An Outing with the Kids: Visiting the Shanghai Zoo

On a sunny day over the weekend, my family recently visited the Shanghai Zoo. We adults were pleasantly surprised; our son, on the other hand, was positively delighted.

Despite our expectations of small barren cages and pathetic animals – granted, there were a few of those – we were, overall, very impressed with the exhibits and habitats. Aside from, according to the web site, over 6,000 animals on display including 600 rare animals including the panda, golden-haired monkey and the South China Tiger, the Zoo also has over 100,000 square meters of green space with plenty of lawns on which kids can freely run around (a rarity in Chinese parks).

Some of our favorite exhibits were the primates, including a dancing chimpanzee, the giraffes, which gracefully eyed us and some school children, and the bears, which despite the warnings, were being freely fed by onlookers.

With plenty of amusement rides, lawns, restaurants and snack bars, the Shanghai Zoo is a great place to take the kids for a day.

Read More:

• Shanghai Activities for Kids
• Where to Eat in Shanghai with Kids
• Shanghai Museum Directory
• Traveling with Kids to China: What to Buy and What to Bring

Shanghai Zoo photos: top, Swan Lake; middle, a kindly giraffe; bottom, school children watching giraffes graze. © 2007 Sara Naumann, licensed to About.com, Inc.