Plan at a glance
Two entrances serve two animal areas
Dalian Forest Zoo is at No. 60 Yingchun Road, Xigang District, Dalian. The north entrance leads to the animal enclosures, while the south entrance leads to the open-range exhibits. The two areas are connected within the zoo, but escalators and shuttle buses may operate seasonally. Your entrance affects which animals you see first and whether you can return directly to your parking area after the visit.
Allow about 3–4 hours for the south side, including the panda house, open-range exhibits and Flamingo Lake. To cover both areas from the north entrance to the south entrance, allow 6–8 hours. The longer route includes substantial uphill and downhill walking and transfers within the zoo, so allow roughly half a day to a full day.
Opening hours and indicative ticket prices
In peak season, from May through October, the zoo is open from 08:30 to 16:30. In the off-season, from November through April, hours are 09:00 to 16:00. Some venues may stop admitting visitors half an hour before the zoo closes. If you plan to visit the panda house or another venue near the end of your day, check its closing time on arrival.
Indicative adult admission is CNY 120 in peak season and CNY 100 in the off-season; discounted admission is about CNY 60. Visitors aged 70 and over and children under 1.3 meters may qualify for free admission. Check the ticket page or ticket office for the current price, eligibility and how a child's height is assessed.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Representative animals and areas
The panda house is a highlight of the south-side short route. The open-range exhibits are home to giraffes, zebras and alpacas, and Flamingo Lake is near the south entrance. A full visit crosses both the animal enclosures and open-range exhibits; visiting only the panda house or Flamingo Lake covers just part of the zoo.
Choose a route that fits your time
Families with children, or visitors who want to see a few representative animals, can focus on the south side and allow 3–4 hours. If you are comfortable with a longer walk and want to cover both areas, consider the 6–8-hour route from the north entrance to the south entrance. The zoo has many slopes, and the longer route involves sustained walking and several transfers.
Build your day
Short route from the south entrance: focus on the open-range exhibits
Enter through the south entrance and visit the panda house first. Continue through the open-range exhibits, looking for giraffes, zebras and other animals, then finish at Flamingo Lake near the entrance before leaving through the south gate. Allow 3–4 hours. The shuttle in the open-range area is sold by zone; a pass costs CNY 20 per person and allows multiple rides within the covered zone.
This route starts and ends near the south entrance, which is convenient for drivers who need to return to the same parking area. Shuttle stops and venue hours may change, so check the information at the entrance and stops that day. Animal activity varies, and the route does not depend on a scheduled feeding.
North-to-south route: cover both areas
Use this cross-area route only after confirming that the connecting facilities are operating that day. Enter through the north gate, visit the animal enclosures, use the in-zoo connection to reach the open-range exhibits, and leave through the south gate. Allow about 6–8 hours. Shuttle passes for the two areas are sold separately at CNY 20 per person each and are not interchangeable. The cross-area route depends on the seasonal and daily operation of the connecting facilities. If the escalators or shuttle buses are out of service, follow the areas open that day.
This is a one-way route from north to south. If you park at the north entrance and leave from the south, arrange a ride back to the north entrance for your car before you start. Drivers can instead use the south-entrance short route or arrange a pickup at the south entrance.
Get there
Buses and entrances
Several bus routes stop at “Forest Zoo South Gate” or “Forest Zoo Station.” Choose the entrance that matches your stop. Drivers should park at the north or south entrance according to the area they plan to visit, so they can return to their vehicle after leaving.
Parking and departure
Parking at both the north and south entrances is listed at CNY 10 per visit. For the south-side short route, park at the south entrance and leave from the same gate.
Know before you go
Walking, venues and shuttle buses
The zoo has sloping paths, and walking the full route can be strenuous. The two areas are linked by in-zoo facilities, while escalators and shuttle buses may operate seasonally; check whether they are running that day. Shuttle passes are sold separately for the animal enclosures and open-range areas at CNY 20 per area. Check which area a pass covers; it cannot be used after crossing into the other area.
Some venues may close half an hour before the zoo itself. Check the panda house’s displays and feeding arrangements in that day’s notice, and do not plan around a fixed feeding time. Do not feed animals outside areas where feeding is expressly permitted.