Shanghai Ocean Aquarium (Shanghai Haiyang Shuizu Guan)
Shanghai's newest, biggest, and best aquarium, and Asia's largest, opened in 2002 in Pudong, next to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Its state-of-the-art facilities boasts 28 exhibit areas for over 10,000 sea creatures from all continents: sharks, jellyfish, turtles, lionfish, sea otters, Yangzi sturgeon, and more. The centerpiece is the massive, sparkling $6.6-million glass-surround observation tunnel. Adventurous visitors can make special arrangements to dive in the shark tank, though it could well cost you an arm and a leg.
Hours Daily 9am-6pm (last ticket sold 5:30pm); July-Aug 9am-9pm (last ticket 8:30pm)
Address Yincheng Bei Lu 158
Location Pudong (east of Oriental Pearl TV Tower)
Transportation Metro: Lujiazui
Phone 021/5877-9988
Web site www.aquarium.sh.cn
Prices Admission ¥110 ($13) adults, ¥65 ($7.80) seniors over 70, ¥70 ($8.40) children under 1.4m (55 in.), free for children under .8m (32 in.)
The aquarium is divided into 8 zones with 28 themes, and displays more than 10,000 individual specimens of 300 species. We followed a set path that wound through the building.
Turning to the right after entering, we came to the 'Yangtse River Rare A...