The big boom in China's zoos and aquariums

[Bagger Jan]

Hello, although I have been reading interesting news for a long time now, I am now a new member of your community. Since I have been writing an extensive history of international zoos and aquariums privately for more than 50 years, I am, of course, very interested in the development of these zoos. The zoos and aquariums in China in particular are enjoying an enormous boom. Lately interesting facts have been published again and again. but from my point of view, there is still too little information about the chinese zoos and aquariums. A few figures are intended to show how fast the china market is growing in this respect:

In the 1950s and 60s, numerous zoos were established in China, including the famous zoos in Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Kunming, as well as numerous smaller zoos in the People's Parks. Of the more than 250 Chinese zoos and aquariums I surveyed, 40 were opened during that period.

The next wave of foundations came in the 90s of the last century: over 40 institutions, including the first ocean parks. But the big upswing has taken place since the beginning of this century: more than 100 new zoos and huge ocean parks have been opened and more will follow in the next years.

If interested, in the near future I will introduce Chinese zoos and aquariums, which are little known outside of China, and news about them that I receive from zoo websites and other Chinese publications

 

[Brum]

Welcome to ZooChat, I personally would welcome any extra news from China.

 

[FunkyGibbon]

I think really the first thing I/we would like is that list of over 250 zoos, preferably annotated to draw attention to the significant ones.

Have you visited China yourself? The current wave does seem to be the Haichang Polar Parks, or imitations of them.

 

[Brum]

I think really the first thing I/we would like is that list of over 250 zoos, preferably annotated to draw attention to the significant ones.

I think you may want that list a bit more than the rest of us, but yeah, a very valid point.

 

[Bagger Jan]

I think you may want that list a bit more than the rest of us, but yeah, a very valid point.

Here is a small list of Chinese zoos and aquariums that have been opened from 2000 to today. However, the list is by no means complete. I am very grateful if this list could be supplemented by you. Thank you very much

Chimelong Night Zoo 2000
Crocodile Park Xiamen Lam Soon Xiamen 2000
Jingshan Park Zoo Wenzhou 2000
Shenyang Wildlife Park Shenyang 2000
Baotou Labor Park Zoo Baotou 2001
Beijing Wildlife Park Beijing 2001
Changlu Tourism Leisure Park Foshan 2001
Chengdu Wild World Chengdu 2001
Chongqing Safari Park Chongqing 2001
Haicang Wild Zoo Xiamen 2001
Hangzhou Safari Park Hangzhou 2002
Qingdao Forest Wildlife World Qingdao 2002
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium Shanghai 2002
Wuhan East Lake Ocean World Wuhan 2002
Bifengxia Panda Base Ya'an 2003
Guilin Ocean Aquarium Guilin 2003
Nanchang Ocean Park Nanchang 2003
Prince Edward Lake Wildlife Park Xiantao City 2003
Zhengzhou Aquarium Zhengzhou 2003
Chimelong Birds Park Guangzhou 2004
Harbin North Forest Zoo Harbin 2004
Jiufeng Forest Zoo Wuhan 2004
Ledao Ocean ParkQinhuangdao 2004
Penglai Polar Ocean World Penglai 2004
Qinling Wildlife Park Xian 2004
Taiyuan Zoo Taiyuan 2004
Youngor Zoo Ningbo 2004
Yunnan Wild Animal Park Kunming 2004
Zhuyu Bay Garden Zoo Yangzhou 2004
Harbin Polarland Harbin 2005
Qishan Wildlife Park Chizhou 2005
Qujiang Polar Ocean World Xian 2005
Sea World Taizhou 2005
Xinjinag Tianshan Wildlife Park Urumqi 2005
Zibo Zoo Zibo 2005
Daqingshan Safari Park Huhehaote 2006
Ganzhou Forest Zoo Ganzhou 2006
Guiyang Forest Safaripark Guiyang 2006
Haichang Polar Ocean World Qingdao 2006
Ningbo Ocean World Ningbo 2006
Royal Polar Ocean World Fushun 2006
Shijiazhuang Zoo Shijiazhuang 2006
Pingdingshan Zoo Benxi 2007
Yancheng Wildlife World Changzhou 2007
Hangzhou Polar Ocean Park Hangzhou 2008
Hefei Polar Sea World Hefei 2008
Xingtai Zoo Xingtai 2008
Haichang Polar Ocean World Tianjin 2009
Jilin Provincial Siberian Tiger Park Changchun 2009
Qinghai-Tibet-Plateau Wild Animal Park Xining 2009
Suzhou Ocean Aquarium Suzhou 2009
Changsha Ecological Zoo Changsha 2010
Changsha UnderWater World Changsha 2010
Dongguan Xiangshi Zoo Dongguan 2010
Haichang Polar Ocean World Chengdu 2010
Hulin ParkHuangshan 2010
Qixing Park Zoo Guilin 2010
Wuxi Zoo Wuxi 2010
Haichang Polar Ocean World Wuhan 2011
Haichang Whale Shark Aquarium Yantai 2011
Nanchang New Zoo Nanchang 2011
Quancheng Ocean Polar World Jinan 2011
Baoding Aibo Wildlife Ecological Park Baoding 2012
Huai'an Zoo Huai'an 2012
Jinhua Zoo Jinhua 2012
Linyi Zoo Linyi 2012
Ordos Wild Animal Park Ordos 2012
Quancheng Polar Ocean World Dezhou 2012
Daming Lake Underwater World Jinan 2013
Dongying Yellow River Delta Zoo Dongying 2013
Longsha Zoo & Botanical Gardens Qiqihar 2014
Tokyo Polar Oceanarium Kaifeng 2014
Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Zhuhai 2014
Dafenggang Zoo Dafeng 2015
Fuzhou Luoyuanwan Ocean World Fuzhou 2015
Haohai Cube Oceanarium Chengdu 2015
Happy Zoo Zhenjiang 2015
Royal Blue Ocean Park Qinhuangdao 2015
Shenyou Ocean World Weihai 2015
Dezhou Zoo & Botanical Gardens Dezhou 2016
Grandview Mall Ocean World Guangzhou 2016
Jinan Wild World Jinan 2016
Shangfangshan Forest Zoo Suzhou 2016
Shilin Snow World Kunming 2016
Tangshan Wildlife Park Tangshan 2016
Wuhu Ocean Park Wuhu 2016
Wuyi Mountain Tianhong Polar Ocean Park Wuyi Mountain 2016
Zhuxiandong Wildlife Park Jingdezhen 2016
HAH Chongqing Polar Ocean Park Chongqing 2017
Huadu Marine World Kunming 2017
Lianyungang Sea World Park Lianyungang 2017
Qingzhou Zoo Qingzhou 2017
Sea Life Aquarium Chongqing 2017
Shijiazhuang Ocean Park Shijiazhuang 2017
Taizhou Wild Animal Park Taizhou 2017
Urad Tribal Sea World Urad 2017
Yabuli Forest Zoo Yabuli 2017
Baoshan Wildlife Park Lanling 2018
City Forest Zoo Jiaozuo 2018
Fujian Yonghong Wildlife World Fuqing 2018
Haichang Dream Ocean Night City Sanya 2018
Haichang Polar Ocean World Shanghai 2018
Hengshui Safari Park Hengshui 2018
Linyi Polar Ocean World Linyi 2018
Nantong Forest Wildlife Park Nantong 2018
Qushui Zoo Lhasa 2018
Yunlong Ocean Park Zhuzhou 2018
Zhucheng Wildlife Park Zhucheng 2018

 

[FunkyGibbon]

Gosh, many of these are in places I've visited and still never heard of! The big one you are missing of course is the very recently opened Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park.
One name that jumped out at me is Chimelong Night Zoo. After some research I think this is just the Safari Park open at night?

 

[aardvark250]

I think some of those zoo are relocated. As you mention, there are a lot of "city parks" zoo before. Some of the zoo relocated to a bigger area and get their name as "wildlife/forest zoo". However, some of them are just like a normal zoo and are not safari park or special animals.

 

[Bagger Jan]

I think some of those zoo are relocated. As you mention, there are a lot of "city parks" zoo before. Some of the zoo relocated to a bigger area and get their name as "wildlife/forest zoo". However, some of them are just like a normal zoo and are not safari park or special animals.

yes, that's quite true: several zoos were small zoos in people's park and were recently created new outside the city - sometimes very far outside the city

 

[Bagger Jan]

Gosh, many of these are in places I've visited and still never heard of! The big one you are missing of course is the very recently opened Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park.
One name that jumped out at me is Chimelong Night Zoo. After some research I think this is just the Safari Park open at night?

Yes, of course the Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park is the newest one!
And with regard to the Chimelong Night Zoo:
The Night Zoo was closed in 2005 and as far as I have researched this place is now the Chimelong Paradise, which opened in April 2006

 

[FunkyGibbon]

@Bagger Jan Are there any zoos in north-east China, on or off this list, that you think are particularly noteworthy or worth visiting? Heading that way for a few weeks tomorrow.

 

[Bagger Jan]

@Bagger Jan Are there any zoos in north-east China, on or off this list, that you think are particularly noteworthy or worth visiting? Heading that way for a few weeks tomorrow.

@FunkyGibbon
Sorry that I am only now reporting - I was not at home for some time. According to my extensive documentation, some zoos in northeastern China seem to be of interest to me - but I have not visited these facilities myself.
Changchun Zoo /Jilin
Dalian Zoo / Liaoning
Dongying Yellow River Delta Zoo / Shandong (opened 2013)
Harbin North Forest Zoo / Heilongjiang
Jinan Wildlife World / Shandong (opened 2016)
Jinan Zoo / Shandong
Linyi Zoo / Shandong
Qingdao Forest Wildlife World / Shandong
Qinhuangdao Wildlife Park / Hebei
Qiqihar Longsha Zoo / Heilongjiang (opened 2014)
Shijiazhuang Zoo / Hebei
Taiyuan Zoo / Shanxi
Tianjin Zoo / Tianjin
Weihai Shen Diao Mountain Safari / Shandong

If you need any further information (wlan adress) or anything else, please let me know. I hope these info are of help to you and I wish you a very pleasant trip

 

[Arun]

Shenyang Wildlife Zoo has changed its name to Shenyang Forest Zoological Garden.

 

[Arun]

As a supplement: Anshan Zoo, Fushun Labour Park Zoo