The Beijing Zoo (Chinese: 北京动物园; pinyin: běi jīng dòng wù yuán) is the oldest zoo in China, and covers an area of approximately 124 acres. The grounds combine cultivated flower gardens with stretches of natural scenery, including dense groves of trees, stretches of grassland, a small stream, lotus pools and small hills dotted with pavilions and halls.
The zoo's residents consist of more than 6,000 animals of over 500 species including giant pandas, golden monkeys, and brown bears. The zoo also houses many rare animals from other parts of the world: hippopotami, zebras, giraffes, chimpanzees, lions and antelopes from Africa, parrots from South America, birds and polar bears from the Arctic, bison from Europe and apes from Asia.
The zoo is also a center of zoological research that collects and breeds rare animals from various continents.