Shanghai Wild Animal Park is located at No. 178, Nanliu Highway, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. It is China's first national-level wild animal park and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The total area of the scenic spot is 1.87 square kilometers, including a base area of 1.53 square kilometers and an additional comprehensive development land of 0.34 square kilometers. The scenic spot is characterized by integrating wild animal protection, popular science education and tourism and leisure, adopting a combination of free-range and captive breeding to show the natural living state of animals. The park consists of three parts: the drive-through area, the walking area, and the water exploration area. It has more than 200 species of rare animals at home and abroad, with a quantity of over 10,000. It also has amusement projects such as Ferris wheels and roller coasters, as well as rich animal performances, providing tourists with diversified playing experiences.
History and Culture
The construction of Shanghai Wild Animal Park began in the 1990s. In April 1993, the Shanghai Municipal Garden Administration signed a construction intention with relevant departments, laying the foundation for the preparation of the park. In April 1994, the State Forestry Administration decided to build China's first national-level wild animal park in Shanghai for the development of Pudong, and the site was selected in the territory of Sanzao Township, Nanhui County, Pudong at that time. The construction fund of about 200 million yuan for the park was provided by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, and all the exhibited animals were coordinated and allocated by the Forestry Administration.
In June 1995, the State Forestry Administration actively organized the transportation of various wild animals from home and abroad to the park. In November of the same year, Shanghai Wild Animal Park was partially completed and successfully opened to the public, officially meeting tourists. Over time, the design of the animal exhibition areas in the park has been continuously upgraded, going through three stages: cage-type, background-type, and ecological-type. Now it has moved towards immersive exhibition areas, paying more attention to creating a living environment close to nature for animals, and also allowing tourists to have a deeper feeling of the charm of wild animals, becoming an important window to show the achievements of China's wild animal protection and popular science education.
Main Attractions
Drive-through Area
The drive-through area covers an area of about 55 hectares. It is a primitive ecological free-range wild animal exhibition area that can only be entered by closed sightseeing vehicles. Tourists can experience the unique feeling of close contact with wild animals here. The area is divided into several characteristic regions. "Wonderful Asia" shows the ecological scene of the Asian grassland, where there are camels, yaks, mouflons, fallow deer, white fallow deer, Guangxi ponies and other animals; the "King of the Forest" area is the habitat of Siberian tigers. As the largest carnivorous cat in China, male Siberian tigers can reach 2.8 meters in length and 350 kilograms in weight, and are named because the black horizontal stripes on their foreheads are like the character "王" (king); the "White Tiger Territory" is home to albino Bengal tigers, with their eyes mostly blue or amber, pink noses, cream-colored fur, and black, gray or chocolate stripes, which are very unique; the "Grassland Overlord" area is inhabited by African lions, which live in groups with clear division of labor between males and females. Lionesses are mainly responsible for hunting, and male lions are mainly responsible for patrolling the territory. In the walking area, there are also lions "Jinjin" and "Feifei" donated by Zimbabwe; in the "Most Beautiful Flash" area, on the African tropical and semi-desert grasslands, there is a large group of cheetahs in China. They are fast and have iconic spotted patterns; the "Malayan Bear Kingdom" is home to the smallest existing bear - the Malayan bear, which has a "U" - shaped pattern on its neck, is afraid of cold but does not hibernate, and has a curious, playful and somewhat ferocious personality.
Walking Area
The walking area has 39 exhibition areas. Tourists can directly enter to interact with or watch gentle animals at close range. The "Flamingo Exhibition Area" is located near the main gate, where about 200 flamingos live. With their slender necks, legs and pink feathers, they become the "welcome birds" of the park, which are highly ornamental; the "Giant Panda Hall" is a popular attraction in the walking area. In 2010, 10 giant pandas arrived, forming the world's largest group of giant pandas on display at that time together with the original 4 giant pandas in the park. The venue covers an area of 10,000 square meters, including 3,000 square meters of exhibition area, providing a comfortable living environment for giant pandas; the "Crane Wetland" is built along the Swan Lake, surrounded by water, where there are red-crowned cranes, white-naped cranes, white storks and other cranes and storks. The call of red-crowned cranes can spread about 1.5 kilometers, showing elegance; the "Penguin Hall" is home to Magellanic penguins from South America, and tourists can watch them playing flexibly in the water; the "Crocodile Island" is the home of the Chinese national first-class protected animal, the Yangtze alligator. They are more active from May to September every year and hibernate from December to March of the next year; the "Golden Takin Hall" is inhabited by the golden takin, a national treasure-level endangered wild animal in China. This super-large wild sheep belonging to the subfamily Caprinae of the Bovidae family is a cold - zone antelope. The venue is specially equipped with corresponding facilities according to its climbing habits; the "Golden Monkey Island" adopts a combination of ecological exhibition areas and "semi-free-range" areas, where golden monkeys live in groups. Among them, the Sichuan golden monkey is known as the "Monkey King". Tourists can observe their natural population structure and living habits.
Walking Area
The walking area is a place where tourists can stroll and watch freely. In addition to the above-mentioned Giant Panda Hall and Flamingo Exhibition Area, there are many other characteristic scenic spots. There are a variety of animals here, and the layout is scattered, allowing tourists to visit easily. In different exhibition areas, tourists can observe the living conditions of various animals at close range and learn about their habits. For example, in the walking area of the Lion and Tiger Mountain, you can see the lions "Jinjin" and "Feifei" donated by Zimbabwe, feeling the majesty of African lions; in the primate exhibition area, you can watch the lively figures of various monkeys, and their agile postures bring a lot of fun to tourists. The walking area is also equipped with popular science explanation boards, introducing to tourists the classification, habits, protection status and other knowledge of animals, which is both entertaining and educational.
Water Exploration Area
The Water Exploration Area consists of 21 exhibition zones, mainly featuring grassland animals and waterfowl. As the largest exhibition area in the park, it allows visitors to tour by boat and enjoy animals from a water perspective. The "Alpaca" zone is the first stop of the Water Exploration Area, where a group of alpacas live. Belonging to the Artiodactyla Camelidae family, they are covered with thick fur, look like sheep, and have a docile and cute personality, which makes them very popular among visitors. The "Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros" zone covers an area of about 7,000 square meters and is home to the greater one-horned rhinoceros (also known as the Indian rhinoceros). There are only 2,500 of this rhinoceros species left in the world. As the largest one-horned rhinoceros in the world, it can run at a speed of up to 55 kilometers per hour. The "White Kangaroo" zone houses over 10 rare white kangaroos, with a global population of only more than 1,000. Kangaroos are gentle in nature and are used to jumping forward with their hind legs at a speed of up to 60 kilometers per hour. Visitors can watch these unique animals up close by boat.
Food
Tiger Restaurant
Tiger Restaurant is located on the bank of Swan Lake, with a strong Southeast Asian style. Through the glass window, you can see the activities of Siberian tigers. There are also many tiger behavior shows every day. You can taste beast - shaped rice balls, tiger - pattern cakes and so on.
Cheetah Cafe
Cheetah Cafe is full of African style. The restaurant is decorated with African elements such as cheetahs, African elephants and giraffes. In the outdoor dining area, you can enjoy the elegant cheetahs at close range.
Giraffe Restaurant
Giraffe Restaurant is located opposite the Baishou Mountain Square, covering an area of 600 square meters, which can accommodate 500 people for dining at the same time. It mainly operates Chinese fast food, noodles, snacks and various local snacks.
Monkey Pizza
Monkey Pizza is located near the Monkey World, with an excellent geographical location. Tourists can enjoy delicious pizza while watching the monkeys jumping and playing freely in the exhibition area, feeling the liveliness and agility of the monkeys. In addition, tourists can also go to the nearby ape - watching platform to watch the orangutans perform the "ape - sky walk" stunt, making the dining process full of fun and surprises.
Panda Cafe
Panda Cafe is themed on pandas, with a warm and lovely environment. The cafe provides freshly baked steak and other delicacies. The steak ingredients are from the Inner Mongolia grassland, which are tender, juicy and full in portion, and are loved by tourists. In addition, the best - selling turkey legs are also one of the features here, which can provide sufficient energy for tourists and keep them energetic during the tour.
Surrounding Food
In addition to the catering places in the park, there are many food choices around Shanghai Wild Animal Park. Because it is located in Pudong New Area, there are many local characteristic restaurants around. Tourists can taste authentic Shanghai local dishes, such as braised pork in brown sauce, steamed fish, etc., which are mellow in taste and reflect the delicacy and freshness of Shanghai cuisine. In addition, there are some farm - style restaurants that provide fresh vegetables and locally raised poultry. The dishes are home - style and delicious, with reasonable prices, suitable for visiting after the tour.
Tickets
The ticket price is 165 yuan per person.
You can search for the official public account "上海野生动物园" on WeChat to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours will be adjusted according to seasons and holidays. From January to June, on weekdays in September (non - weekends and holidays), and from October 9 to November 30, the opening hours on weekdays are 9:00 - 17:00, and on weekends and holidays are 8:30 - 18:00; from July to August, on weekends in September, and from October 1 to October 8, the opening hours on weekdays are 9:00 - 21:30, and on weekends and holidays are 8:30 - 21:30; in December, the opening hours are 9:00 - 16:30. Tourists should note that the park will stop admitting visitors at an appropriate time before closing. It is recommended to plan the itinerary in advance and arrange the visiting time reasonably.
Tour Route
It is recommended that tourists visit Shanghai Wild Animal Park in the order of "drive-through area - walking area - water exploration area". First, after entering the park, take a free bus or a paid feeding vehicle to visit the drive-through area, passing through Wonderful Asia, King of the Forest, White Tiger Territory, Grassland Overlord, Most Beautiful Flash, Malayan Bear Kingdom and other exhibition areas in turn, experiencing the unique feeling of walking among wild animals. This part of the tour takes about 1 - 1.5 hours.
After visiting the drive-through area, enter the walking area, starting from the Flamingo Exhibition Area near the main gate, and visit the Giant Panda Hall, Crane Wetland, Penguin Hall, Crocodile Island, Golden Takin Hall, Golden Monkey Island and other exhibition areas in turn. Along the way, you can also watch other animals and feel the charm of different animals. It is recommended to spend 3 - 4 hours in the walking area.
Finally, go to the water exploration area and take a boat to watch alpacas, greater one-horned rhinoceroses, white kangaroos and other animals, enjoying the animal world from a water perspective. This part of the tour takes about 1 hour. If time permits, you can also experience the Ferris wheel, roller coaster and other amusement projects in the park, and watch animal performances (please pay attention to the specific performance time). The whole tour route is about 8 - 10 kilometers, and it is recommended to arrange 6 - 8 hours in total to fully experience all the scenic spots in the park.
Transportation
- Metro: Take Metro Line 16 to Wild Animal Park Station, get out from Exit 2, walk 99 meters to take a taxi to the park, or walk about 1.5 kilometers directly to the entrance of the scenic spot.
- Bus: You can take Pudong No. 70, Nanxin Special Line, Zhangnan Special Line and other bus lines, get off at Wild Animal Park Station, and walk to the park.
- Self-driving: Starting from the center of Shanghai, you can go via Outer Ring Expressway, Hulu Expressway and other roads. The park has a parking lot. The parking fee is 30 yuan per time for small cars and 40 yuan per time for large buses, free within 20 minutes.
- Taxi/Online Car-hailing: You can directly take a taxi or online car-hailing from various places in Shanghai to the park. The cost varies according to the departure place, about 100 - 150 yuan from the city center.
Must-visit Attractions
- Giant Panda Hall: It is home to China's first-class protected animal, the giant panda. In 2010, it once formed the world's largest group of giant pandas on display. The venue covers an area of 10,000 square meters, including 3,000 square meters of exhibition area, which is an excellent place to watch the national treasure giant pandas.
- Drive-through Area: Covering an area of about 55 hectares, it is the essence experience project of the park. It adopts a free-range display. Tourists can take a sightseeing bus to walk among Siberian tigers, African lions, cheetahs and other wild animals, feeling the unique wild charm.
- Flamingo Exhibition Area: Located near the main gate, there are about 200 flamingos. With long necks, long legs and pink feathers, they have elegant postures and are one of the iconic landscapes of Shanghai Wild Animal Park, known as "welcome birds".
- Water Exploration Area: It has 21 exhibition areas, which is the largest exhibition area in the park, mainly grassland animals and waterfowl animals. Tourists can take a boat to watch alpacas, greater one-horned rhinoceroses, white kangaroos and other rare animals, experiencing the fun of watching animals on the water.
Tour Suggestions
- Check the animal performance time, feeding time and other information in advance through the official website or public account of the park, arrange the itinerary reasonably, and avoid missing wonderful contents.
- If you want to experience feeding animals, you can prepare an appropriate amount of cash. The fee for the feeding vehicle in the drive-through area is 40 yuan per person, the fee for feeding elephants in the walking area is 20 yuan per time, and the fee for feeding zebras is 20 yuan per time. The specific fee is subject to the on-site charge of the park.
- When visiting in summer, it is necessary to take sun protection and heatstroke prevention measures, and carry sunscreen, sun hat, drinking water, etc. The park covers a large area, so it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes for long - time walking.
- It is recommended to bring some snacks and drinking water by yourself. The catering price in the park is relatively high. At the same time, pay attention to keeping the park environment clean and hygienic, and do not litter.
- There are many tourists on weekends and holidays. If you want to avoid the peak crowd, you can choose to go on weekdays to get a more comfortable visiting experience.
Matters Needing Attention
- When taking the sightseeing bus in the drive-through area, be sure to abide by the regulations. Do not open the window or stretch your hands, head and other body parts out of the window to avoid danger.
- Do not feed the animals in the park at will. If you need to feed them, use the food designated by the park and do so in the designated area under the guidance of the staff to avoid harming the animals due to improper feeding.
- When visiting the walking area, abide by the park regulations. Do not climb over fences or enter animal activity areas without permission, and keep a safe distance from the animals.
- Take good care of your personal belongings, especially in crowded areas, to prevent loss; keep your tickets with you for inspection by the park.
- Take good care of the park environment. Do not spit, litter, damage park facilities or vegetation, and work together to maintain the cleanliness and beauty of the park.
- In case of sudden weather changes or physical discomfort, seek help from park staff in a timely manner. The park is equipped with medical rooms and other service facilities.