Shangfangshan Forest Animal World

Suzhou Shangfangshan Forest Zoo, formerly known as Suzhou Zoo, was founded on May 1, 1954, and was located at the eastern end of Baitadong Road in the ancient city. On April 11, 2016, Suzhou Zoo closed and relocated to the southern foot of Shangfangshan Mountain on Wuyue Road, west of Shihu Lake. It officially opened to the public on October 1, 2016, with a planned area of approximately 67 hectares, a total building area of 24,372.5 square meters, and a land area of 24,042.5 square meters. The new park is surrounded by mountains on three sides and borders Shihu Lake to the east, boasting a superior natural ecological environment. It is an ideal habitat for ex-situ conservation of wild animals and a zoo in the Suzhou area that integrates wild animal protection and breeding, animal research, popular science education, ecological tourism, and leisure and entertainment. With plant and animal habitats as the main focus, ecological cultivation is carried out according to local conditions, establishing corresponding types of ecological sections for animals with different habits, forming eight animal exhibition areas that simulate the distribution of natural animal habitats: Herbivore Area 1, Herbivore Area 2, Primate Area, Carnivore Area, Avian Area 1, Avian Area 2, Amphibian and Reptile Area, and South China Tiger Base.