Chongqing Zoo opened in 1955 and has kept giant pandas for decades; it has a long record in panda breeding and husbandry and is one of the established panda collections in China. It sits in the Jiulongpo district in the west of the city and is a large, green, hilly park rather than a small city zoo.
The pandas
The panda house is the main draw, and the animals are most active and most rewarding to watch in the first two hours after opening, when they eat and move around. By late morning they are usually asleep, which is worth knowing before you travel across the city. The enclosure is designed to be viewed from several angles and there is usually a keeper's talk in the morning.
The rest of the zoo
Beyond the pandas the collection includes red pandas, Asian elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, tigers, snow leopards and a range of primates, plus a large bird collection and a reptile house. The grounds are extensive and hilly, with trees and lakes, and families commonly spend half a day here.
Practical notes
The zoo is in Jiulongpo, reachable by metro and about thirty minutes by road from the city center, so allow for travel. Go on a weekday and arrive at opening. Wear comfortable shoes for the hills. There are food stalls and restaurants inside. If you have already visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, this is a smaller and more relaxed alternative rather than a substitute.
