Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

» Shanghai, Jiang Su

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

The Aquarium has a total built in area of 20, 500 square meters. It is a US $50 million joint investment by Singapore-based Straco Corporation Limited and China's China Poly Group. Since its opening in February 2002, SOA (Shanghai Ocean Aquarium) has received more than 1 million visitors every year from within China and all over the world.

9 different thematic zones

SOA (Shanghai Ocean Aquarium) is divided into 9 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 our aquatic animals, and also to enable visitors to experience and admire the uniqueness of every region around the world. Some of them are most unique freshwater and marine life; others are rare aquatic life unique of China.

Why to come

All these give tourists a pleasant impression of "experiencing the wonders of the five continents at the bottom of the sea". SOA (Shanghai Ocean Aquarium) is currently the only aquarium in the world to have a separate exhibition zone that showcases aquatic animals from China, particularly rare and precious species from the famous Yangtze River.

What to see

With "experiencing the wonders of the five continents at the bottom of the sea" as its exhibition theme, the aquarium is made up of 8 major areas of asia, south america (amazan), australia, africa, cold water, polar area, sea water and deep ocean with 28 large-scale theme marine life exhibition areas, displaying the 300 species and ten thousand more rare fishes from all over the world, including the most special ones like poisonous frog, jelly fish, moonfish, leaf seadragon, king penguin, common perch. etc.

There are 4 submarine tunnels which may be rated as the longest in the world, with a total length of 168 meters. the unique auto submarine tunnel, 180 degree and 270 degree all direction sightseeing windows may make tourists feel they are on the scene.

Animals

• Archerfish
  The archerfish (or archer fish) are a family (Toxotidae) of fish known for their habit of preying on insects and other small animals by shooting them down with water droplets from their specialized mouths. A large lower jaw helps these fish to hunt. The family is a small one, consisting of seven species in the genus Toxotes; all occur in fresh, brackish, and marine waters from India to the Philippines, Australia, and Polynesia.
  
• Chinese Alligator
  The Chinese Alligator or Yangtze Alligator (Chinese: Alligator sinensis) is one of two known living species of Alligator, a genus in the family Alligatoridae. The Chinese Alligator is native only to China. It is smaller than the other alligator species, the American Alligator, growing to an average of 1.5 m (5 ft).
  
• Chinese water dragon
  Chinese Water Dragons, Physignathus cocincinus, are also known as Asian Water Dragons, Thai Water Dragons, and Green Water Dragons. A related species, P. lesuerurii, is often called the Eastern or Australian Water Dragon.
  
• Electric eel
  The electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, is a species of fish. It is capable of generating powerful electric shocks, which it uses for both hunting and self-defense. It is an apex predator in its South American range. Despite its name it is not an eel at all but rather a knifefish.
  
• Humboldt Penguin
  The Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) (aka Peruvian Penguin, or Patranca) is a South American penguin, breeding in coastal Peru and Chile. Its nearest relatives are the African Penguin, the Magellanic Penguin and the Galpagos Penguin. The penguin is named after Alexander von Humboldt, a naturalist and explorer who first described the animal to the scientific community.
  
• Kittiwake
  The kittiwakes (genus Rissa) are two closely related seabird species in the gull family Laridae, the Black-legged Kittiwake (R. tridactyla) and the Red-legged Kittiwake (R. brevirostris). The epithets "Black-legged" and "Red-legged" are used to distinguish the two species in North America, but in Europe, where R. brevirostris is not found, the Black-legged Kittiwake is often known simply as Kittiwake, or more colloquially in some areas as Tickleass or Tickleace. The name is derived from its call, a shrill 'kittee-wa-aaake, kitte-wa-aaake'.
  

Shop and Dine

Something suggest to buy

located at the end of your tour of the aquarium, you will be overwhelmed by the wide variety of merchandise that we have on display. There are some seramics, crystals, cuddly soft toys, home accessories, etc.

Where to eat

Located on the north side of the entrance on the ground floor of the aquarium, is a large fast food restaurant, which covers an area of 750 m2, with a seating capacity of more than 300 people. Providing conventional Western and Asian cuisines.

When to visit

Opening Hours: 9:00a.m. - 6:00p.m.

Getting there

Metro no.2 line, no.85, 81 and 797 buses all connect to there.

Attractions around » Shanghai, Jiang Su

Natural Scene

• Huangpu River
• The Bund
• Port Wusongkou
• Shanghai Wild Animal Park

Historical Site

• Ancient Town of Zhouzhuang
• Jade Buddha Temple
• Town God Temple
• Oriental Pearl TV Tower
• Old Town of Xitang
• Zhujiajiao Old Town
• Former French Concession
• Qibaozhen Ancient Town
• The First National Congress of the Communist Party of China Shanghai Site
• Longhua Temple
• Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen

Cultural Site

• Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
• Shanghai World Financial Center
• Shanghai Museum
• Yuyuan Garden
• Shanghai History Museum
• Nanpu and Yangpu Bridges
• Guyi Garden

Nightlife

• Night Club Street on Hengshan Road
• Shanghai Concert Hall
• Shanghai Grand Theater
• Xintiandi Bar Street
• Maoming South Road Bar Street
• Tongren Road Bar Street
• Yandang Road Bar Street
• Sasha's Bar
• Bourbon Street Bar
• Julu Road Bar Street
• Mexican madness night at Zapata's Bar

Day Entertainment & Sports

• Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
• Sheshan Golf Club

Shopping & Leisure

• Nanjing Road
• Shopping Heaven on Xujiahui Street
• Dongtai Road Antique Market
• Shopping on Fuzhou Road
• Pudong New Area
• Yandang Road Bar Street
• Xintiandi Area

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium Highlights

Aquarium in Great China

• Hong Kong Ocean Park
• Beijing Aquarium
• Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
• Blue Zoo Beijing

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. What should we need to know when visiting Shanghai in different seasons?
2. What's the best season for traveling there?

  Transportation

1. What about the transportation between Shanghai and its surrounding cities?

  Food

1. What's the specialty of Shanghai cuisine?
2. What are the must-eat Shanghai snacks? And what to notice?

  Shopping

1. Where is the most famous area for shopping here?
2. Where can we visit on our spare time?

  Travel

1. How about Shanghai's nightlife?

  Other Hints

1. How many airports do Shanghai have?
2. What is the city code of Shanghai?

• What should we need to know when visiting Shanghai in different seasons?

  The four seasons are easy to tell apart. The weather is pleasant, and the number of all kinds of products is large in Spring and Autumn.

  Every June and July is the mold rain season, so it is usually humid in hotel rooms. Umbrella is a necessary thing to bring with during the rainy weather.

  The coldest time is from late January to early February. Even though there is not much snow, warm clothes are still needed, because cold wind is always unendurable. Hotel rooms are equipped with air-conditions, so please stay warm in the room.

  It is usually super hot in July and August. Weather with higher than 35 C usually stays for about ten days, so that prevention from overheat is very necessary.

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• What's the best season for traveling there?

  After humid mold rain season and cold winter, there comes the Spring with blooming flowers, or the Autumn with falling red leaves, which are the best the seasons for trevaling.

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• What about the transportation between Shanghai and its surrounding cities?

  Travel line in the east China includes Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. It usually takes about 2C3 hours to travel between cities. Medicine that prevents car-sickness is necessary.

  Multi-city traveling usually requires travelers to put up each night in different cities. Please take care of your belongings when checking out.

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• What's the specialty of Shanghai cuisine?

  Shanghai cuisine is a mixture of five different cuisines and western food. Apart from its local food, it also has Beijing cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Guangdong cuisine, Hunan cuisine, Yangzhou cuisine, Chaozhou Cuisine, Anhui Cuisine and vegetarian cuisine, etc.

  Of course, Italian food, Russian food, French food, Vietnamese food, Korean food and Japanese food can also be found in Shanghai.

  Local people like food with light seasoning and light sweetness. Rice is their main food. People that like strong seasoning can prepare their own seasonings.

  Travelers with special needs please give us notice before hand, so we can prepare for you earlier according to your requirements.

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• What are the must-eat Shanghai snacks? And what to notice?

  Shanghai Nanxiang Dumplings, Crab Roe Dumplings, Steamed Dumplings Filled with Minced Meat and Gravy, Fermented Rice with Pigeon Eggs, Rib Rice Cakes, Eggs Boiled with Five Ingredients, Five Ingredients Beans, etc. There are a lot of delicious local food.

  Please mind the sanitation when enjoying the tasty food.

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• Where is the most famous area for shopping here?

  The shopping heaven in Shanghai is Nanjing Road. It has a name of 'the number one shopping street in China.' Now all kinds of stores have been opened by all kinds of business people. There are not only old stores that have hundreds of years, but also modern shopping malls like Friendship Europe Shopping Mall, Mancton Square, HUalian Shopping Center, etc.

  Huaihai Road is as famous as Nanjing Road. Shopping malls are standing at each side of the road: Guangna World Center, Paris Spring, Meimei Shopping Center, Parkson, etc. World famous brand can all be found in the shopping malls, which make Shanghai a shopping center of world class.

  Sichuan North Road's stores offer reasonable prices, which attracts a lot of common people. Xizangzhong Road had developed food and travel industry.

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• Where can we visit on our spare time?

  Shanghai is where Chinese movie originated. It is also where a lot of international movie festivals take place. There are world-class theaters. Famous movies and latest movies can all be found in Shanghai's movie theaters.

  Huanyi Movie Theather on Nanjing West Road, Yongle Palace on Anfu Road are the most famous movie theathers in Shanghai.

  You can also go to teahouse. Different from traditional teahouse, the teahouse in Shanghai adds more modern atmosphere that attracts more and more young people.

  New theme parks and amusement parks in Shanghai are good choices too. Modern equipments and beautiful natural scenes will bring you to the ideal land.

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• How about Shanghai's nightlife?

  Bars, KTV and DISCO are indispensable in a busy city like Shanghai. Beautiful lights are like the reflection of the stars, lightening the whole city and bring the city endless liveliness.

  Blue Belt Night Club, Night Paris and the famous Big World are all well known and loved by young people. Dancing people and fragrant martini will make you forget about tiredness and start to enjoy the charm of Shanghai city.

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• How many airports does Shanghai have?

  There are two international airports in Shanghai, which are Hongqiao Aireport and Pudong International Airport.

  Hundreds of airlines are in service, which can reach to every big and medium city in China and some cities in each country.

  Air traffic is very convenient. Pudong International Airport is mainly for international airlines, while Hongqiao Airport is mainly for national airlines.

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• What is the city code of Shanghai?

  Shanghai's area code: 021

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