Brave the fierce Siberian tigers — a "chicken call" service costs 400 yuan

By Li Xinyi, reporting

 

Yabuli was once a hunting ground for royalty during the Qing Dynasty. Nowadays, hunting is prohibited to protect wildlife, but sadly, the Siberian tiger remains one of the endangered species. To address this, Harbin is home to two Siberian Tiger Parks, the largest Siberian tiger breeding bases in the world, both of which are open to visitors. Among them, the Hengdaohezi Siberian Tiger Park, the closest to Yabuli, allows visitors to drive into a fence-free open area and walk through a steel tunnel just inches away from over a hundred Siberian tigers — an exhilarating close encounter.

 

The Hengdaohezi Siberian Tiger Park initially had only eight Siberian tigers, but now houses hundreds, with over a hundred available for public viewing. Many of the Siberian tigers in zoos across China come from here. Close encounters include taking a sightseeing bus into the open tiger zone. For safety, windows must remain closed. The tigers seem to sense the arrival of vehicles and often approach expectantly, waiting to be fed. Tourists on the bus can use the “chicken call” service for 80 RMB (about 400 NTD) per call. A separate jeep then throws the chicken outside the vehicle. Fortunately, there’s no bloody scramble for food — usually, the tiger that grabs the “snack” first gets to enjoy it alone, while others watch enviously from the sidelines. Most tigers simply lie down, continuing to wait for the next “chicken call.” This scene is quite unexpected. However, buses shouldn’t linger too long, as guides warn that tigers might bite the tires.

The park also features an iron-netted pathway for visitors to observe the tigers. Along the long corridor are adult tigers, cubs, white tigers, and liger — a hybrid of male lions and female tigers bred artificially, which are infertile. Visitors can also buy meat strips for 10 RMB and feed them through holes in the cages. The tigers adeptly climb the bars with their front paws to grab the treats. Walking along the path, you can often hear the powerful roars of the tigers, creating an intense experience. Of course, there are also services to “call” chicken, beef, or lamb, each at different prices. Due to limited transportation options to the tiger park, out-of-town visitors can join resort-organized tours. For example, local resort operator Club Med offers a four-hour tour package, including round-trip transport and park entry, at 390 RMB per person.