Guangzhou Zoological Garden, Animal sanctuary in Huanghuagang, China.

Guangzhou Zoo is a large public zoo in the Huanghuagang neighborhood of Guangzhou, home to animals from around 400 species. The grounds are divided into separate sections for big cats, elephants, primates, and aquatic life, making it easy to move from one group of animals to another.

The zoo opened in 1958 and quickly grew into one of the three largest zoos in China. Over the following decades, it expanded its animal collections and took on a more active role in protecting endangered species.

The zoo displays giant pandas and South China tigers, two animals that carry deep meaning for people in this region and are rarely seen this close in person. Watching them in person gives visitors a sense of how rare these animals have become in the wild.

The zoo is served by Subway Line 5 at Zoo Station, and several bus routes also stop nearby, making it easy to reach from central Guangzhou. Arriving early in the day helps avoid the larger crowds that typically gather on weekends and public holidays.

The Guangzhou Oceanarium, on the zoo's north side, opened in 1998 and holds more than 300 species and over 15,000 marine animals, kept in artificial sea salt. It has been run since 2017 by a subsidiary of Guangzhou City Construction Investment Group. Look for the Han dynasty tomb found at the rhino enclosure in 2012 and preserved in place.