Wuxi Zoo (Taihu Amusement Park)

Wuxi Zoo (Taihu Amusement Park)

Wuxi Zoo (Taihu Amusement Park) is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Wuxi Zoo is located at the southern foot of Xishan Mountain in Wuxi City, within Xihui Park. It was first established in 1956. In 2010, it was relocated to No. 99 Qianrong Road and opened for trial during Children’s Day, receiving over 15,000 visitors on the first day.

Old Zoo

The old zoo had a large proportion of bird exhibits, including songbirds, pheasants, and waterfowl, interspersed with aviaries for flightless birds and enclosures for birds of prey. The pheasant exhibits centered around the peacock house featured cages of various geometric shapes, arranged along the terrain with varying heights for an organized layout. The cages were decorated with flowers, trees, and playful ornaments, presenting a beautiful natural ecological environment. The zoo housed blue peafowl, green peafowl, and a wide variety of parrots, some of which were very rare and precious.

The waterfowl exhibit included a lake where mandarin ducks and swans roamed freely.

The mammal area featured highlights such as the hippopotamus pavilion, the seal pool, and the lion and tiger enclosure. The hippopotamus pavilion was home to the hippopotamus, known as the second-largest land animal.

In the crystal-clear seal pool, black-backed and white-bellied seals could be seen shuttling back and forth like small, nimble submarines, full of energy.

After the expansion of the lion and tiger enclosure, the number of displays for fierce African lions and precious Northeast tigers increased. Other animals on show included sika deer, zebras, camels, and elk.

Features of the New Zoo

A half-day visit won’t wear you out

What is the layout of the new zoo like? Enter the amusement park first, then the zoo. According to management, the entire park covers an area of 520,000 square meters, divided into 24 exhibits, with a total touring time of 4–6 hours. Is such a large visit suitable for younger children? Aside from the relatively long walk from the amusement area to the animal area, the average walking time between animal enclosures is about 3 minutes. It is understood that to facilitate visits, the new zoo has incorporated numerous user-friendly facilities. On-site, a nearly 600-meter sightseeing train track has been laid. In the future, visitors will be able to take an electric train from the amusement area to the animal area. A sightseeing escalator is also being installed on the mountain that separates the two functional areas. Once completed, it will not only offer different viewing perspectives but also help conserve visitors’ energy.

Closer Interaction Between Humans and Animals

One major feature of the new zoo is its combination of enclosed and open enclosures. Around major exhibits such as the aviary, the African herbivore area, the predator area, the Asian herbivore area, and the primate area, there are no wire fences separating humans from animals. Instead, safety distances are maintained using barrier-free ditches, glass walls, stainless steel soft wires, and simulated electrified grass. Non-aggressive animals, such as waterfowl like swans, are kept in outdoor free-range enclosures. Yesterday, reporters saw that an artificial lake with both decorative and breeding functions had been completed, with peach blossoms and cherry blossoms planted along the shore. Animal experts stated that this area will not only showcase the zoo’s resident animals but will also attract local wild birds.

New Species to Make Their Debut

The new zoo has invested 20 million yuan to introduce new animal species. Precious South African white rhinos, “internet-famous” alpacas, and others will be permanently...

settled in Wuxi. The national treasure giant pandas will also be on long-term rotating loan display. The zoo has specially built low-carbon indoor venues equipped with underfloor heating for these animals, while the outdoor venues are completely open. “If there is any littering or startling behavior, it can be quite harmful to some sensitive animals.” Currently, the zoo plans to open the bird and herbivore areas, allowing visitors to feed the animals, but management emphasizes that visitors must strictly follow the rules in the park guidebook. “In the past, there have been cases where animals died due to improper feeding. The new zoo provides more opportunities for close interaction between humans and animals, but it also tests the quality of visitors.”

① The new zoo’s Time Tunnel allows visitors to look down on predators such as lions from the walkway. ② The parrot aviary lets visitors interact directly with the birds. ③ The waterfowl lake is also a scenic lake in the park, where swans and other ornamental birds swim freely.

Address: No. 99 Qianrong Road, Binhu District, Wuxi City

Type: Zoo & Amusement Park

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 1 day

Phone: 0510-85528288

Official Website: http://www.wxzoo.com.cn/

Opening Hours:

April–October: 8:30–17:00 (last entry at 16:00); November–March: 8:30–16:30 (last entry at 15:30)