Hi, Al, welcome to China! First of all, the Chimelong Safari Park and the Xiangjiang Safari Park is the same place, as the Xiangjiang is the old name of this zoo. Thus there are only two main zoos in Guangzhou: the state-run Guangzhou Zoo and the privately-own Chimelong Safari Park. Meanwhile, the Chimelong also has a "Guangzhou Crocodile Park" in Guangzhou, which focuses on reptiles and water birds, but also has a nocturnal house. The state-run Guangzhou Zoo, also has an aquarium which requires extra ticket.But I haven't visited the crocodile park and the aquarium, thus can't make any suggestions.
For the two main zoos, in short, if it is your first time to China and you want to see the native Chinese species, go to the state-run Guangzhou Zoo, although some of its exhibit would certainly make you uncomfortable; if you want to have a happy day and experience the highest standard of zoos in China mainland, go to the Chimelong Safari Park, although most of the species in this park can also be seen in UK zoos.
The Chimelong Safari Park is the best designed and managed zoo in China mainland. It has some of the most fantastic naturalistic exhibits in China mainland, and there isn't any exhibit in the zoo that would make you feel uncomfortable. Meanwhile, visitors are forbidden to take food into the zoo, and there are zoo staffs in every animal exhibit to monitor the visitor behavior, and to pick out the rubbish thrown by the visitors at any time. Moreover, the same zoo staffs are also very keen to provide help and answer any questions from the visitors (but I don't know whether they understand English), some animal keepers will also stay in the exhibit and they are happy to tell the stories of their animals to any interested visitors; sometimes (especially in the morning) the zoo staffs will call the animals out of their hidden places if you fail to see them, or even offer you some treats to let you throw them into the exhibit and attract the animals out by yourselves! In fact the staffs in this zoo are the most hospitable and helpful I have met. Finally, the animal shows in the zoo are the closest to the standard of real behavior displays; what I mean is, many responsible zoos in China mainland have banned animal performances, others label their animal performances as "Animal behavior display" but indeed they are still circuses, among the zoos still having animal performances, Chimelong Safari Park's animal shows are the most humane ones and of a more-or-less Singapore zoo style. But frustratingly Chimelong Group also runs a huge circus which has much more unbearable animal performance
For the zoo itself, the biggest disadvantage is the lack of native species on exhibit. Because it is a privately owned commercial zoo, it only chooses the most charming species on exhibit, but sadly "the most charming species" visitors prefer are just the common western zoo species; and although the zoo has one of the largest species collection among Chinese zoos, the most interesting species are kept in the off-exhibit breeding centre, such as the abundant langur and douc species.
Some of the highlights in Chimelong Safari Park: 1. Giant Panda Conservation Center, which has the largest breeding population of giant pandas in south China. 2. Rainforest Fairyland, it is a series of exhibits including a very naturalistic lemur exhibit, a huge walk-in hornbill aviary, a lush enclosure for giant-anteaters, a glass tunnel through an enclosure of squirrel monkeys, a row of enclosures exhibiting cotton-topped tamarins, red-handed tamarins, golden-headed lion tamarins, Goeld's monkeys and several other marmosets and tamarins, a high and gigantic cage for siamangs, and an enclosure for orangutans. Important tips! Visit this exhibit early and don't waste time in the dinosaur exhibit before it, as most primates will inactive, hide or leave their exhibits (e.g. the five lemur species......) in the afternoon. 3. Primate Area, several lush islands exhibiting Francois's langurs, capped gibbons, buff-cheeked gibbons, black-spider monkeys, baboons and rhesus macaques. 4. Drive-in Area, important tips! Sit in the right side of the small train, as the golden takin exhibit is on the right side of the road, as well as the carnivores, elephants, rhinos and hippos. The small train can be taken for unlimited times, but you won't have enough time for another travel because the pedestrian area is huge. 5. The Borneo pygmy elephants are exhibited both in pedestrian area and drive-in area, and mixed with mainland subspecies. 6. The south China tigers are exhibited in Tiger Mountain of the pedestrian area. 7. The bharals, demoiselle cranes and black-necked cranes are exhibited in the Central-Asia area of Drive-in Area.
However, if you are super fans of Asian native species, the state-run Guangzhou Zoo is a better choice. As other state zoos, it focuses more on native species. However the zoo is an old-styled concrete ground - iron bar zoo. Some of the enclosures are very small, dark and lacking of enrichments, although this zoo has conducted large-scale reconstructions and improvements all the time and has built some really good exhibits. Some of the highlights of Guangzhou Zoo: 1. Asiatic golden cat, I know there are more Asiatic golden cats in UK zoos than in China, but I still think it is the most fantastic native species; the zoo has one of the few remaining golden cats in Chinese zoos. 2. Large Indian civet, the zoo has a breeding group of this fantastic civet, three individuals on exhibit, and they are not so strictly nocturnal as you may think, thus arrive at their exhibit in the afternoon and try your luck
3. Small Indian civet, the individual on exhibit is extremely shy and will come into the out-door enclosure only when there is quiet enough and no human beings standing around the enclosure. Hide behind a tree at dusk and wait for it to come out
4. Leopard cat, its enclosure is next to the small Indian civet but I failed to see it during my Guangzhou trip, thus I can't make any suggestions
5. Golden snub-nosed monkeys, in the Primate Area, have a separate huge enclosure for their own. 6. Eastern hoolock gibbons, in the Primate Area. 7. Hainan Eld's deer, in the ungulate area; Guangzhou Zoo is among the very few zoos (maybe only three) exhibiting this rare subspecies. 8. Kulan, in the ungulate area. 9. Hainan grey peacock pheasant, in the Bird World exhibit. 10. Crested serpent eagle, in the Bird World exhibit.
Here are some of the comparison between the two zoos:
Transportation:
Both zoos can be reached by subway directly.
Size:
Both zoos need at least a whole day to see all the species.
Giant panda:
Chimelong: many individuals in good exhibits.
Guangzhou Zoo: a pair in an ordinary exhibit.
Red panda:
Chimelong: several ones in an ordinary exhibit and has no out-door enclosure.
Guangzhou Zoo: several ones in a very lush and large exhibit.
Golden snub-nosed monkey:
Chimelong: off-exhibit
Guangzhou Zoo: in a huge enclosure.
Francois's langur:
Chimelong: a large group in a lush naturalistic exhibit.
Guangzhou Zoo: two families in ordinary glass-fronted enclosures.
Gibbon:
Chimelong: has capped, Javan silver and buff-cheeked gibbons, all from SE Asia; in naturalistic exhibits.
Guangzhou Zoo: has northern white-cheeked, buff-cheeked and eastern hoolock gibbons, two of them are Chinese native species; in ordinary small exhibits.
Takin:
Chimelong: a large herd in a rocky naturalistic exhibit.
Guangzhou Zoo: a pair in a ordinary enclosure.
Bharal:
Chimelong: in the drive-in area and hard to see clearly.
Guangzhou Zoo: in a ordinary enclosure.
South China tiger:
Chimelong: a pair in an ordinary exhibit.
Guangzhou Zoo: has a breeding population in a lush exhibit.
Other native species (small carnivores, deer, birds, reptiles):
Chimelong: only a few, but in good exhibits.
Guangzhou Zoo: abundant, most in old-style enclosures.
Check the galleries of the two zoos please
and feel free to ask any questions
