taking photos, because it was dark, even though I used fill lights, they didn't help much. In the end, I used my phone's flashlight function to shine light on my husband when taking photos so people would be bright enough! After Halloween, it seems like there are fewer people, so you don't have to queue much. You can come when the weather turns cold, wearing a magic robe will add to the atmosphere.

As a prelude to my May trip to Singapore for Harry Potter, I thought the Shenzhen event was really well organized. It had a great atmosphere, with staff explaining things and interacting with guests, and even offered gold coin rewards for gifts. The only minor drawback was the restroom situation; there was only one temporary toilet in the entire park.

This Harry Potter, although not a Studio, just an experience, is definitely not inferior to the Studio. Our family took the little train to enter at about 7 o'clock, and there were hardly any people. We could enjoy the entire forest alone as a group of three. It was really built in a real forest park, and it's very realistic. Super awesome, you have to experience it yourself to know how fun it is.