China Exploration
  • China Exploration
  • 86-28-86270775
  • info@chinaexploration.com
  • Tour Code Search
  • HOME
  • China Tours
    • Top 10 China Tours
    • Classic China Tours
    • Yangtze Cruise Tour

        Yangtze Cruise Routes

        Yangtze Cruise Calendar

    • Join-in Group Tours
    • Short Stay Tours

        144 hours VISA free tours

        Less than 7 days tours

    • Family Tours
  • Adventure Tours
    • Overland Off-road Tours
    • Culture & Folklore Tours
    • Wildlife Exploration Tours
    • Trekking & Hiking Tours
    • Eco-Tour
    • M.I.C.E. & Event
    • School and Education Tours
  • DESTINATIONS
      BeijingBeihaiChengduChongqingChangshaChaozhouDaliDalianDunhuangDatongEnshiFuzhouGuilinGuiyangGuangzhouHaerbinHangzhouHohhotHulun BuirHongKongHuangshanJilinJiangxiJinanJinggangshanJiuzhaigouKashgarKaifengKailiKunmingLanzhouLijiangLuoyangNanchangNanjingPutuoshanPingyaoQinghaiQingdaoQinhuangdaoSanyaShanghaiShenyangShandongSuzhouShenzhenShangrilaTibetTianshuiTianjinTaiyuanUrumqiWuyishanWutaishanWudangshanWuhanXiamenXishuangbannaXi'anXiningXinjiangXingyiYinchuanYichangYunnanZhangjiajieZhanjiangZhangye Explore All Destinations>>
  • Customized your trip
  • TRAVEL GUIDE
    • Travel to China
    • China Visa and Permit
    • Chinese Attractions
    • Chinese Culture
    • China Nature Reserve
    • China City Guide
    • China Maps
    • China Travel News
    • Hotel Booking
    • FAQS
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Team
    • Our Glory
    • Olympic Torch Bearer
    • Feedback
    • Photo Album
    • Travel Story
    • Travel Video
    • Teams and Condition
    • Insurance Policy
    • Site Map
  • China Tours
  • Top 10 China Tours
  • Classic China Tours
  • Join-in Group Tours
  • Short Stay Tours
  • Family Tours
  • Adventure Tours
  • Overland Off-road Tours
  • Culture & Folklore Tours
  • Wildlife Exploration Tours
  • Trekking & Hiking Tours
  • Eco-Tour
  • M.I.C.E. & Event
  • School and Education Tours
  • Honeymoon Tour
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Beijing Tours
  • Beihai Tours
  • Chengdu Tours
  • Chongqing Tours
  • Changsha Tours
  • Chaozhou Tours
  • Dali Tours
  • Dalian Tours
  • Dunhuang Tours
  • Datong Tours
  • Enshi Tours
  • Fuzhou Tours
  • Guilin Tours
  • Guiyang Tours
  • Guangzhou Tours
  • Haerbin Tours
  • Hangzhou Tours
  • Hohhot Tours
  • Hulun Buir Tours
  • HongKong Tours
  • TRAVEL GUIDE
  • Travel to China
  • China Visa and Permit
  • Chinese Attractions
  • Chinese Culture
  • China Nature Reserve
  • China City Guide
  • China Maps
  • China Travel News
  • Hotel Booking
  • FAQS
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Our Glory
  • Olympic Torch Bearer
  • Feedback
  • Photo Album
  • Travel Story
  • Travel Video
  • Terms And Condition
  • Insurance Policy
  • sitemap
Home > TRAVEL GUIDE > China Attractions > Beijing Attractions
Beijing Zoo
Beijing ZooBeijing Zoo, situated to the west of Beijing Exhibition Center, was known for a short time after the founding of the People's Republic as the Western Suburbs Park (Xijiao Gongyuan). The grounds combine cultivated flower gardens with stretches of natural scenery, including dense groves of trees, stretches of grassland, a small stream, lotus pools and small hills dotted with pavilions and halls. 

In the 18th century, the zoo was known as the Sanbeizi Gardens, supposedly named after the third son of Emperor Kangxi, Prince Cheng Yin. Another explanation is that Sanbeizi refereed to the Qing courtier Fu Kang' an and the Gardens the site of his villa. In fact, as early as the Ming Dynasty, an imperial mansion called the Garden of Happiness and Friendship constructed for Prince Kang stood here, and during the Qing, part of the Sanbeizi Gardens called the Garden of Continuity (Jiyuan) became the private property of an official in the Bureau of Palace Affairs. 

In 1906, during the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the park area became an agricultural experimental farm and a zoo. Known as the Garden of Ten Thousand Animals (Wanshengyuan), it opened to the public in 1908. 

Under the successive rule of the Northern Warlords, the Japanese and the Kuomintang, the park became increasingly desolate. The only elephant died in 1937, and the Japanese, under the pretext of protecting themselves against air raids, poisoned the remaining lions, tigers and leopards. On the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the park housed only 12 monkeys, two parrots and a blind emu. The park was reopened to the public in 1950, and on April 10, 1955 formally named the Beijing Zoo. 

Beijing ZooThe zoo has developed rapidly and by 1987 it covered an area of over 40,000 square meters. Bears, elephants, pandas, lions, tigers, songbirds, hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, antelopes and giraffes were brought in the late 1950s, and a gorilla cage, leaf-monkey cage and aquarium house, was opened, containing specimens of over 100 species of reptiles from all over the world, including crocodiles and pythons. 

At present, the zoo houses over 7,000 creatures of 600 different species, including the giant panda, red-crowned crane and Pere David's deer-all unique to China-as well as the African giraffe, rhinoceros, chimpanzee and antelope; American continent; wild ox from Europe; and elephant and gibbon from India. 

More Attractions

  • The Forbidden City
    The Forbidden City
    As one of the top tour attractions in Beijing, the Forbidden City used to be the imperial p......
  • Quanjude Roast Duck in Beijing
    Quanjude Roast Duck in Beijing
    With its long history, Quanjude roast duck in Beijing enjoys a high reputation among domest......
  • Tiananmen Square
    Tiananmen Square
    Tiananmen Square on the north to south axis is at the center of Beijing city as one of the ......
  • Beijing Hutong
    Beijing Hutong
    Beijing hutong is an ancient city alley or lane typical in the city, where hutongs run into......

Recommended Tours

Mt. Wudangshan Off-beaten Track Tour in Hubei

It is overland tour to Mt. Wudangshan in Hubei province from Xian. Hubei province is located in mid China connecting many provinces in China by convenient transportation of railway, cruise, and flights......

8 Days New Sichuan Tours of Jiuzhaigou,Leshan, Emeishan, Dujiangyan and Chengdu

Classic Sichuan tours cover all of the highlights of Sichuan from culture to nature, including classic Chengdu tours, Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong bullet train tours, Emeishan Mountain and Leshan Giant Bud......

The Most Beautiful Sichuan Plateau Tours

Tours to the most beautiful Sichuan Plateau on Tibetan plateau of Western Sichuan, including Kham Tibetan of Ganzi prefecture and Amduo Tibetans of Nagwa prefecture with all highlights as Jiuzhaigou, D......

3 Days Jiuzhaigou Valley Train Tours

Classic three days Jiuzhaigou tours of bullet train riding, save budget from Jiuzhaigou air tours, easier and comfortable than traditional bus tours. ......

Jiuzhaigou Private Tours By Train/Air/Car

Provide private tours to Jiuzhaigou valley for tourist both by flights or overland bus tours, and just tell your need, and we will tailor-made a private package for your tour to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglon......

2 Days Leshan Giant Buddha and Emei Mountain Tours

Classic two days tours to west Chengdu, where Leshan Giant Buddha and Mt Emeishan are both world class top tour destinations, and also visit a local old town. ......

Popular China Packages
  • Top 10 China Tours
  • Yangtze Cruise Tours
  • China Short Trips
  • Tibet Tours
  • Sichuan Tours
  • Yunnan Tour
  • Guilin Tour
  • Xiamen Tours
Adventure Tours
  • Overland Off-road Tours
  • Culture & Folklore Tours
  • Wildlife Exploration Tours
  • Trekking & Hiking Tours
  • Eco-Tour
  • M.I.C.E. & Event
  • School and Education Tours
  • Honeymoon Tour
China Travel Guide
  • Travel to China
  • China Visa and Permit
  • China Attractions
  • Chinese culture
  • China Nature Reserves
  • City Guide
  • China Maps
  • China Travel News
  • FAQS
Follow Us
Keep me updated
  • Stay up-to-date with the latest news direct to your inbox.

Address: 35th, Yangguang Business Center, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, Zip610065, China
About us | Contact us | Teams and Condition | Customer Center | Site Map
TEL: 028-86270775 E-mail: info@chinaexploration.com
Working hours:9:00AM-6:00PM(GMT+8)),Copyright(2003-2026) 蜀ICP05000963号 China Exploration Tour

  • Email: info@chinaexploration.com
  • Telephone: 86-28-86270775