Beijing Zoo - Blogabond

Hopped on the train and railed over to the Beijing Zoo. We went the wrong way after we caught the transfer train but recognized our mistake quickly and so we only went one stop before getting off and taking the train the other way. We saw the most rude and funny thing before we got to the zoo. I've written many times about the lack of personal space and that people will literally run you over to get somewhere. That's exactly what happened. At one stop, there were many more people that wanted to get on than get off. So, as the train doors opened, the few that needed to get off did and then the stampede to board was on. These two Chinese girls, each of whom could not have been more than 5' tall on their tippy toes, were standing in front of me when this good-sized man just bowls them over, the one girl much harder than the other. If the train had been less crowded, she would have ended up on the floor of the train. Instead, she got moved back along with the people behind her a good three feet. I couldn't believe this guy! Then, after the one girl got creamed, she starts laughing and continues to do so with her friend for a good 10 seconds. That cracked us up! It was like someone on the show 'Biggest Loser' stomping a munchkin from The Wizard of Oz. It was quite funny and a head shaker both at the same time.

We arrived at the zoo and bought our passes for the aquarium as well. As you walk in, there is a fairly large moat that has many different types of aquatic birds. Here are a few:

We walked around the entire zoo and finally came to the pandas!

Like my friend Jason says in his best Forrest Gump voice, this bear was taking a nayyyyyaaap.
Here is another shot of a different bear:

I had more but they didn't turn out since the glass reflected the flash and whited out the images.
This sequence of signs is pretty funny:

We also saw the bad part of the zoo:

This guy is being fed by the public. they throw him parts of sandwhiches, popcorn, and whatever they have. You can tell by his fur how poorly he is being cared for. Then there is this bear:

What was even worse is there was no water ANYWHERE that we could see. It's almost 100 degrees and no water.
Here are the rhinos (notice their ribs showing):

Nothing else really has to be said as these pictures I think tell a thousand words.

Here are some other photos that are better:

Here's one that resembles the aforementioned Jason:

Oh wait, this guy has hair.

We also went to the aquarium and the dolphin show but that's when the batteries died in my camera. It was a short show. In any case, no one puts on a water mammal show like Sea World. This was the minor leagues compared to Sea World.

We're winding down our stay. These next days will be filled with eating foods that were not meant to be eaten by people (ay least in the west). I am still having major stomach problems so eating insects, arachnids, and God knows what else shouldn't make it any worse. More tomorrow...

written by

akstoltzy on June 20, 2010 from Beijing, China

from the travel blog: China

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Those pictures are heart-breaking....

written by Lori...the animal lover of the family. on June 23, 2010

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