Shanghai Zoo 上海动物园

About Shanghai Zoo

Its animal areas are set within a landscaped park of mature trees, lawns and water.

Swan Lake gives the grounds an open-water focus, while the aviary and other animal sections provide a different kind of observation. Plan around the zoo’s current map and animal-care schedule, since the presence of a species in an older collection list does not guarantee a sighting. The lake and planted grounds also make useful pauses between the more concentrated exhibit areas.

The site was first developed as livery stables in 1890. In 1914 the stables were bought by a consortium of merchants, and in 1916 the site was converted into the Hung-Jao Golf Club, one of Shanghai's largest golf clubs. The property was taken over by the new government in 1953, and in 1954 the former golf course opened to the public as Xijiao Park (西郊公园). A series of animal enclosures was built in 1959, and the park was renamed Shanghai Zoological Park in 1980. A Ferris wheel built in 1992 remained in operation until it was decommissioned in 2024.

The zoo covers 743,000 square meters, with 47,237 square meters of animal exhibition buildings, and holds more than 620 species and over 7,000 animals, including animals native to China such as the giant panda, golden monkey, green peafowl and South China tiger, together with animals from elsewhere such as the African chimpanzee, giraffe, Australian kangaroo and Antarctic penguin. Extensive planting was added to create a suitable environment for the animals, with a green area of 498,200 square meters, a 100,000-square-meter lawn and more than 600 tree species.

What to look for

• Swan Lake creates a waterside setting within the zoo grounds.
• The aviary and landscaped animal areas combine wildlife observation with a substantial public garden.

Location & getting there

Getting to Shanghai Zoo

Approach the zoo entrance at 2381 Hongqiao Road in Changning. Use the current zoo visitor map to choose the route through the grounds.