Chongqing Zoo

Situated in the western Chongqing district of Jiulongpo, in Yangjiapang, the Chongqing Zoo was built in 1955, so it has a lot of history behind its operation, although not the biggest of the Chinese zoos (not the smallest either), with more than 200 different species of animals and ten times as much animals in totality.

The 200-plus diverse collection of animal types housed at the Chongqing Zoo have about 60 hectares of land on which to roam, of which more than 4 500 of those belonging to groups of precious and rare wild animals, which is essentially what makes this particular zoo so popular that more than a million visitors walk through its gates each year.

The Chongqing Zoo makes for a focal point of a very natural-looking environment, since it is surrounded by a selection of beautiful mountains, so the experience is just about as close to nature as one can get.

While the natural attractions of the Chongqing Zoo exist in the form of the animals that are housed in the zoo, they also take the form of restaurants, rollerblade fields and children's tracts, so if the need arises, a little deviation from viewing the animals does not equate to losing any of the entertainment values offered.

The pandas are a must see and generally make for the major attraction for those who make the visit to Chongqing Zoo, housed over at a specially designated Panda Ground, which is located at the foot of a nearby hill and pierced by a small stream.

While the native giant panda is the main attraction to look out for, there are a number of other pandas to see, with visitors having the luxury of the option to play with some of the pandas and even take pictures, but this should always be done under the supervision of the zoo-keeper in attendance and it is generally advisable to get there quite early when the queues to engage in such activities aren't all that long.

You can get to the Chongqing Zoo by either taking one of two the electric busses, namely Bus No. 403 and Bus No. 404, or you can take the regular passenger busses, with Bus No. 412, 413, 416, 419, 223, 226 and Bus No. 310 making up the seven options.

Operating Time: 08:00 - 17:00

Although there is a whole eight hours to enjoy the natural treasures of the zoo, it is recommended that about two hours be set aside for the trip, as this will give you ample time to enjoy extended periods at focal points, like at the Panda House.

Entrance Fees: 20 Yuan