Beijing Haiyangguan (Beijing Aquarium)
"The world's largest inland aquarium" attracted plenty of opposition from local environmental groups when it opened in 1999, and the logic of keeping countless marine animals so far from the sea is questionable. Efforts to compensate are obvious -- the environmental message is laid on thickly in the Chinese captions. Introducing Chinese children to the concept that shrimp can exist somewhere other than in a sea of garlic sauce has to be commended, although descriptions of "horrible" sharks show there's a way to go in environmental efforts.Dolphin showsat 11am and 3pm pack in the one-child families.Beijing Zoo (Beijing Dongwuyuan)lies to the south, and despite improvements to some areas -- notably thePanda House-- the zoo is more likely to traumatize your child than provide entertainment. It is possible to take a boat from the canal south of the aquarium to the Summer Palace (50-min. trip; ¥40/$5 one-way, ¥70/$8.70 round-trip).
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| Hours | 9am-4:30pm (to 10pm during summer holidays) | |
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| Address | Gaoliang Qiao Xiejie 18B | |
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| Location | Haidian Qu | |
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| Transportation | From Beifang Jiao Da cross road and walk west; north gate of the Beijing Zoo. Bus: 16 (zhi xian) from Xi Zhi Men metro stop (201) to Beifang Jiao Da | |
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| Phone | 010/6217-6655 | |
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| Prices | Admission ¥110 ($14) includes admission to Beijing Zoo; children ¥60 ($7.50); 2 children free with 1 paid adult ticket | |