Hangzhou Zoo
Hangzhou Zoo
3.5
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
378 within 3 miles
Attractions
195 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
109 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
42
Average
22
Poor
9
Terrible
13
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
meganmstl
Saint Louis, MO104 contributions
Sep 2011 • Couples
I've been to the Hangzhou Zoo twice, once while living in Hangzhou and most recently on a trip to visit friends. Although it certainly is not up to the same standards as an international zoo, we did not find it nearly as upsetting as the writer of the past review. Animals in China do not receive the same treatment as they would in a different country. That's just a fact. Frankly, the behavior of the Chinese visitors was more shocking to us than the condition of the animals or their cages. (They threw food and other objects into the cages and harassed the animals by pounding on the glass, etc.)
That said, it really isn't a horrible zoo. They have two pandas as well as several red pandas and a range of other typical zoo animals, such as elephants, giraffes, monkeys, and birds. The admission price (20 RMB) also includes a fairly entertaining animal show, in which bears ride bicycles and acrobats do a few stunts. You can also pay a little extra to be picked up by the elephant.
If you want to see pandas and have time to spare in Hangzhou, the zoo is worth a visit. It is only a few kilometers from West Lake, and several buses stop here along Hupao Road. Also, the entrance to the Tiger Spring is only a short walk away. The zoo entrance fee is reasonable and we were not disappointed by our visit, even though we are from a city that has one of the best zoos in the U.S.A.
That said, it really isn't a horrible zoo. They have two pandas as well as several red pandas and a range of other typical zoo animals, such as elephants, giraffes, monkeys, and birds. The admission price (20 RMB) also includes a fairly entertaining animal show, in which bears ride bicycles and acrobats do a few stunts. You can also pay a little extra to be picked up by the elephant.
If you want to see pandas and have time to spare in Hangzhou, the zoo is worth a visit. It is only a few kilometers from West Lake, and several buses stop here along Hupao Road. Also, the entrance to the Tiger Spring is only a short walk away. The zoo entrance fee is reasonable and we were not disappointed by our visit, even though we are from a city that has one of the best zoos in the U.S.A.
Written September 22, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chang Percy
Taipei, Taiwan695 contributions
Dec 2024 • Solo
It is clean, well maintained and easy to navigate. The entrance fee is not expensive. It costs 20 RMB. The collection is bountiful.
Written December 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarinya W
Sydney, Australia29 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
I went there in a hot day.
They have 2 panda, a lot of types of monkey.
No map given. Not sell the food for animals.
What u paid is what u get lol
They have 2 panda, a lot of types of monkey.
No map given. Not sell the food for animals.
What u paid is what u get lol
Written August 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark Lonac
Fort Collins, CO26 contributions
Apr 2020
While some animal enclosures appeared adequate, some, notably the sea turtle's, were grossly inadequate - the worst zoo enclosure I've ever seen. Along with some other visitors dating to 2009 on various internet sites, I found these animal conditions overtly reprehensible and contacted the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums to report this. Unfortunately, as the Hangzhou Zoo is not a WAZA member, their animal welfare team was limited in their ability to enact change.
So best I can recommend is not to support the Hangzhou Zoo with your $$ and to recommend to others that they do the same (NOT visit).
So best I can recommend is not to support the Hangzhou Zoo with your $$ and to recommend to others that they do the same (NOT visit).
Written March 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paradise15792466021
4 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
We were only at the zoo for 30 minutes. Left with a bad conscience.
I can't imagine an animal welfare award. Animals are put on extreme display and, in our opinion, there is sometimes not enough space. Behavior of visitors is impossible (screaming, banging on the window). Employees honk on the sidewalk.
Very unfortunate.
I can't imagine an animal welfare award. Animals are put on extreme display and, in our opinion, there is sometimes not enough space. Behavior of visitors is impossible (screaming, banging on the window). Employees honk on the sidewalk.
Very unfortunate.
Written March 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Best food best hotel
Hong Kong, China6,025 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
Don't come here. There are too many people here. The hygiene of the zoo is very poor. Every cage smells bad. The animals live in misery. I feel sad and don't want to take pictures. I smell the bad smell and see the dejected animals. I feel very depressed.
It should be for people in China who have never seen rare animals. If you are abroad, I feel uncomfortable when you see such a scene.
It should be for people in China who have never seen rare animals. If you are abroad, I feel uncomfortable when you see such a scene.
Written March 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mallorykm
Weymouth, UK28 contributions
Hangzhou Zoo- Visited DEC 08
This has to be THE worst case of animal cruelty I have ever witnessed. I travel a lot and love nature/ animals and I visit a lot of nature parks/ zoo’s etc and I have never seen such total lack of regard to the welfare of the animals housed .
I’m not sure what I expected from a Zoo in China but certainly not this. The enclosures were very minimal, most had no visible source of water or food, no where to hide and definitely nothing to occupy or stimulate the animals.
The Bears (Black & Grizzly) were kept in very small concrete pits and were quite clearly depressed. There was no where to hide from the masses of tourists crowding round throwing rubbish into the enclosures nor was there any source of entertainment to stimulate the intelligent species.
The grazing species (Deer, Antelope etc) had serious skin diseases (it doesn’t take a vet to notice something’s wrong with an animal when it’s missing 80-90 % of it’s fur and has large, pink, sore looking patches) . Considering these are GRAZING animals we were sickened to find them in a concrete jungle with no grass.
The reptiles (keep in mind it was mid December and FREEZING) had no visible sources of heat or light in the vivariums (please take this seriously as the tanks had an inch of sawdust and no plants, places to hide etc there was most definitely no heat source. They looked very pale and were very still…). The most shocking display in the reptile section (besides the clearly dead snakes and lizards) was the sea turtle they had. Now I’m not a turtle expert but I’m confident most (if not all) species are listed as either endangered or threatened. It was wedged in a tank barely big enough for goldfish. There was honestly half an inch between the shell and the sides of the tank, the entire circumference of the turtle. I can’t be certain if it was alive but if it was it wouldn’t be for long.
The Sea Lions pool (where they put on a show but was not kept during the remainder of the day) looked like a sewer- we jumped a fence (not difficult as no security or animal keepers present) to see what the housing was like and was shocked to faintly see two Sea Lions kept in pitch black concrete pits (about the size of a large bath) unsurprisingly our presence got the Sea Lions barking and a young animal trainer came rushing out of the building adjacent with soap suds in her hair. The hygiene of her hair was obviously more important than light or entertainment or even basic hygiene for the poor Sea Lions (we weren’t kicked out, we played the lost tourist card…).
Even ‘pet’ dogs were not safe in this hell hole of an animal institution. Hangzhou Zoo have a small section right at the back called ‘Small Animal Paradise’… This consisted of small concrete kennels housing species like Pugs, Dobermans, Dalmatians etc. No toys, no water, no food and most noticeably no love. They clearly had cataracts, skin diseases and were terrified of humans. We sadly witnessed a Chinese tourist hanging of the fencing to the Dalmatians kennel and trying to punch the poor creature. The dog was terrified and the more the dog yelped the more the imbecile laughed, clearly very humorous to the monster. This incident was when we decided to leave as one more moment and I’m pretty certain either myself or my partner would have been jailed for manslaughter.
They had a typical circus act with Lions jumping through rings of fire, elephants standing on balls and two little petrified Sun Bears parading around on skates. Not really a lot I can say about this besides the obvious fact this was depressing and should be illegal. We crept in to the auditorium a few hours before the show and managed to get a good view behind to the backstage area. The Lions and Tigers were kept in tiny crates for hours sadly pacing up and down their tiny enclosures.
I could go on for hours about this place, I haven’t even touched upon the farm animals (Goats, Horses etc) nor the Birds or Monkeys but I’m sure you can guess what it was like. I’m not sure what can be done about places like this but if people who care about animal welfare stand up to these organisations by not visiting them and spreading the word and educating our children not to tolerate animal cruelty, then maybe the monsters who own and run these institutions will be forced to treat the animals with respect and humanity or better yet close down.
This was a most upsetting day, but please let it be known in no way am I trying to discourage tourists from visiting Hangzhou, it was a wonderful city rich with scenery and culture- just stay away from the zoo.
Many thanks for the time taken to read my troubled thoughts on the zoo, should you have any suggestions where else to post this review please do not hesitate to contact me.
Mallory
Mallorykm@hotmail.com
This has to be THE worst case of animal cruelty I have ever witnessed. I travel a lot and love nature/ animals and I visit a lot of nature parks/ zoo’s etc and I have never seen such total lack of regard to the welfare of the animals housed .
I’m not sure what I expected from a Zoo in China but certainly not this. The enclosures were very minimal, most had no visible source of water or food, no where to hide and definitely nothing to occupy or stimulate the animals.
The Bears (Black & Grizzly) were kept in very small concrete pits and were quite clearly depressed. There was no where to hide from the masses of tourists crowding round throwing rubbish into the enclosures nor was there any source of entertainment to stimulate the intelligent species.
The grazing species (Deer, Antelope etc) had serious skin diseases (it doesn’t take a vet to notice something’s wrong with an animal when it’s missing 80-90 % of it’s fur and has large, pink, sore looking patches) . Considering these are GRAZING animals we were sickened to find them in a concrete jungle with no grass.
The reptiles (keep in mind it was mid December and FREEZING) had no visible sources of heat or light in the vivariums (please take this seriously as the tanks had an inch of sawdust and no plants, places to hide etc there was most definitely no heat source. They looked very pale and were very still…). The most shocking display in the reptile section (besides the clearly dead snakes and lizards) was the sea turtle they had. Now I’m not a turtle expert but I’m confident most (if not all) species are listed as either endangered or threatened. It was wedged in a tank barely big enough for goldfish. There was honestly half an inch between the shell and the sides of the tank, the entire circumference of the turtle. I can’t be certain if it was alive but if it was it wouldn’t be for long.
The Sea Lions pool (where they put on a show but was not kept during the remainder of the day) looked like a sewer- we jumped a fence (not difficult as no security or animal keepers present) to see what the housing was like and was shocked to faintly see two Sea Lions kept in pitch black concrete pits (about the size of a large bath) unsurprisingly our presence got the Sea Lions barking and a young animal trainer came rushing out of the building adjacent with soap suds in her hair. The hygiene of her hair was obviously more important than light or entertainment or even basic hygiene for the poor Sea Lions (we weren’t kicked out, we played the lost tourist card…).
Even ‘pet’ dogs were not safe in this hell hole of an animal institution. Hangzhou Zoo have a small section right at the back called ‘Small Animal Paradise’… This consisted of small concrete kennels housing species like Pugs, Dobermans, Dalmatians etc. No toys, no water, no food and most noticeably no love. They clearly had cataracts, skin diseases and were terrified of humans. We sadly witnessed a Chinese tourist hanging of the fencing to the Dalmatians kennel and trying to punch the poor creature. The dog was terrified and the more the dog yelped the more the imbecile laughed, clearly very humorous to the monster. This incident was when we decided to leave as one more moment and I’m pretty certain either myself or my partner would have been jailed for manslaughter.
They had a typical circus act with Lions jumping through rings of fire, elephants standing on balls and two little petrified Sun Bears parading around on skates. Not really a lot I can say about this besides the obvious fact this was depressing and should be illegal. We crept in to the auditorium a few hours before the show and managed to get a good view behind to the backstage area. The Lions and Tigers were kept in tiny crates for hours sadly pacing up and down their tiny enclosures.
I could go on for hours about this place, I haven’t even touched upon the farm animals (Goats, Horses etc) nor the Birds or Monkeys but I’m sure you can guess what it was like. I’m not sure what can be done about places like this but if people who care about animal welfare stand up to these organisations by not visiting them and spreading the word and educating our children not to tolerate animal cruelty, then maybe the monsters who own and run these institutions will be forced to treat the animals with respect and humanity or better yet close down.
This was a most upsetting day, but please let it be known in no way am I trying to discourage tourists from visiting Hangzhou, it was a wonderful city rich with scenery and culture- just stay away from the zoo.
Many thanks for the time taken to read my troubled thoughts on the zoo, should you have any suggestions where else to post this review please do not hesitate to contact me.
Mallory
Mallorykm@hotmail.com
Written October 3, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessi S
88 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
I should have known that this zoo would probably not be enjoyable but the low prices tempted me to give it a go anyway.. I instantly regretted it. I did not enjoy anything in this zoo. The animal enclosures are bare, dirty concrete cells. The panda, supposedly the pride and joy of China, was the most upsetting thing to see in the entire place.
If, like me, you are happy to support zoos that promote the respect and rehabilitation of animals and that looks after them properly and gives them adequate space and environments.. do yourself a favour and DO NOT VISIT THIS ZOO.
I also didn't see a single staff member anywhere to enforce the rules such as "Do not bang on the glass", "Do not feed animals", "Do not throw trash into the animal enclosures" and "Do not climb over the fences".. every single one of which I saw being blatantly ignored by children and adults alike.
This place really truly embodied the exploitation of animals by humans for profit alone. Made me feel ashamed to be human.
If, like me, you are happy to support zoos that promote the respect and rehabilitation of animals and that looks after them properly and gives them adequate space and environments.. do yourself a favour and DO NOT VISIT THIS ZOO.
I also didn't see a single staff member anywhere to enforce the rules such as "Do not bang on the glass", "Do not feed animals", "Do not throw trash into the animal enclosures" and "Do not climb over the fences".. every single one of which I saw being blatantly ignored by children and adults alike.
This place really truly embodied the exploitation of animals by humans for profit alone. Made me feel ashamed to be human.
Written July 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ralpo Stankic
Hangzhou, China459 contributions
Jan 2018 • Family
Poor management in all aspects. The animals are completely abused by the visitors who demonstrated that their new found opulence rarely is supported by civilized behavior and educated manners. People were spitting, throwing stones, swearing at the animals. Parents placing their children on the edge of the fences. The zoo personnel, though around, were ignoring and even smiling at such people. The zoo maintenance and cleanliness was bad with rubbish and litter everywhere. Even the WC were completely dirty, smelly and very badly kept. Hangzhou is one of the most important and beautiful cities of China and it must be given a zoo of global standards because it is a matter of image.
Written August 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jimmy W
Hangzhou, China1 contribution
Dec 2014 • Friends
On two legs a dancing black bear in chains .... Sickening - I walked out - This is not entertainment ... Animal cruelty is not unique to China alone but, far out this place is awful... Bad bad mistake of visiting this place with friends... Avoid !
Written May 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing