Have you ever been to Shanghai Zoo? I have. It’s smashing.

In the north of the city On the western edge of the city, near the other airport (Hongqiao), an easy taxi ride away from anywhere in the city so don’t bother with the subway. I went with Sam and Barclay when they were visiting and like 90% of the people there, we were mainly interested in seeing Pandas.

Up close and personal, Pandas look sort of cuddly, and sort of disgusting- imagine if you saw a grown-up Elmo from Sesame Street, with cat food in his beard, scratching his gnarled back against a tree.

Me at Shanghai Zoo
Not a Panda. [Thanks to Sam for the photo!]

More entertaining were the apes and monkeys (I know there’s a difference, but I don’t know what it is) that were shouting and taunting each other from the gaps between their cages. What I wouldn’t give to see the one night a year where the zookeepers throw open those cages and let them knife fight to a monkeyblood-soaked conclusion.

Barclay at the zoo
Not a monkey. [Thanks to Sam for the photo!]

A lovely day out, although I have to be honest; I had a hangover that could fell a tree on that particular day. For at least 45 minutes I was laid out on a bench, pouring water onto my face wondering where the nearest paramedic station was.

Also, there’s a part of the zoo that is taken up entirely with different breeds of dogs. Can you imagine the noise of 100-200 dogs all barking at each other? Is that something you’d enjoy with a hangover?

No.
Steer clear of this section.

Shanghai Zoo; 65 RMB (including Pandas)