Located just next to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai's bustling financial district of Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is another sign of the cultural tourist attractions. Everyone shouldn't miss it when coming to Shanghai. Known as the largest modernization Marine Aquarium in Asia, it covers an area of about 13,000 square meters (3.2 acres), a total construction area of over 20,000 square meters (4.9 acres).
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is laid out in the shape of the pyramid composed of the main part of the aquarium and the other auxiliary buildings. It is divided into nine different thematic zones, with a collection of more than 450 species of aquatic animals from the five continents and four oceans. Each zone in the Aquarium is specially designed to recreate the most natural surroundings for the aquatic animals, and also to enable the visitors to experience and admire the uniqueness of every region around the world. You will have a fascinating underwater world tour without getting out of China.
Your round-the-world underwater journey starts from Yangtze River in China, and then continues to the mysterious flooded forest of the Amazon in South Africa. Later you will be brought to the mangroves and billabongs of Australia. You will get excited about the meandering rivers of Africa before arriving at the rainforests of Southeast Asia. The last leg of the journey will take you from the sandy shores to the depths of the ocean. During this dreamy trip, you will meet Chinese sturgeon, Giant Salamander, Electric Eels, Spotted seals, Leafy and Weedy Sea Dragons, Jellyfish, Sand Tiger Sharks...and the like.
Besides displaying the distinctive fresh water and marine creatures all over the world, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is currently the only one that has the separate exhibition area showing the aquatic animals in China, especially the rare animals along Yangtze River.
The most distinctive display is of those rare species including Emperor Penguin. Arrow-poison Frog, endowed with the brightest color and the deadly poison. Jellyfish, the crystal body seems like a nice umbrella. More interesting, it has the stunt of making precise forecast of typhoon. Sunfish, the peace envoy in the ocean, who like to float on the sea basking and watching the moon. It is really the enjoyment for the seabirds to nestle on its plump kite. Leafy Sea Dragon, the Dragon of the Water, it comes from coastal waters in South Australia. It resembles the legendary dragon in shape with the beautiful leaves on his body. Apart from those creatures in the world, the halls are specially designated to introduce the culture and geographic environment of the 4 continents and 5 oceans.
The aquarium owns the longest sightseeing tunnels with the length of 168 meters (184 yards) in the world. Through the 180 degrees and 270 degrees landscape window, tourists can fully appreciate the mystery and varieties of the underground world.
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is comprehensive exhibition hall integrated tourism, commerce with scientific study. It helps us better understand and care about our river and oceans. Not only can we be entertained but we learn many unknowns here.
Ticket: CNY 135 for adults; CNY 90 for kids between 1.0 - 1.4 m
Opening Hours:
09:00 - 18:00 (enter before 17:30)
09:00 - 21:00 (during Summer Holidays and Golden Holidays; enter before 20:30)
Transportation:
A. Take Bus No. 81, 82, 85, 583, 774, 795, 798, 799, 870, 961, 971, 985, 992, 993 or 996 and get off at Oriental Pearl TV Tower stop, Lujiazui or Lujiazui Subway Station stop;
B. Take Subway Line 2 and get off at Lujiazui station.
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