Shangfangshan Forest Animal World in Suzhou, formerly known as Suzhou Zoo, was originally established on May 1, 1954, located at the eastern end of Baita East Road within the ancient city. On April 11, 2016, Suzhou Zoo closed and relocated to the southern foot of Shangfangshan on Wu Yue Road, west of Shi Hu Lake. It was officially opened to the public on October 1, 2016, with a planned area of about 67 hectares, a total construction area of 24372.5 square meters, and a land area of 24042.5 square meters.
The new park is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces Shi Hu Lake to the east, boasting a superior natural ecological environment, making it an ideal habitat for the relocation and protection of wild animals. It is a comprehensive zoo in the Suzhou area, integrating wildlife protection and breeding, animal research, scientific education, ecological tourism, and leisure and entertainment.
Guided by the habitats of animals and plants, ecological cultivation is carried out according to local conditions, establishing corresponding types of ecological plates for animals with different habits, forming eight animal exhibition areas that simulate the distribution of natural animal habitats – Herbivore Zone I, Herbivore Zone II, Primate Zone, Predator Zone, Aviary Zone I, Aviary Zone II, Amphibian and Reptile Zone, and South China Tiger Base.
The park houses over 100 species of animals, including the Yangtze giant softshell turtle, Asian elephant, South China tiger, golden snub-nosed monkey, Northeast tiger, white tiger, black bear, African lion, giraffe, and rhinoceros, with more than 1000 individuals.
Herbivore Zone I, located in the central part of Shangfangshan Forest Animal World, is currently composed of nine enclosures including the elephant pavilion, giraffe pavilion, zebra pavilion, and elk exhibition area, with an enclosure area of about 2200 square meters, housing and displaying nine species of animals such as the Asian elephant, giraffe, elk, zebra, and kangaroo. The representative animal of this area is the Asian elephant.
Herbivore Zone II, located in the western part of Shangfangshan Forest Animal World, is currently composed of four enclosures including the sika deer exhibition area, fallow deer exhibition area, and argali pavilion, with an enclosure area of about 270 square meters, housing and displaying four species of animals such as sika deer, fallow deer, and argali. The representative animal of this area is the fallow deer.
Primate Zone, located in the southwest area of Shangfangshan Forest Animal World, is currently composed of twelve enclosures including Monkey Island, with an enclosure area of about 700 square meters, housing and displaying fifteen species of animals such as the golden snub-nosed monkey, black and white colobus, squirrel monkey, and ring-tailed lemur. The representative animal of this area is the golden snub-nosed monkey.
Predator Zone, located in the northern part of Shangfangshan Forest Animal World, is currently composed of eleven enclosures including the South China tiger exhibition area, Northeast tiger exhibition area, and white tiger exhibition area, with an enclosure area of about 4700 square meters, housing and displaying eleven species of animals such as the South China tiger, Northeast tiger, white tiger, African lion, and black panther. The representative animal of this area is the South China tiger.
Aviary Zone I, located in the southeast area of Shangfangshan Forest Animal World, is currently composed of the large wader area, pheasant exhibition area, and parrot pavilion, with an enclosure area of about 700 square meters, housing and displaying over fifty species of animals such as the oriental stork, red-crowned crane, common crane, flamingo, and macaw.
The representative animal in this area: Flamingo. Bird Area 2 is located in the northeast corner of Shangfangshan Forest Animal World. It is currently composed of four sets of cages including vulture exhibition area, hornbill pavilion, and toucan pavilion. The cage area is about 644 square meters. Five kinds of animals such as hornbills, vultures, and toucans are raised and exhibited. The representative animal in this area: Hornbill. The amphibian and reptile area is located in the central area of Shangfangshan Forest Animal World. It is currently composed of soft-shelled turtle pond, Chinese alligator exhibition area, etc. The area is about 481 square meters. Animals such as soft-shelled turtles, Chinese alligators, Burmese pythons, red-tailed boas, Pan’s box turtles, and radiated tortoises are raised and exhibited. The representative animal in this area: Soft-shelled turtle. The South China tiger is one of the world’s top ten endangered species. Suzhou Zoo is named ‘Suzhou South China Tiger Breeding Base in China’. It is one of the earliest professional institutions in China dedicated to the protection and research of South China tiger bases. It undertakes important tasks of South China tiger breeding research and popular science education. In order to create a better living environment for South China tigers, combined with the construction of the lakeside area of Shihu Scenic Area, the municipal government started the relocation project of Suzhou South China Tiger Breeding Base in 2010 and relocated the base to the mountain col of Shangfangshan in Shihu Scenic Area of Suzhou. The new base was completed and put into use in June 2013. It covers a total area of 70 mu, and the cage area is about 3100 square meters. There is an outdoor activity space in front of each cage. The activity space is enriched and arranged by imitating the environmental characteristics of its wild habitat, achieving the unity of ornamental and practical. Shangfangshan Forest Animal World not only brings visual enjoyment to tourists, but also pays attention to the sense of experience and provides tourists with perfect supporting services. The Habitat Pavilion has a construction area of about 2500 square meters. It is an ecological, environmentally friendly and popular science education habitat exhibition hall suitable for parent-child tours. The main exhibition area of the whole hall is divided into multiple natural ecological areas such as tropical rainforest, swamp wetland, seaside world, grassland world, vast desert, alpine plateau, colorful ocean, and polar regions of the North and South Poles. Modern audio-visual and electrical means such as simulated environment, video projection, 360 phantom imaging, and immersive theater are used to make people seem to be in a colorful plant kingdom and animal paradise. In addition, the children’s interactive area in the Habitat Pavilion has many different interactive mini-games, so that children can feel the mystery of science in the process of hands-on operation and open up children’s curiosity and exploration of science and technology. The cute pet garden provides children with the opportunity to have close contact with small animals. There are docile and lovely goats, alpacas, sika deer, ponies, cattle, peacocks, rabbits, Cole ducks, marmots, miniature pigs, porcupines, etc. Sightseeing cruise ships allow tourists to leisurely swim on the clear river and closely observe the living space of various precious waterfowl. Viewing the colorful forest animal world on the water brings tourists a unique viewing experience.
The amusement park is rich in types of entertainment facilities, including pirate ships, carousels, trapeze artists, etc., creating a children’s amusement kingdom, allowing children to fully enjoy the innocence and童趣 that belong to children while watching animals. In addition, there are also commercial supporting facilities such as lakeside restaurants and comprehensive shopping stores in the park, supplying fast food, various hot and cold drinks, tourist souvenirs, snacks, etc.; sightseeing tour buses are opened. Along the main road, there is a 3-kilometer-long electric sightseeing bus tour route with a total of 9 stops. Unlimited rides are available on the same day, and passengers can get on and off freely at park stops, allowing tourists to easily enjoy the entire animal world and also appreciate the animals in the park at their own pace. There is also a large underground parking lot with about 900 parking spaces and an area of about 24,000 square meters. Shangfangshan Forest Animal World fully embodies the concept of ‘people-oriented, coexisting with nature’, strengthens the natural beauty and highlights the cultural connotations, and strives to create an ecological park tour system integrating ornamental, entertaining and educational functions. Opening hours: Open all year round from 08:30 to 17:00. Preferential policies: Children: Children under 1.4 meters (inclusive) in height can enter the park free of charge when accompanied by adults; children under 6 years old (inclusive), with valid certificates, can enter the park free of charge when accompanied by adults. Free. Minors aged 6 (excluding) to 18 (inclusive) enjoy half-price tickets. Elderly: Elderly people aged 60 (inclusive) and above in Jiangsu Province can enter the park free of charge with valid identity cards and other valid certificates. Elderly people aged 70 (inclusive) or above can enter the park free of charge with the ‘Senior Citizen Certificate’ or resident identity card. Free. Elderly people aged 60 (inclusive) to 70 (excluding) outside Jiangsu Province can enjoy half-price tickets with valid identity cards and other valid certificates. Half-price. Students: Full-time undergraduate and below students can enjoy half-price tickets with valid resident identity cards or student ID cards and other valid certificates. Half-price. Military personnel: Active-duty military personnel can enter the park free of charge with military certificates. Disabled revolutionary military personnel can enter the park free of charge with disability military certificates (military certificates include military officer certificates, armed police officer certificates, soldier certificates, military cadet certificates, military civilian cadre certificates, etc.). Free. Disabled people: Disabled people can enter the park free of charge with the ‘Disability Certificate’. For severely disabled people who need accompaniment, one accompanying person (with valid identity documents) can accompany them into the park free of charge. Free. Preferential objects: Preferential objects with the ‘Preferential Certificate for Veterans of the People’s Republic of China’ and the ‘Preferential Certificate for Martyrs, Military Personnel Died in the Line of Duty, and Surviving Family Members of Military Personnel Died of Illnesses’ (except for attractions within the park, park charges and night tour projects). Free. Medical staff in Suzhou: From the day of International Nurses Day on May 12 and Chinese Doctors’ Day on August 19 every year, within 7 days (from May 12 to 18 and from August 19 to 25), medical staff in Suzhou can visit the scenic area for free.
For medical personnel in Suzhou City, when visiting the scenic area, please show “personal ID card” + “Suzhou medical personnel free park card (electronic card)”. They can enter the park directly without reservation and are exempt from the first entrance ticket fee. Free for retired military cadres: With retirement certificates. Parking lot of service facilities: [Zoo parking lot]. Reference price: 5 yuan for two hours, 10 yuan for four hours, 15 yuan for six hours, with a ceiling of 15 yuan. Address: Opposite the main entrance of the zoo. Parking spaces: 1000. WIFI: Account: DCN_VAP_2G. Password: No password. Coverage: Tourist service center in the scenic area. Mobile phone charging: The tourist center and habitat museum in the scenic area provide power bank rental services. Luggage storage: Reference price: free. Transportation in the park: Reference price: 30 yuan/person. Toilets: There are toilets in the scenic area, located near the sightseeing car ticket office, near the first area of birds and poultry, and near the fierce animal area, and are marked with eye-catching signs. Convenience stores: There are multiple convenience stores in the scenic area, located near the main entrance, cruise ship dock, and near the elephant pavilion, and support WeChat/Alipay.
