There are many natural reserves spread over Shanghai to allow citizens to re-establish their connection with mother earth. But the Shanghai Wild Animal park lets people really understand the wild side of nature with animals from far and wide kept in environments simulated as closely to their actual habitat as possible. It is a big boon for wildlife lovers and an exciting adventure for kids to be able to see big game outside of the virtual world.
Occupying an area as big as 378 acres, the Wild Animal Park is located in the suburban Sanzao town within the distant reaches of Pudong New Area. There is a distance of 35kms from downtown Shanghai. Hopping off at Wild Animal Park station on line 13, visitors will need to take a bus or the dedicated shuttle to reach the zoo. The timings for the blazing hot July and August months are 08:00 to 18:00. The heat is oppressive and even the animals are in low spirits. From March to November (excluding the 2 super hot months) timings are from 08:00 to 17:00. Winter timings (December to February) are 08:30 to 16:30. Admission is RMB130 with special discount for the elderly over 60 (RMB117), over 65 (RMB65) and kids aged 6-18 (RMB65). Kids under 6 years or 4 feet go free. Passport is required from tourists. Certain activities around the park are charged like animal feeding, the circus, etc. It is best to go earlier in the day to avoid crowds, catch animals at their most active and beat the heat.
The park offers visitors options to take the caged or glass window bus for the safari ride through the open part of the zoo. Caged is better since it gets closer to animals but the thrill of seeing wild beasts with nothing in between but glass is more adventurous. There are 5 parts of the Wild Animal Park.
The Animal Performing Hall or the circus is where visitors will find the staple performance animals ranging from big cats to monkeys, elephants, bears, etc. They put on an exciting show and seem to be nurtured and well-trained by their handlers. The racing course on the venue is used for racing camels, horses, dogs and even ostriches daily at 11:00. All in good fun with a hilarious commentator and just a dash of competitiveness.
In the open safari grounds’ there is an area for the harmless Herbivores, where guests will witness giraffes and hippos. The area for Wild Beasts is much more fascinating though, with the likes of lions, tigers and bears roaming free while the humans are confined!
Certain animals are confined to the Penned Animals enclosure and include crocodiles with their island, lazy giant pandas, kangaroos, parrots, monkeys, white lions and tigers and the biggest bird of them all; the ostrich.
The last area is the Other Animals zone with an incubation center, flamingos, waterfowls and the like.
Facilities like toilets and eateries are well maintained and make for a smooth visit.