The Shanghai Zoo welcomes you to a friendly world of wildlife

You’re bored. You have nothing scheduled for the day, and you ask your friends if they want to go out. They say sure, but where to? You don’t have the money, so you can’t go shopping. You’ve been to Tianzifang, the aquarium, and the Bund. Here’s a suggestion: the Shanghai Zoo. If you’ve been living here for a while, chances are, you’ve been there when you were younger. But, memories fade and zoos renovate, so here’s an easy guide to this destination that’s friend, couple, and family-friendly.

To save money, take the subway. The Shanghai Zoo station is on line 10, just one station away from Hongqiao Airport terminal one. Though be aware: if you live near the school, it’ll take you a while. Take line 2 from Guanglan Road to Nanjingdong Road, and switch to line 10. It’ll take you about 1 hour to get there. Make sure you take the “Hongqiao Railway Station” way and not the “Hangzhong road” way. You can check this from the little screens in front of the subway waiting area. Once you’re there, go out of exit 1 to get to the ticket booth. An adult ticket is only 40 kuai, and if you happen to not have cash with you, go on 大众点评 (DaZhongDianPing) and buy tickets for a 2 RMB discount with Wechat, Alipay, or Credit Card. Once the tickets are in your hands, you’re free to enter the zoo. The recommended time to stay at the park would be about 2 to 3 hours. Though the park provides golf carts that take you around the park, if you are able, it is recommended that you walk the path. This way, you could more easily stop at/skip certain animal areas based on your preferences. A few animals you may be able to see are baboons, pandas, flamingos, parrots, bears, tigers, and so on. Keep in mind that the tigers usually go to sleep at around 11:30 am so if you would like to see them, arrive earlier! On your way back home, stop by Xujiahui and grab a bite as a reward for all the walking in the zoo.

If you’re looking for a more “wild” experience with animals, you can also check out the Shanghai Wild Zoo. However, there are a few pros and cons to it. Though the Shanghai Wild Zoo is larger and provides more interactive opportunities (since it’s a more safari-style park), the ticket is much more expensive—priced at 120 for the normal ticket and 140 with the feeding bus (on DaZhongDianPing). It is also much harder to get to, since there is no subway station right next to it like the Shanghai Zoo. The address is 178 NanLiuGong Road, about a 35-40 minute drive away from school without traffic.

No matter which you choose, a zoo might be a good choice for an outing on a free day.

Featured Image – Parrots welcome visitors of the zoo Courtesy of Andy Dou