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07
Dec
2009
ChimeLong - Guangzhou E-mail
Reviews - Travel
Written by Peter
Zoos in China, usually a foreigner walks in and feels like an angry animal activist; because of the sad animals on display living in squalid shelters with little or nothing to play or look at. So the few hours spent walking around looking at the different enclosures, is time spent commenting on every animal about how sick or bored it looks.

Well I have good news for those people interested in Zoos, Guangzhou has the largest Zoo in China, ChangLong Zoo, and it is amazing! I was hopeful but optimistic with the idea of visiting another zoo in China. However, this zoo is dubbed the largest in China, and with a 1 billion RMB invest from the Chinese government, it has potential on paper. Arrival to the zoo was easy, there is a Metro station on Line 3 (Hanxi Chimelong Station) that will drop you close to the front door, or for more luxury a RMB70 taxi ride from downtown.

The entrance price was somewhat unexpected, RMB160; this gives entrance into XiangJiang Safari Park, the Crocodile Park, and free ride onto the Safari on Wheels; somewhat expensive, but you will be used to that by now if you have been anywhere in Guangzhou.

Picking up a map and scanning the enclosures, I was impressed by the magnitude of the park. They have quite possibly every animal that lives on land you could expect at a zoo, including an Australia Zone. We decided to take the path around the east and circle back (which in hindsight was a bad choice as the Panda enclosure was closed when we arrived back). Flamingos, Scarlet Ibises, Ring-tail Monkeys, JinNiu, Parrots, Toucans, Black Rhinoceros, Gibbons, Orang-utans, Baboons, Macaques, Tapirs, Seals, White-headed Leaf Monkeys, Siamangs, Chinese snub nosed monkeys, Lesser Pandas, Douc Langurs, Mandrills, Giant Salamanders.. now to the Safari on Wheels. This was a train with open sides, about 100 people on board. We had our own bench so could slide to each side to take pictures.

This was very impressive, Camels, Asian Elephants, Sun Bears, Black Bears, White Tigers, Wolves, Tigers, Hippos, White Rhinoceros, African Lions, Cheetahs, Ostriches, Zebras, Giraffes.. The ride circled around a path with open air zones where the animals were walking around and playing, each time we went past a beast area such as the Tigers, the train stopped and a park attendant materialised and would throw food into the space so the animals would move and roar. All the animals look so happy and comfortable here. The Safari on Wheels took about 30 minutes and was very impressive.

{yoogallery src=[/images/stories/zoo] width=[100]}
We headed to the Elephant Show (running close to closing time now), wow. This show had elephants walking on their front two legs, back two legs, walking across a very thin plank, rolling on top of a barrel, playing soccer, dancing, and waving their trunks.. I am guessing much time had been spent training these loving animals. At one point they called for two volunteers from the crowd, who had to lie down on the ground while one of the elephants performed a leg massage on them using its foot.. scary (the TV show, When Animals Attack flashed into my mind).

After the Elephant Show, we just had enough time to visit the Animal Nursery and the Australia Zone. The animal nursery was mainly were they keep all the Tiger cubs. They have about 15 or so of the cuddly little things, playing and growling at each other. You could get a photo taken holding the smallest one for RMB30. The Australia Zone, to my surprise had Kangaroos, Emus, Red-necked Wallaby, Cockatoos, and a plethora of Koala.

The Koalas here have a successful breading program with babies being born, the Koalas looked happy although in quite a boring enclosure. I was very happy to read about China successfully introducing Koalas to the Zoo and having them breed and live happily, my Chinese counterpart was pleased because they were so cute, especially the little baby Koalas. The animal icon of the Zoo is two Koalas.

{yoogallery src=[/images/stories/zoo2] width=[100]}
Ok, well it was now 5:30pm and everything was closing down for the day. 3.5 hours it took to wander around. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to visit the Crocodile Park, which supposedly has not just Crocodiles but all sorts of reptiles. Everything was nice and close together and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the wildlife. The Zoo has a wealth of shows to see, Koala Show, White Tiger Show, Birds Show, Monkey Show, Elephant Show and Seal Show. If you wake up early and get there at opening there would be plenty of time to see everything and all the shows. The animals look happy and well looked after, and the enclosures were all clean and provided some stimulation. To get back home again was a short stroll to the Metro line. Easy.

I would definitely recommend anyone going to Guangzhou to check out this Zoo!

How to get there

Chimelong Xiangjiang Safari Park is located in Dashi Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou. That is approx. 30 minutes from the city centre. Take Metro Line 3 and get out on "Hanxi-Changlong Station".  Exit the station through EXIT E and take a shuttle bus which will drive you right to the entrance of the Safari Park!  Alternatively, you can walk from the metro station to the park if you like. It just takes approx. 10 minutes. The following buses drive you to this amazing safari park as well: 202, 221, 247, 512, 530 and 562!

More Information

Chimelong Xiangjiang Safari Park is recognised as the leading zoological park throughout all of China. This Safari Park is home to over 20,000 animals from over 450 species including giant pandas, polar bears and koalas to name but a few and it prides itself in its large collection of African and Asian species. The Safari Park exhibits many endangered animals and has had numerous successful breeding programs including animals such as white-tiger, orangutan, Asia elephant, sun bear, golden monkey, chimpanzee, pygmy hippo and giraffe.

► Click here to visit Chime-Long's Website
Our valuable Editor Peter has been with us since Saturday, 11 July 2009.

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Comments  

 
+2 #5 DR 2010-11-28 13:22
I visited this zoo today and was surprised to see such a beautiful zoo. By far the most beautiful zoo I have ever seen. Its was disaapointing to see many people smoking in the zoo especially when carring small babies and seeing the local people letting their small children goto the bathroom on the sidewalks but over looking that, the zoo is amazing. The zoo has a no smoking policy but no one seems to enforce it.
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+2 #4 zhou 2010-03-06 03:41
very very good report, i thank you much,
zhou
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+2 #3 mak98 2010-01-13 11:45
thanks!! luv the pics
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+1 #2 QtR 2009-12-18 11:43
very helpful! 1A++++++++
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+1 #1 Ronaldo 2009-12-11 18:47
excellent review. this safari zoo is much better than qinling park in xian.
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