Plan at a glance
A 3–4 hour downhill route or a 5–6 hour complete visit
Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo is built into wooded terrain. Entering through the South Gate gives you a mostly downhill route and suits a 3–4 hour visit; entering through the North Gate works better if you want to start early and cover most of the park in 5–6 hours. The entrance you choose changes the walking direction and physical effort.
The usual hours are 08:30–18:00, with final entry at 16:30. Adult admission is about CNY 70 and student admission about CNY 35; children under 1.4 metres and visitors aged 70 and above usually enter free. During July–August and public holidays, buy online in advance if possible.
North, South and East Gates
The North Gate is at 168 Heyan Road and connects directly to Hongshan Zoo Station on Metro Line 1. It has the most food options and usually the largest supply of sightseeing carts, electric vehicles and strollers. The South Gate is near Nanjing Railway Station, with a mostly downhill route and more convenient parking; the East Gate is usually quieter but has no direct metro connection.
For a first visit, older relatives or children, the South Gate is the easier physical choice. If you want to see the pandas and koalas early and then follow the main route through the park, enter through the North Gate.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Forest setting and native species
The zoo uses a forest setting and focuses on animal habitats and native-species conservation. It does not stage animal shows. Chinese otters, leopard cats and other native animals suit visitors who prefer natural behaviour and a slower educational visit.
The park also works for families, animal lovers and photographers. There are free stamp stations, but treat them as an optional extra rather than changing the main route to find every stamp.
Pandas, koalas and Gondwana
The panda house, koala house and Gondwana area are the sections most visitors prioritise. The following times can help with planning: panda feeding may take place at 08:30, 12:30, 14:30 and 16:30; koala weighing and feeding may take place around 09:00–09:30; and the white-faced saki monkeys in Gondwana are usually more active after 10:00.
Animal activity depends on weather, care routines and the day’s conditions, so these times only help with route order and do not guarantee that a particular animal will be visible. Arriving early gives you a better chance of seeing active animals, but allow time to wait at each enclosure.
Build your day
A 3–4 hour South Gate route
Enter through the South Gate and follow Africa Song, the koala house, Gondwana, Gaoligong, the tiger house and the bear house before leaving through the North Gate. The route generally follows the slope downhill and suits visitors with limited energy, families with children or anyone who wants the main enclosures in half a day.
If the koala weighing session matters to you, confirm the day’s arrangement first and put the koala house near the beginning of your visit. The South Gate has better nearby parking, but leaving through the North Gate means arranging a pick-up or return journey in advance.
A 5–6 hour North Gate route
Enter through the North Gate and visit the giant panda house first, then the koala house. Continue along the main route through Wolf Valley, the native-species area, Africa Song and Gondwana, leaving through either the South or North Gate. Arriving around 08:30 gives you the best chance of placing the panda and koala stops early.
The North Gate route has more uphill walking and requires sustained effort. Electric vehicles may stop operating during holiday crowd controls, so plan a route that you can complete on foot and treat the vehicle as an optional convenience.
Get there
Metro to the North and South Gates
For the North Gate, take Metro Line 1 to Hongshan Zoo Station and use Exit 1. For the South Gate, take Metro Line 1 or 3 to Nanjing Railway Station, Exit 7, and walk about 5–10 minutes.
Bus routes 22, 40 and 74 stop at the Hongshan Zoo East Gate. There is no direct metro service to the East Gate, so it suits visitors who have already planned the bus transfer and prefer a quieter entrance.
Driving and transport inside the zoo
Parking around the South Gate is generally more available, while the North Gate is more prone to weekend traffic and parking pressure. If you drive, the South Gate is the more practical place to park; arrange your pick-up if you plan to leave through the North Gate.
The park has sightseeing cars, electric vehicles and strollers, but holiday crowd controls may suspend them. Shared bicycles do not replace internal transport, so enter with comfortable shoes, water and enough time for a full walking route.
Know before you go
Early visits and crowds
Animals are generally quieter around 11:30–14:00. Put the panda, koala and other priority enclosures in the morning if you want a better chance of seeing active animals. During the July–August peak and public holidays, visitor limits may apply, so online purchase in advance reduces uncertainty at the entrance.
The animal sculptures at the tiger house, the koala weighing sculpture and the installations near the Gondwana exit are common photo stops, but queues may form. Move away from enclosure entrances and walkways before stopping for photos.
Water, food and stamps
Prices inside the park are usually higher than outside, so bring drinking water and a small snack. There are fast-food options outside the North Gate and small food options near the South Gate; if you enter at the South Gate and leave at the North Gate, plan food around the exit you will use.
Some stamp stations require a purchase or operate only at certain stalls, and stamps may be damaged or run out of ink. Keep stamping optional and prioritise the animals and your return time.