Heads Up, Uni Students: Chimelong Safari Park Ain't the Spot if You're Just 'Chongzhe Wan' (冲着玩 - just for kicks).
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As an annual pass holder, I genuinely feel single-entry tickets aren't worth it. You really need to visit multiple times and take your time strolling around to truly appreciate Chimelong's charm. For example, seeing the keepers take the little animals home before closing, watching baby ostriches playfully tugging at the black-nosed sheep's wool, giraffes sparring, ponies picking on the lead sheep, little monkeys sucking their thumbs, a mandrill hassling a black swan, or even a panda climbing a tree and doing its business right in front of the audience...
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In the off-season, the little train moves incredibly slowly, taking at least half an hour, and it stops frequently for photo ops. During peak season, it just zooms past, completing the route in 15 minutes.
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If that little train doesn't go any faster, forget waiting two hours like today – you might not even get in after five!
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So why not just crank it up to 120 mph then?
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It's pretty fun.
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How can there be only two? The mother and daughter are definitely exhibited together. There are two more visible from the cable car, and the ones in the 'village' section are even closer, like, right up close!
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Just went today, and I think it was worth it. The only thing was, it was so incredibly hot, I was soaked to the bone.
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Way too many mosquitoes! Several areas in the park are full of them. I'm not going back. I've been countless times before, and I get bitten every single time.
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As far as the zoo experience goes for a visitor, Beijing Wildlife Park is much more enjoyable. It's really not worth it for people from northern China to travel all this way. I'm actually here right now.
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Totally worth it! Went on a weekday, used a different entrance, and didn't encounter any huge school tour groups the entire time. Only the train queue was a bit long, so we just used our 'wallet power' (paid for a fast pass), but it was only 50 RMB per person! It was a rushed day trying to see everything, but we even bumped into the lion-headed geese taking a stroll before their parade.
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Loved it! Would definitely go again.