With an area of 90 hectares (222 acres), Beijing zoo ranks the largest zoo in China and is one of the best zoos in the world. The zoo has fostered a good relationship with other zoos in over fifty countries and districts. Animals that are presented to China by other countries and celebrities are bred and can be seen here. So the Zoo are feeding and exhibiting more than 20,000 animals of over 900 varieties, receiving more than six million visitors annually.
The history of Beijing Zoo can date back to the Qing Dynasty. In 1906, during the reign of emperor Guangxu, the Imperial Ministry established an experimental farm, which held a small menagerie. It was called Wansheng Garden (the garden of ten thousand animals) at that time.
After the Qing Dynasty was overthrown in 1911, the zoo became a national botanical garden during the Republic of China. During the Second World War, many animals in the zoo died of starvation and some of them were poisoned by the Japanese Army under the pretext of protecting themselves against air raids. Only 13 monkeys and a blind emu were survived in the war.
After Beijing became the capital of People’s Republic of China in 1949, the city government rebuilt the zoo and gave its name Western Suburban Park. It was renamed Beijing Zoo in 1955.
With the support of the Chinese government, Beijing Zoo has developed rapidly in the end of 20th century. Now Beijing Zoo houses over 7,000 creatures of 600 different species, including the giant panda, peacock, red-crowned crane and Pere David's deer as well as the African giraffe, rhinoceros, chimpanzee and antelope; American continent; wild ox from Europe; and elephant and gibbon from India. Besides,it boasts the world's largest inland aquarium in the world, about 42 thousand square meters. Tourists can also enjoy shows performed by the dolphins, sea lions and whales in the Aquarium's Ocean Theater.
The Beijing Zoo site is comprised of 16 different exhibition areas and halls. All of its halls and exhibition areas are constructed so as to ensure that the animals enjoy a both comfortable and healthy living environment. One of the most popular halls is the Panda Hall. As everyone knows, the giant panda is native to China and regarded as one of the most precious animals and a national symbol. The Panda Hall was built in 1989 and covers an area of around 10,000 square meters. There are plenty of bamboo and bushes inside the hall, this make the Panda Hall similar to the wild habitat of the giant panda in the southwest China.
Travel Tip:
How to Get to Beijing Zoo
Chinese name: 北京动物园 (bei jing dong wu yuan)
Tel: 86-10-64033225
Add: No.137, Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing
Zoo Entrance fee:
1st Apr.-31st Oct.: CNY20 -including the entrance fee and ticket for the Panda Hall
CNY15 -the entrance fee only
1st Nov.-31st Mar.: CNY15 -including the entrance fee and ticket for the Panda Hall
CNY10 -the entrance fee only
Zoo Opening time: 07:30-18:00 (1st Apr.-31st Oct.)
07:30-17:00.(1st Nov.-31st Mar.)
Beijing Aquarium (in Beijing Zoo):
- Ticket price: CNY130;
- Time of ticket sales: 10:00-16:00;
- Opened at 09:00-17:30 from 1st Apr.-31st Oct. (no entry after 17:00);
- Opened at 09:00-17:00 from 1st Nov.-31st Mar.
By subway: Line 4 get off at Dongwuyuan Station and exit from Exit B.
By bus: No. 7, 15, 19, 27, 45, 65, 87, 102, 103, 105, 107, 111, 319, 332, 334, 347, 360, 362, 534, 563, 608, 614, 632, 685, 697, 714, 808 or 904.
》》》Recommended Beijing Zoo Tours
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