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
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
3.5
106 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
42
Average
21
Poor
8
Terrible
12
meganmstl
Saint Louis, MO108 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.
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.
Marysa C
Shenyang, China105 contributions
Aug 2012 • Family
The conditions are good, not the best....animals have confort...especially the pandas...
I went in the summer....and there were many many many insects...take a spray against them OR...try another season :D
I went in the summer....and there were many many many insects...take a spray against them OR...try another season :D
Written March 31, 2013
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.
mallorykm
Weymouth, UK31 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
97 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, China472 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.
hzlemming
Hangzhou, China25 contributions
I've been to the zoo a few times but I wouldn't recommend it. It appears to be designed in an era where the exhibit areas were designed purely to allow the public to see the animals and not meet the animal's needs.
The bears, for example, are in large pits with no natural materials for them to claw or chew. The big cats are in part kept in a display that looks more like a row of prison cells and seeing some of the apes made my wife cry at the sadness of these intelligent animals shut in something with all of the natural ambience of a storage cupboard.
If you want a much, much better wildlife experience, go to the Hangzhou Safari Park - it's quite a way outside of the town but, because of that, the animals have far more space and it doesn't feel like an animal prison.
The bears, for example, are in large pits with no natural materials for them to claw or chew. The big cats are in part kept in a display that looks more like a row of prison cells and seeing some of the apes made my wife cry at the sadness of these intelligent animals shut in something with all of the natural ambience of a storage cupboard.
If you want a much, much better wildlife experience, go to the Hangzhou Safari Park - it's quite a way outside of the town but, because of that, the animals have far more space and it doesn't feel like an animal prison.
Written February 10, 2012
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.
mauitenor
Hong Kong, China79 contributions
Nov 2016
This zoo is very clean and easy to navigate. It's not a big place, but the conditions for the animals were well maintained. The highlight for me was seeing the pandas. At some zoos, it's impossible to see them without dozens or hundreds of people standing in your way. At Hangzhou, I was the only person at their enclosure. This is combinable with a trip to Tiger/Hupao Spring directly next door for a nice day trip.
Written February 28, 2017
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.
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Claim your listingHangzhou Zoo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Hangzhou Zoo
- Hangzhou Zoo is open:
- Sun - Sat 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Hangzhou Zoo:
- (0.01 mi) The NEGO Homes ancient Guesthouse
- (0.10 mi) Meander Tree Resort
- (0.10 mi) Lazy Garden Hostel
- (0.10 mi) Yilvxiang Boutique Hostel
- (0.11 mi) Fanhua Sijing Hotel
- Restaurants near Hangzhou Zoo:
- (0.10 mi) Xin KaiYuan Restaurant (SiYanJing)
- (0.09 mi) HuPao CanGuan
- (0.09 mi) Huang Mi Lou
- (0.12 mi) HaiDao Coffee
- (0.12 mi) Cui Yun Bai Restaurant
Hangzhou Zoo Information
Excellent Reviews | 23 |
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