Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium (上海海洋水族馆, Shànghǎi Hǎiyáng Shuǐzúguǎn) is a large public aquarium in Lujiazui, Pudong, just east of the Oriental Pearl Tower. It suits a half-day indoor stop, especially with children or in bad weather, and its long underwater tunnel is the main draw.

It opened in February 2002. Wikipedia reports a site of 20,500 square metres, with about 12,000 square metres given over to exhibits, and more than 450 species. The largest tank holds 2,200 cubic metres and all tanks together 4,900 cubic metres. Chinese Wikipedia warns that these numbers come from references archived in 2012, so treat them as approximate. About one million people visit each year.

The displays are organised by region. Chinese Wikipedia names nine zones: China, South America, Australia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Cold Water, Antarctica, Coast and Deep Sea. English Wikipedia lists only three of them explicitly (China, South America and Africa), with others implied. The China zone is where you see species from Chinese waters, among them the Chinese sturgeon and the Chinese giant salamander; the English article also lists the Chinese alligator there.

The tunnel runs under the main tank so that fish and sharks pass overhead and to either side. English Wikipedia gives its length as 168 metres and describes it as passing a coastal reef, open ocean, kelp cave, shark cove and coral reef. Chinese Wikipedia does not state a length, so the figure rests on one source. Other animals in the English list include the electric eel, sand tiger shark, zebra shark, Humboldt and Magellanic penguins, the leafy sea dragon, the spotted seal and the green sea turtle. That list is marked as incomplete, and exhibits change over time.

Chinese Wikipedia says the aquarium is about 200 metres on foot from Lujiazui station on Metro Line 2. Ticketing sites give the street address as 1388 Lujiazui Ring Road (陆家嘴环路1388号); show that to a taxi driver if you need to.

For opening hours and prices, sources do not agree. Chinese Wikipedia lists 9:00 to 18:00 with later closing in July, August and major holidays, and an adult ticket of 160 yuan, but ticketing platforms quote different prices, and we could not load the official site. Check current hours and prices with the aquarium before you go.