Shanghai Wild Animal Park

Shanghai Wild Animal Park (上海野生动物园, Shànghǎi Yěshēng Dòngwùyuán) is a safari park and zoo in Xuanqiao Town, in southern Pudong, about 35 kilometres from the city centre. It opened on 18 November 1995 as China’s first national-level wild animal park, built jointly by the Shanghai government and the State Forestry Administration at a cost of 300 million yuan. It covers 153 hectares and is a full day out.

It holds China’s top tourist rating. It was among the first sites in China to be rated 4A and was approved as a national 5A tourist attraction on 8 May 2007. Chinese Wikipedia counts more than 200 species and over 10,000 animals. Some were brought from abroad, such as giraffes, zebras, antelopes and white rhinoceros; others are Chinese first-class protected species, among them the giant panda, the golden snub-nosed monkey and the golden takin.

The visit has two halves. In the drive-through section, animals including zebras, antelopes, wildebeest, rhinoceros, cheetahs, Amur tigers, African lions, bears and wolves roam in large enclosures, and visitors ride through in vehicles: either a free enclosed bus or a paid open vehicle from which animals can be fed. The walking section is a more conventional zoo, with giant pandas, African and Asian elephants, giraffes, chimpanzees, gibbons, lemurs, flamingos and crested ibis. Shows include a sea-lion show and a Russian circus that costs extra.

Stay in the vehicle in the drive-through area. On 17 October 2020 a park employee was killed by bears there, and the section was closed for a time afterwards.

Since 8 August 2019 the park has also run a night safari, described when it opened as the first of its kind in China. Dates and times vary, so check before you plan an evening visit.

Getting there: Wild Animal Park station on Metro Line 16 is about 2 kilometres from the main gate, so allow for a bus or taxi for the last stretch. Hours and ticket prices change by season; use the official Shanghai Wild Animal Park site. The map pin is approximate: Wikidata and Chinese Wikipedia put the park about 1.6 kilometres apart, both inside its large site.