What historical architecture is preserved inside the park?

The site preserves Changguanlou, a Baroque palace built for Empress Dowager Cixi, along with Lamarck Hall, an experimental botany facility.

What scientific research takes place at the facility?

The grounds serve as a research centre that studies animal behaviour and breeds rare and endangered fauna in partnership with universities.

What notable breeding achievement occurred with giant pandas here?

Staff at the park established a successful captive breeding programme for the giant panda after placing the species on display.

What was the park before it became a municipal zoo?

The land was originally an imperial manor during the Ming dynasty and later operated as an agricultural experimentation farm with a botanical garden and menagerie.

Which works of fiction and cinema feature the grounds?

The setting appears in the novel The Bone Labyrinth by James Rollins and forms the central backdrop of the feature film Fish and Elephant directed by Li Yu.

Who donated war horses to the grounds during the rebuilding era?

National leaders Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Ren Bishi donated their war horses to support the restoration of the animal collection.

Pékin · Chine

zoo de Pékin: ce qu’il y a autour, comment y aller et quand venir · 2026

Researchers based in Xizhimen share daily paths with crowds heading toward the giant panda pavilions, trading quiet morning observation for heavy afternoon pedestrian traffic.

Beijing Zoo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Carte des lieux

Autour1

Taux de change6,65 ¥pour 1 $CNY — la monnaie du paysau 2 nov. 2026

À moins de deux heures

Cité interdite≈ 25 min place Tian'anmen≈ 30 min temple du ciel≈ 30 min musée de la capitale≈ 45 min palais du prince Gong≈ 50 min Shichahai≈ 1 h

À propos du lieu

The grounds preserve northern China's oldest public park, operating continuously as an active zoological research base.

The site originated on Ming dynasty manor grounds before becoming an imperial agricultural station outside Xizhimen. Qing officials combined historic gardens and temples into an experimental farm known as Wanshouyuan. Empress Dowager Cixi commissioned Changguanlou, a French-designed Baroque palace that remains intact on the property. French scientific cooperation later added Lamarck Hall for botanical research.

Wartime devastation depleted the animal collections before municipal reconstruction restored the grounds as the Western Suburban Park. National leaders donated retired cavalry mounts to restock the grounds, while staff rebuilt partnerships with Eastern Bloc institutions. Exchanges with zoological facilities in Moscow and Leipzig brought lions and bears, establishing research programs that led to domestic breeding of giant pandas.

Beyond tourism, domestic universities maintain ongoing research stations across the park to monitor animal behavior. Director Li Yu filmed the independent drama Fish and Elephant directly within the grounds. Meanwhile, persistent visitor crowds and dated enclosures drive active public debate regarding animal welfare standards and municipal plans for suburban relocation.

Associations

Giant panda breedingStaff conduct zoological research and domestic breeding of rare native species.
ChangguanlouPreserved Baroque palace built for Empress Dowager Cixi by a French architect.
Lamarck HallHistoric botanical research station established through French scientific cooperation.
Enclosure conditionsAged enclosures and dense crowds attract ongoing concern over captive welfare.

Faits

The zoo grounds form the oldest public park in northern China.
Empress Dowager Cixi commissioned the Baroque palace Changguanlou on the grounds.
Chinese leaders Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Ren Bishi donated their war horses to the park.
The Moscow Zoo and Leipzig Zoo transferred lions, bears, and vultures to expand the collection.

Mis à jour le 10 septembre 2026Source : Wikipedia

zoo de Pékin: ce qu’il y a autour, comment y aller et quand venir · 2026

Aux alentours1

The grounds preserve northern China's oldest public park, operating continuously as an active zoological research base.

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