Beijing Zoo & Beijing Aquarium

Although not as pleasant as Shànghǎi’s green and wooded getaway, Beijing Zoo is a relaxing spot for a wander among the trees, grass and willow-fringed lakes, even if the creatures can be mere sideshows. Zoologically speaking, the well-housed pandas are the prime diversions, especially if you are not en route to the Sìchuān wilds. The remaining menagerie remains cooped up in pitiful cages and enclosures, with the polar bears pinning their hopes on gaining admission to the excellent Beijing Aquarium in the northeastern corner of the zoo. On view is an imaginative Amazon rainforest (complete with piranha), coral reefs, a shark aquarium (where you can dive with the flesh-eaters) and a marine mammal pavilion (which hosts lively aquatic animal displays). The ticket price to the aquarium includes entry to the zoo; you can buy this ticket at the zoo entrance. The Popular Science Museum (Y5) within the grounds of the zoo has no English captions so is highly missable, but the small children’s zoo (Y10; open 9am to 5pm) is fun for young zoologists. From May to October, boats to the Summer Palace depart from the dock (8838 4476; one way Y40; hourly 10am-4pm). East of the zoo is the distinctive Beijing Exhibition Center (Běijīng Zhǎnlǎn Guǎn;), designed in the days when Chinese architects were party ideologues. Getting to the zoo is easy enough: take the subway to Xizhimen Station, from where it’s a 1.2km walk heading west or a short ride on any of the buses.