A 10-day trip through Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang

Day 7

Shanghai Wild Animal Park, Shanghai

Shanghai Wild Animal Park (SWAP), in Pudong New Area about 35 kilometers from downtown, is the largest national level wild animal zoo in China. On 153 hectares, the zoo is home to 10,000 exotic animals from more than 200 species, most of which are rare wildlife, including giant pandas, snub-nosed monkeys, takins, crested ibis, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, white rhinos and cheetahs.

The park consists of a drive-through area, a pedestrian area, a flamingo yard, a scatter-feed area, a rare animal reservation zone, a bird park, a butterfly garden and a panda pavilion.

In the drive-through area, animals live in their nature habitats while visitors observe from a bus. Herds of zebras, antelopes, wildebeests and rhinoceros graze near the bus. Visitors may even get to witness alpha males cheetahs, Manchurian tigers and African lions leading savage attacks.

In the pedestrian area, visitors can interact closely with rare animals such as giant pandas, elephants, giraffes, chimpanzees, gibbons, lemurs, flamingos and crested ibis, and enjoy various surprising encounters and feeding activities.

Most of the specially themed animal shows, such as Animal Welcome Parade and Sea Lion Show, are regularly staged free of charge. Detailed show arrangements vary with conditions and are subject to on-air notice in the park.

Dining, amusement, shopping and fast pass services are also available in the multifunction recreation spot, which was officially opened in November 1995 as the first park of its type in China.