Cute bears and lil' fishies
Beijing ZooThe best parts of the Beijing Zoo are the panda bears, a gigantic statue of a lioness and the Beijing Aquarium. The zoo has lots of animals, to be sure, but most people come here to see the panda bears, which have come to symbolize China. The zoo has two panda houses where you can watch them playing on their big toys or napping in the shade. The newer panda house also has a gift shop; the second floor provides views overlooking the pandas' outdoor play area.
After seeing the pandas make your way to the world’s largest inland aquarium in the northwest corner of the zoo. On the way you’ll pass by a statue of a gigantic lioness that is pretty cool. It’s right across from the Australia pavilion with its playful statues of kangaroos and koala bears. You’ll find restrooms and a snack bar at this pavilion as well as kangaroo statues for your kids to climb on. Look to your left as you cross the bridge over a canal. That’s where you catch the boats to cruise through the canals to the Summer Palace in western Beijing. Continue on to the Beijing Aquarium. Travel tip: Buy a combination ticket to the zoo, panda houses and aquarium at the entrance. You’ll save time and money. You can also buy a ticket for just the zoo, or zoo plus the boat ride to the Summer Palace and basic admission to the Summer Palace. |
Beijing AquariumThe Beijing Aquarium is the world’s largest inland aquarium, and is a place children from 8 to 80 years old will enjoy.
There are thousands of fish spread over seven pavilions, including fish found in the rain forest and marine mammals. You can get up close and personal with giant turtles that will splash right to the edge of their pond and you can have your picture taken with your head in a huge shark’s mouth. (Don’t be afraid, it’s a fake shark!) The final pavilion is actually a theatre where you can watch trained seals and dolphins perform. Several shows are given daily, with audience participation sought for some of the tricks. The aquarium is so interesting you can easily spend several hours here. It's one of my new favorite places to visit when I'm in Beijing. |
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Copyright 2012 by Cheryl Probst. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2012 by Cheryl Probst. All rights reserved.