Beijing Zoo Tickets: how to buy, prices and discounts

If you are planning a trip to the Chinese capital and want to enjoy an alternative plan, outside the tours of the old part of the city and the Olympic Village, which marks the limit of the most modern attractions, you cannot miss the Beijing Zoo, a natural reserve of more than 15,000 animals of 450 different species.

In this zoo, which is especially known for its collection of Chinese animals, you can discover giant pandas, snow leopards, Bengal tigers, giraffes, Asian elephants, polar bears, seals, and numerous species of birds, reptiles and fish, making it one of the best things to see and do in Beijing.

Tickets to the Beijing Zoo start at around 6 euros for adults and 3 euros for children aged 5-12, although prices tend to vary during the summer season and on public holidays such as Chinese New Year, which is celebrated in Beijing in March, and National Day, which is celebrated every 1 October.

Since it is inexpensive, it is one of the best things to do in the Chinese capital as a family or if you plan to visit the city with children. In addition, the zoo is usually included among the best tours in Beijing.

Children under 5 years old can enter for free, although they must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Tickets, depending on the season, may not include access to all museum attractions.

Details of interest

• Price: entrance fee is approximately 6 euros per person for adults and 3 euros per person for children.
• Location: 137 Xizhimen Outer St, Xicheng Qu, Beijing.
• Opening hours: daily from 8.30am to 5pm in winter and from 8am to 6pm in summer.

General admission tickets cost approximately ¤6 for adults and ¤3 for children aged 5-12, while children under 5 are free when accompanied by a responsible adult. These tickets, with some exceptions, include access to all attractions.

On specific dates, such as Chinese New Year or National Day, due to the large influx of tourists, some attractions at Beijing Zoo, such as the Safari or the reptile and bird theme parks, may be restricted or require an extra fee, which is usually around 1 euro.

You can get skip-the-line tickets if you take a full-day tour or if you combine your zoo tour with a visit to other sites in the city, such as Tiananmen Square or the Forbidden City. Also if you decide to use Beijing's hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus, which often has priority tickets.

Beijing does not offer tourist passes or tourist cards, so the zoo is not included in any agreements for tourists visiting the city. However, it is very common in the Chinese capital for travel service providers to offer tours for several excursions together, which will save you money as well as time, as you can usually count on transfers as well.

Usually this combination of attractions includes activities such as visiting Beijing's best temples, touring the Forbidden City, walking through Tiananmen Square and attending a Kung Fu show, which is a typical show in the Chinese capital and usually amazes visitors.

Opting for these tours can be an ideal option, especially to visit the Beijing Zoo, which is a bit far from the city's main attractions located in the old part of the city.

There are no tickets that include a guided tour of the Beijing Zoo, but you certainly don't need to tour the site with the assistance of an expert local guide, as it is well signposted and information is available in several languages.

The best things to discover at the zoo are the 15,000 animals of 450 different species on display in natural habitats, theme parks and interactive activities such as the Beijing Safari. In these cases you will have the possibility of having assistance to enjoy your visit.

In addition, by touring the zoo on your own, you can also enjoy the zoo's gardens, which are very large and flowery, especially if you plan to visit Beijing during the summer or spring.

You can find discounted tickets for children between the ages of 5 and 12 and sometimes also for the over 65s, although the latter is not differentiated or made clear on the museum's official website.

Keep in mind that the zoo can change its rates depending on the number of tourists, something that is quite common in China, and that there may also be some restrictions on admission during public holidays, especially during the Chinese New Year.

As there is no tourist pass or card in Beijing, you will not be able to access this benefit, which in other cities allows you to save money and also time, as in almost all cases you will be offered tickets without queues. In any case, ticket prices, which start at around 6 euros, are usually affordable.

Beijing Zoo offers discounted tickets for children between the ages of 5 and 12, who pay an initial entrance fee of approximately 3 euros, compared to 6 euros for adults, while children under the age of 5 get in free of charge.

In all cases, underage children must be accompanied by a responsible adult and must show their documents at the entrance to verify their age.

Please note that age control regulations at attractions in China are very frequent, so I advise you to always carry identification for all visitors to avoid delays, especially if you are planning a short stay in the city. If that's the case, here is a list to help you discover Beijing in 2 days.

If you plan to visit the Beijing Zoo, buying tickets online is an excellent option compared to buying at the ticket office. First of all, you will be able to save time. You won't have to queue at the entrance and you will have more hours to explore the zoo and enjoy your visit. This is not a minor point, as the influx of tourists in the Chinese capital is usually quite high.

Secondly, buying tickets online can save you money. The zoo, during some dates, offers special discounts or promotions for those who buy their tickets in advance. You can also shop around to get the best deal.

Finally, as with the best museums in Beijing, buying your ticket in advance will give you more flexibility. You can choose the date and time of your visit to the zoo and plan your day to make sure you don't miss out on any attractions.

Beijing Zoo is open daily from 8:30am to 5:00pm during the winter and autumn season and from 8:00am to 6:00pm during the summer and spring. These extended opening hours allow you to combine your visit with other attractions such as the Forbidden City or the Silk Market.

Please note that during public holidays such as Chinese New Year and National Day, the zoo may change its opening hours or even be closed, so if you plan to tour the city on these dates, you should make sure in advance that this visit is available.

The answer will depend on a number of factors such as your interests, the amount of time you wish to spend at each exhibit and the number of people in the park at the time of your visit. However, in general, it is recommended to plan at least 4-5 hours to see most of the exhibits.

Beijing Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the world, covering an area of over 200 hectares with more than 15,000 animals of 450 different species. Popular attractions include giant pandas, African elephants, Bengal tigers and giraffes, but there are also theme parks and interactive activities, so there are plenty of places to go.

If you want to see all the exhibits at your leisure and have time to relax and take some of the best photographs of your trip, you may need to plan a full-day visit to the zoo. Be aware that this may work against a short visit to the city. If that's the case, here are the things you can do in 3 days in Beijing.

In general, spring, between April and May, and autumn, between September and October, are considered the best times to visit Beijing, including the zoo, because temperatures are milder and more pleasant, rainfall is more sporadic and the influx of tourists is not so great.

However, be aware that during the summer months temperatures can be quite high and there is more chance of rain, as it is a wet season. On the other hand, during winter temperatures are often extremely cold and there can be snow and ice on the roads, which can make access to the zoo difficult.

Another factor to consider is the peak tourist season in Beijing, which generally coincides with the summer holidays and Chinese New Year or National Day celebrations. If you want to avoid the crowds, you may want to avoid visiting the zoo during these times of the year, which are very conducive to domestic tourism.

While your personal preferences should be taken into account when choosing your visit, the best time to visit the Beijing Zoo may be during spring or autumn.

The Beijing Zoo is one of the most visited attractions in the Chinese capital, so there are several public transport options you can use to get there, depending on your location in the city:

• Metro: you can take line 4 to a station called Beijing Zoo. From there, the zoo entrance is about four blocks away.
• Bus: you can take bus lines 7, 15, 19, 27, 27, 45, 332, 334, 347, 360, 362, 601, 608 and 714, all of which will drop you off at the zoo or nearby.
• Taxi: You can also take a taxi from anywhere in Beijing city to the zoo. Make sure you have the address pre-loaded or a map app on your phone to show the driver your destination.

One of the main attractions at the Beijing Zoo are the giant pandas, one of China's most iconic and beloved animals. The site has a large number of pandas, both young and old, which you can observe in their natural environment. There is also an interactive experience where you can take pictures and learn more about these animals.

The zoo also has a wide variety of wild animals from around the world, from tigers and lions to giraffes, elephants and penguins and has a special section dedicated to marine wildlife, where you can see all kinds of aquatic animals, including the popular beluga whales.

The zoo's aquarium also has a wide variety of sea creatures, from sharks to stingrays and exotic fish, including a dolphin show that is very popular with visitors and which reviews the history of the country and some of its most fascinating monuments, such as the Great Wall of China.

In conclusion, at this zoo you can't miss seeing giant pandas, a wide variety of wild animals and a fascinating aquarium. If you love animals and you are visiting Beijing, I advise you not to miss this amazing place.

Beijing Zoo is one of the Chinese capital's most distinctive attractions, but it's also a very large and busy place for tourists, so here's a list of tips to keep in mind for your tour:

• Plan your visit: the zoo is huge, so it is advisable to plan which animals and attractions you want to see in advance, especially if you don't want to take 4 or 5 hours out of your day for a full tour.
• Arrive early: The zoo is very popular and is packed with visitors throughout the day, so it's best to arrive early to avoid the crowds and enjoy the attractions at your leisure.
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes: the zoo is large and there is a lot of walking, so it is important to wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you don't get too tired.
• Respect the animals: It is important to take care of the animals and not to feed or disturb them. You cannot touch them or try to attract their attention unnecessarily. Be aware that if you break the rules of the site you may be severely punished by the authorities.
• Buy tickets in advance: you can buy tickets at the zoo entrance, but it is best to buy them in advance to avoid long lines and save time.
• Learn about local culture and history: the zoo is also a place to learn about China, so it's worth making the most of the local culture while enjoying the site's attractions.