I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium and, after visiting a few underwhelming zoos in Asia, had some trepidation about the conditions I’d find. For all of Shanghai’s glitz and glamour, China is still a developing nation and animal conservation doesn’t always seem to be a high priority (Giant Pandas excepted).
For the most part, I was impressed with Shanghai’s aquarium. I went on a weekday afternoon and was able to enjoy the exhibits (with only minor pushing and shoving to get a clear view). Weekends and school holidays might best be avoided.
The large building huddles in the shadow of Oriental Pearl TV Tower in the Luijaizui section of Pudong. There are many sights in the vicinity and combination tickets can save quite a bit of money. At US$27, the aquarium is a little expensive for a stand-alone visit.
The aquarium is ostensibly divided into regional “zones,” though limited signage made the designations unclear. One of the best (and unsurprisingly most popular) exhibits was that of the jellyfish. The gelatinous creatures glowed brightly as they propelled themselves through inky blue water. Their movements were so graceful they almost appeared to be dancing! Swarms of translucent moon jellies were illuminated in a changing rainbow of colors, creating the sensation that visitors are walking through a living, slow-motion kaleidoscope.
Another wildly popular creature was the sawfish, a critically-endangered species also known as the carpenter shark. This fellow features a long flat snout with sharp tooth-like protrusions, much like that of a chainsaw, hence the name. Unlucky prey gets impaled on the teeth, making the sawfish a fearsome predator despite its comedic appearance.
The aquarium’s showpiece is a series of tunnels which allow visitors to walk under the sea. Arched glass ceilings provide unobstructed views of a wide array of ocean dwellers swimming above, while coral formations and cleverly placed skylights create a realistic environment for the animals. A slow-moving electronic walkway inches along one side, though there is plenty of room to step off for a closer inspection of the sharks’ frightful teeth.
Other interesting displays included a trio of playful spotted seals, an ensemble of waddling penguins and fish of every size, shape and color. A section of the aquarium is dedicated to the fauna of the Amazon, such as snakes, lizards and brightly colored little frogs.
Where I thought the aquarium fell short was educating the public about the importance of conservation. Shark fin soup is a Ming Dynasty-era delicacy that is increasingly popular due to rising income levels in mainland China. As a result, shark populations are in decline due to over-fishing. I did find a small display on the importance of protecting sharks, but it lacked information about the soup and how the fins are actually harvested. Hopefully Chinese society will come to embrace animal conservancy issues as it continues to develop.