Beijing Zoo occupies a big walled site in the west of the city, immediately north of Xizhimen station. It opened in 1906 at the end of the Qing dynasty, making it the oldest zoo in China, and it still carries traces of that history in its mature trees, artificial lakes and a few of its older animal houses.
The pandas
The giant panda house is the reason most visitors come. Beijing Zoo has kept pandas for decades and usually holds several adults, with cubs appearing periodically. This is not the same experience as the breeding base in Chengdu, where pandas are managed in large semi-natural enclosures, but it is by far the easiest place to see a panda if you are not travelling further west. Go in the morning, when the animals are active and being fed, as pandas sleep through much of the afternoon.
The rest of the collection
The zoo holds several thousand animals across a large range of species, including red pandas, Asian elephants, snow leopards, golden monkeys, takin, Manchurian tigers and a good collection of Chinese birds and reptiles. The older houses with their painted tiles and ironwork have a certain period charm. Be aware that enclosure sizes vary and some of the historic buildings reflect an older approach to animal keeping, which many visitors find uncomfortable.
Planning a visit
The site is large and involves a lot of walking, so allow three hours to see it properly. Admission is inexpensive and charged separately from the panda house, which carries its own small ticket. Weekends and Chinese public holidays are extremely busy, particularly at the pandas, and school groups fill the paths in the mornings during term time. Weekday mornings outside holidays are the calmest option.
Getting there
Xizhimen station on Line 4 is directly outside, and Lines 2 and 13 also serve Xizhimen, as does the suburban rail line to the northwest. The zoo entrance is a two minute walk from exit A. The Beijing Exhibition Centre and the Ancient Observatory are both within a short distance, and the Shichahai lakes are two stops east, so the zoo fits comfortably into a half day.
