Beijing Zoo is the earliest zoo opened in China and a zoo with the largest variety of rare animals and species. It was handed over to several hands and served for different purposes since the late Qing dynasty. Eventually, it became the zoo we see today, rich in history, beautiful in the landscape, and abundance in species.
Quick Facts about Beijing Zoo
Name: Beijing Zoo (北京动物园)
Area: 96 hectares 
Location: outside of Xizhimen, West District, Beijing
Animals: giant panda, golden monkey, gibbon, Manchurian tiger, gorilla, kangaroo, leopard, Mexican manatee, ant bear, American bison, sloth, white lion, African elephant, etc.
Number of Species: 450 kinds of animals and over 500 kinds of fish and sea animals
Entrance ticket: 15 RMB (April - October); 10 RMB (November - March);
19 RMB (with Panda house included, April - October); 14 RMB (with panda House included, November - March)
Sightseeing car: 10RMB
Opening Hours: 7:30 - 18:00 (April - October); 7:30 - 17:00 (November - March)
History of Beijing Zoo
Beijing Zoo was an imperial manor in the Ming Dynasty. During the early Qing Dynasty, the place became the residence of Fukangan, nephew of Emperor Qianlong. In 1906, 
Dowager Cixi ordered some animals to be collected and bred here. Two years later, the first zoo in Chinese history, Ten-Thousand-Animal Garden, was open. After the Anti-Japanese War broke out, the zoo became the warehouse and outdoor bathing place for Japanese soldiers. Until 1955, it was fully restored and renamed as Beijing Zoo. Nowadays, Beijing Zoo became a large-scale city zoo with 466 animal species, among which 42 species are wildlife under first-class protection, and 48 species belong to the Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Highlights of Beijing Zoo
Panda House 
Panda House is an architecture of 1452 sq meters shaped like bamboo. There are three public exhibition rooms where you can see the isolation room, treatment room, feed room, green bamboo storage room, delivery room, etc. Outside the building, you can see pandas playing on trees and wooden facilities.
Penguin Parade Enclosure
It houses six Humboldt penguins, a kind of endangered animal originated from Peru. Four air conditioners were equipped to ensure an average indoor temperature of 20 degrees to make the little guests comfortable. 
Aquarium
Located on the northeastern side of the Beijing Zoo, the Aquarium is composed of six separate halls, namely, the Rainforest Wonders, Touch Pool, Undersea Voyage, Shark Encounter, Whales Bay, and Ocean Theater. Here, you can closely observe the different sea animals and a deeper understanding of the relationship between humans and sea. There are, of course, numerous fish, including the ornamental fish. Besides, dolphin, whale, and sea lion performances are available.
Lion and Tiger Hill 
Built in 1956, the Lion and Tiger Hill is one of the symbolic buildings of Beijing Zoo. It used to be the perfect spot for photographing. You will find the building a mysterious cave. Even the corridors connecting the outdoor place and the indoor houses are in cave shape, which not only prevents the strong wind in winter but offers a great visual effect. You will find African lions, white lions, Manchurian tigers and Bengal white tigers here. In old times, the breeders often throw live chickens to the house to maintain these animals' ferity.
Bear Hill 
Situated in the northeastern corner of Beijing Zoo, the Bear Hill was built in 1952. It has two sunken open-air enclosures for black and white bears. The Black Bear Hill is located on the western side and houses mostly brown bears and black bears. The construction of the White Bear Hill was completed in 2012. In addition, there is a special place arranged for Polar Bear.
Monkey Hill
Monkey Hill is the oldest enclosure in Beijing Zoo and the only one built in 1949. It has two artificial hills piled with stones in the center and recreation facilities of ladders and the tiles. There is also an oval wall that serves as the shelter for monkeys.
House of Amphibians and Reptiles 
The House of Amphibians and Reptiles is one of the finest houses in Beijing Zoo. It has two floors, and only the upper level is available for the visit. There are over 90 exhibition halls, of which the building for Chinese alligators is the biggest, while the room for snakes is the smallest. There are also turtles, boas, and frogs here.
Kids’ Zoo
The Kid’s Zoo has many miniature houses for small animals, like camels, sheep, goats, rabbits, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, macaques, and birds. Your kids can feed the animals and get close contact with these animals.
How to get to Beijing Zoo?
Subway is the best way to get to the zoo. The combination of metro line 4 Daxing Line with metro Line 1 or Line 2 Inner Ring can take you right to the gate of the Beijing Zoo. If you are taking the Metro Line 1, you need to transit to Line 4 Daxing Line at the Xidan Station. If you are taking the Metro Line 2 Inner Ring, you need to transit to Line 4 Daxing Line at the Xuanwumen Station. Then, you just need to get off the Line 4 at the Northeast Exit B of the Dongwuyuan Station.
Beijing Zoo Travel Tip
1. Keep your children at a safe distance from the Bear Hill and Lion and Tiger Hill.
2. Don't throw food to animals; you may hurt them.
3. Don't shout or tap the glass if the animals are asleep.
4. Don't use flash during photo shooting.
5. Bring fresh vegetables if you want to feed the animals in the Kids' Zoo.
