A visit to the Wuxi Zoo

A city with a rich history that spans for over 3,000 years, Wuxi was in existence since the Shang Dynasty. As the city was once rich in tin, people from all over China came to make fortunes from Wuxi, however the resource was soon depleted and the city became known as the place without tin or Wuxi.

But the city continues to grow and is amongst China’s key economic centres. This doesn’t mean that the city has just high-rise buildings and a network of highways. In contrast Wuxi is a tourist favourite because of its scenic beauty with natural lakes and rivers.

One of Wuxi’s recent attractions has been its zoo. A small place in comparison to zoos in the rest of the world, it is highly popular amongst foreigners and locals alike. The Wuxi zoo however boasts of over 700 animals and birds belonging to more than 80 species. Some of the key must-see includes the Siberian tigers, giant pandas, hippopotamus and sea lions. Peacocks, swans, pelicans and mandarin ducks are also most visited. Kangaroos, elephants, giraffes are also favourites at these zoo.

The Shan Juan Cave in Wuxi has its own legend. Stories say that the Chinese lovers, Romeo and Juliet used to spend long hours studying behind these caves. A museum that displays artist Chen Chi’s works is another of Wuxi’s cultural sites.

Other places of interest in Wuxi are two small hills known as ‘Tin Mountain’ and ‘Kind-hearted Mountain’. The city is also home to one of China’s largest Buddhist statue, an 88m high Grand Buddha, and thus is frequented by many devotees and pilgrims. Interestingly, the city also hosts China’s very first movie and TV film studio. Opened in in 1987, it comprises of Wuxi Three State Park, Tang City and Shuihu City.

Being a frequent tourist hot-spot Wuxi Hotel are numerous. Millennium Wuxi located inside a large garden is one such place that seems to have been inspired by the city’s natural beauty itself. With over 308 rooms and many restaurants it is famous as one of the greatest hotel in Wuxi.