Established in 1993 and grandly opened in 1999 as a gift project for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing Aquarium is one of the first national 4A-level marine-themed scenic spots. It integrates exhibitions, performances, dining and commercial services, and conference exhibition functions. Home to beautiful beluga whales, enthusiastic dolphins, adorable sea lions, and a stunning variety of over a thousand marine species, it offers inland city residents the chance to get close to the ocean and experience its wonders.
On September 25, Beijing Aquarium held a grand launch ceremony for the “Return of the Sharks · Dynamic Oceans” Shark Town and celebrated its 15th anniversary. The event also officially announced the renaming of Beijing Lida Marine Biology Pavilion Co., Ltd. to Beijing Xinwoda Marine Technology Co., Ltd. The celebration received strong support from the Xicheng District Tourism Development Commission and the Xicheng District Tourism Industry Association of Beijing. At the ceremony, Hu Weiyong, General Manager of Beijing Aquarium, welcomed and expressed gratitude to the guests. Distinguished guests unveiled the new exhibition area “Shark Town” together, while representatives and guests from over a hundred aquariums around the world gathered to celebrate.
In 2005, to facilitate the off-site conservation of the endangered Chinese sturgeon, Beijing Aquarium converted the Shark Pavilion into the National Treasure Chinese Sturgeon Pavilion, and the sharks residing there were relocated. During this period, many citizens called to express their reluctance and nostalgia for the sharks. Practice has proven that the nine-year collaboration between science and enterprise not only explored new models and approaches for Chinese sturgeon conservation, achieving breakthrough results, but also earned social recognition for its innovative conservation displays. On that day, Beijing Aquarium and the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences renewed the “Chinese Sturgeon Conservation Project Cooperation Agreement.” The signing of the new agreement marks a further deepening of the Chinese sturgeon conservation initiative. Through unremitting efforts, Beijing Aquarium will vigorously advocate for public awareness of the protection of rare and endangered fish species, actively promote scientific research related to Chinese sturgeon conservation, as well as off-site conservation demonstrations and artificial breeding projects, striving to advance marine ecological protection.
In 2014, to thank all sectors of society for their years of care and support, Beijing Aquarium rebuilt the Shark Pavilion, bringing the shark family back. Nearly 10 rare shark species, including narrow-headed hammerhead sharks, sand tiger sharks, high-fin sharks, nurse sharks, leopard sharks, blacktip sharks, and whitetip sharks, made their dazzling debuts. Together with other precious species such as sawfish and guitarfish, they created a spectacular scene of thousands of fish swimming in unison, giving the public a glimpse of the majesty of the ocean’s apex predators.
To meet the needs of visitors, Beijing Aquarium will increase the number of performances and enrich performance content during the National Day holiday. In addition to visiting and sightseeing, guests can also participate in tech-based interactive experiences in the new Shark Town exhibition area.
Introduction to Beijing Aquarium’s Chinese Sturgeon Conservation Project
Among the 27 species of sturgeon found in global waters, one anadromous species is known as the “Chinese sturgeon.” It bears the name “Chinese” because it is unique to China and returns to the Yangtze River to spawn no matter where it swims in the ocean. Having coexisted with dinosaurs, the Chinese sturgeon is one of the oldest surviving vertebrates on Earth and is often referred to as the “panda of the water.”
For hundreds of millions of years, the Chinese sturgeon has witnessed the progress of biological evolution and Chinese civilization. However, with environmental changes and economic development, it now faces the threat of extinction. In the 1950s and 60s, the Chinese sturgeon freely migrated along the Yangtze River, but in less than 30 years, its population drastically declined. By the end of 2012, decades of hard work by several generations of researchers and years of effort by Beijing Aquarium led to the successful reproduction of the second generation of Chinese sturgeon in a fully artificial environment, marking the species’ path to survival.
In 2005, Beijing Aquarium and the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences jointly launched the Chinese Sturgeon Conservation Project to explore the artificial breeding, rescue, and rearing of wild Chinese sturgeons. The first Chinese sturgeon rescued in Beijing still lives in the sturgeon pavilion and is known as the “Sturgeon Queen.” Since then, wild Chinese sturgeons injured before or after giving birth, as well as a group of first-generation Chinese sturgeons, have been transported from Jingzhou, Hubei to Beijing Aquarium for rehabilitation and later released back into the Yangtze River. Through persistent efforts, Beijing Aquarium’s research team successfully restored the health of postpartum female sturgeons and established an aquarium population of first-generation Chinese sturgeons, laying the foundation for long-term artificial breeding, reuse of wild broodstocks, and off-site conservation of the Chinese sturgeon. In 2008, under the guidance and coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing Aquarium gifted several first-generation Chinese sturgeons to Hong Kong, allowing residents there to have close contact with this precious national treasure. By the end of 2012, the successful breeding of the second-generation Chinese sturgeon in a fully artificial environment produced 23,000 healthy fry. This marked not only the first success in over 30 years of conservation efforts but also played a crucial role in advancing large-scale restocking, conservation initiatives, and the long-term survival of the species. In 2014, Beijing Aquarium renewed the “Chinese Sturgeon Conservation Project Cooperation Agreement” with the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, signifying a further deepening of the conservation project.
In the future, Beijing Aquarium will continue its unremitting efforts to raise public awareness of the protection of rare and endangered fish species, promote scientific research related to Chinese sturgeon conservation, and advance off-site conservation demonstrations and artificial breeding projects, striving to protect marine ecosystems. The construction of an ecological civilization concerns the future of the nation. Caring for aquatic wildlife requires everyone to work together.