Beijing Aquarium & Blue Zoo Beijing: Best Aquariums in Beijing for Families and Ocean Lovers

Beijing is known worldwide for its historic landmarks, from the Forbidden City to the Great Wall. Yet the city also offers wonderful indoor attractions that bring you a calm, refreshing break from busy sightseeing.

An aquarium in Beijing works beautifully for all travelers — couples, friends, seniors, solo explorers, and marine life enthusiasts. In this guide, we introduce the two best choices: Beijing Aquarium and Blue Zoo Beijing, so you can easily pick the one that fits your trip.


I. Quick Comparison: Beijing Aquarium vs Blue Zoo Beijing

                                      Beijing Aquarium                                       Blue Zoo Beijing
Best For           Marine life lovers & full-experience visitors     Casual visitors, couples, relaxed travelers
Size                         Largest aquarium in Beijing                     Small to medium, compact indoor aquarium
Location                        Beijing Zoo area                                          Chaoyang District (single venue)
Highlights     Dolphin show, shark hall, ocean tunnel   Interactive feeding, touch pools, mermaid shows
Time Needed                      Half day                                                     1–2 hours
Suitable For                       All ages                                      All ages, great for short visits
Photography               Excellent scenic spots                              Fun, casual, and colorful shots

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II. Beijing Aquarium: The Largest Aquarium in Beijing

2.1 Overview of Beijing Aquarium

Located within Beijing Zoo, Beijing Aquarium is one of the largest inland aquariums in China. It features spacious exhibition zones, hundreds of marine species, and professionally designed ecological displays. Ideal for a half-day visit, it can also be combined with Beijing Zoo for a full-day indoor-outdoor experience.

2.2 Tickets & Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Peak Season (Apr. 1-Dec. 31): 9:00-17:30
Low Season (Nov. 1-Mar. 31): 10:00-17:00

Best Time to Visit
On weekdays between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM

Recommended Visit Duration
3 hours for sightseeing and photos only
4-5 hours if including shows and breaks

Tickets (including Beijing Zoo)
Adult: 175 RMB
Discounted ticket: 87 RMB
Available for students under 18 and seniors over 60.
Free admission: Children under 1.2 meters

Booking
Online reservation is recommended to avoid long lines; Tickets can be purchased in advance through the WeChat mini-program or third-party platforms.

2.3 How to Get to Beijing Aquarium

Subway
Passengers can take Subway Line 4 to Beijing Zoo Station, use Exit A, and enter through the North Gate of the Zoo, which saves about 800 meters of walking.

Bus
Several bus routes, including 7, 15, 107, 27, and 332, stop at Beijing Zoo Station.

Taxi / Ride-hailing
Direct drop-off at the main entrance. Convenient for all visitors, especially those with luggage or strollers.

Private car
Drivers can navigate to "Beijing Aquarium" and park there at a cost of approximately 12 RMB per hour.

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2.4 What to See Inside Beijing Aquarium

1) Rainforest Adventure

• This area is located immediately upon entering the aquarium and simulates the Amazon rainforest.
• The main attractions include waterfalls, small bridges, and misty forest landscapes.
• Notable fish species include discus fish, arapaima (very large), Asian arowana, archerfish, and gar.

Best Photo Spot
• The best spot is on the wooden bridge in front of the waterfall or at the bend in the path, using a low-angle upward shot with the mist and green foliage as the background.
• Light green, white, or beige clothing in a forest-inspired style works well.
• Flash photography is not allowed, as it may startle the fish.

2) Shark Town

• This area features oversized floor-to-ceiling glass windows combined with a fishing village setting.
• Visitors can see leopard sharks, nurse sharks, whitetip reef sharks, and rays (also known as manta rays or devilfish), which often press themselves against the glass as if "wiping their faces."
• The 1,400-square-meter giant water tank creates a powerful visual impact, and children especially love it.

Best Photo Spot
• The best spot is directly in the middle of the giant glass window, with a person standing to the side while a shark swims past in the background, creating a cinematic effect.
• The best time is between 10:00 and 11:00 AM, when the lighting is optimal and glass reflections are minimal.

3) Ocean Odyssey
This is the largest exhibition area in the entire aquarium and includes an underwater tunnel, a coral garden, a jellyfish wonderland, and a penguin island.

a. Underwater Tunnel

The 60-meter underwater tunnel features a moving walkway, with sharks, sea turtles, and groupers swimming overhead — a must-see.

Best Photo Spot
• The best spot is in the middle section of the tunnel, on the left side of the moving walkway, using a low-angle upward shot that maximizes the atmospheric effect of the fish schools and blue lighting.
• Poses such as turning sideways to look back, walking away with one's back to the camera, or holding hands while walking on the walkway all look very good.

b. Coral Garden

It displays colorful corals along with butterflyfish and clownfish in soft lighting.

c. Jellyfish Wonderland

It is the most photogenic area in the aquarium, with neon lights and translucent jellyfish creating dreamy silhouettes.

Best Photo Spot
• The best spot is directly in front of the purple or blue cylindrical tanks, with the phone held very close to the glass and focused on the jellyfish.
• The resulting silhouettes combined with neon light look great even without any photo editing.

d. Penguin Island

It is home to Humboldt penguins, which swim in an endearing manner and can be photographed up close.

Best Photo Spot
• The best spot is at the water-level glass panel, capturing a split-second shot of a penguin swimming toward the camera for an endearing close-up.

4) National Treasure Chinese Sturgeon Pavilion

• This pavilion is dedicated to the "living fossil of the water" and features one of the world's largest acrylic viewing windows.
• Visitors can see Chinese sturgeon (up to 3 meters long), Chinese high-fin banded sharks, and other rare fish from the Yangtze River.
• The lighting in this area is relatively dim, making it suitable for silhouette photography.

Best Photo Spot
• The best spot is in front of the large viewing window, shooting a backlit silhouette with a person standing to the side and the giant fish swimming behind them for a sophisticated, high-end look.

5) Ocean Theater

• The theater seats up to 3,000 people and features dolphin, sea lion, and beluga whale performances on a glasses-free 3D stage.
• The performance includes dolphins balancing balls and making high jumps, sea lions doing arithmetic, and interactive segments with beluga whales.

Best Photo Spot
• The best spot is in the middle-front section of the audience seating area, capturing the moment a dolphin leaps into the air or a beluga whale breaks the surface of the water.

2.5 Must-See Shows Schedule

            Show                                                     Time Arrangement
Dolphin & Sea Lion Show                 11:30 & 15:00 on weekdays; 11:15, 
                                                          13:30 & 15:45 on weekends and public holidays
Underwater Feeding Show                                 10:30 & 14:00
Chinese Sturgeon Feeding              14:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Visiting Tips
• Show times may change on holidays; confirm the official schedule on arrival.
• Arrive 15–20 minutes early for good viewing seats.
• Feeding sessions include educational explanations about marine animals.
• Avoid front-row seats at dolphin shows to prevent splashing.

2.6 Visitor Tips

1) What to Wear
• Wear light and comfortable clothes as indoor temperature stays at 24°C / 75°F;
• Best colors for photos: white, light blue, pink, beige;
• Bring a small bag for water and light snacks.

2) Family-friendly Tips
• Strollers are permitted inside the aquarium. All areas are equipped with ramps and barrier-free access, and stroller rentals are available at the entrance.
• Interactive touch pool: kids can gently touch starfish and sea cucumbers.

3) Dining & Supplies
• Food options inside include burgers, rice bowls, hot dogs, and beverages, with prices ranging from 30-60 RMB per item.
• Visitors are allowed to bring their own water, small snacks, and bread, but strong-smelling foods and fruit peels are not permitted.
• Rest areas with seating are available at the exit of Ocean Odyssey, near Dolphin and Whale Bay, and outside the Ocean Theater.

4) Additional Useful Tips
• Visitors are advised to enter through the North Gate, which leads directly to the aquarium entrance and saves about 800 meters of walking.
• Clean restrooms are available in every area, and a mother-and-child room is located near Ocean Odyssey.


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III. Blue Zoo Beijing: A Romantic Marine Paradise in Beijing

3.1 Overview

Located under the artificial lake of Workers' Stadium in Chaoyang District, Blue Zoo Beijing is one of the most popular indoor aquariums in Beijing. It boasts the longest acrylic underwater tunnel in Asia, diverse marine species, and wonderful underwater performances. With a compact and well-designed layout, it is ideal for a 2.5-3 hour visit, suitable for families, couples, and marine enthusiasts alike to explore the magical underwater world.

3.2 Tickets & Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Jan 1-Jun 30: 9:00-17:30
July 1-Aug 31: 9:00-20:00
Sept 1-Dec 31: 9:00-17:30

Best Time to Visit
On weekdays between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM

Recommended Visit Duration
1-2 hours for sightseeingand photos
3 hours if you stay for all scheduled shows

Tickets

Entrance ticket
Adults: 150 RMB (including basic exhibition areas)
Discounted ticket: 90 RMB
Available for children aged under 12 (1.0-1.4 meters tall).
Free admission: Children under 1.0 meter tall; Seniors over 80 years old (with ID card).

Additional show ticket
Sea Lion Show: 40 RMB
Mermaid Show and Shark Feeding Show are included in some all-inclusive tickets.

Booking
Online reservation is recommended to avoid long lines; Tikcets can be purchased through third-party platforms.

3.3 How to get to Blue Zoo beijing

Subway
Passengers can take Subway Line 6 to Dongdaqiao Station (Exit A) or Line 2 to Chaoyangmen Station, then walk for about 10 minutes to reach the South Gate of Workers' Stadium.

Bus
Several bus routes, including 110, 113, 115, 118, 120, and 403, stop at Workers' Stadium Station. After getting off, walk to the South Gate of Workers' Stadium.

Taxi/Ride-hailing
Direct drop-off at the South Gate of Workers' Stadium, which is convenient for all visitors, especially those with children or luggage.

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3.4 What to See Inside Blue Zoo Beijing

1) 120-meter Super Long Underwater Tunnel

• Equipped with automatic moving walkways, this is the landmark spot of the whole aquarium.
• Visitors can slowly wander and watch sharks, rays, sea turtles and countless tropical fish swimming above and around.
• It creates an immersive undersea walking experience and ranks top for taking photos.

Best Photo Spot
• Stand in the middle part of the tunnel, shoot upward from a low angle to capture swimming marine creatures.
• Wear white, light blue and fresh-colored clothes for better shooting effect.
• Do not turn on camera flash to avoid scaring aquatic animals.

2) Ocean Heart Giant Circular Tank

Located at the central core area, this huge round water tank gathers dense groups of colorful small fish. The layered water landscape brings strong visual impact, quiet and healing.

Best Photo Spot
• Face the front of the circular tank, take side-profile casual photos with fish groups as the natural background.

3) Ray Touch Interactive Pool

A popular parent-child interactive zone. Visitors can gently touch docile rays under staff guidance, bringing vivid close-contact marine experience for children.

Best Photo Spot
• Capture kids touching marine creatures softly, warm and lovely daily snapshots.

4) Oriental Small Otter Viewing Area

Tourists can buy special feed to feed lovely small otters at close range and watch their lively and cute daily behaviors.

5) Whale Listening Tunnel & Aurora Light Corridor

Featured light-themed sightseeing areas inside the zoo. Simulated whale sound effect and soft blue dreamy lights build a quiet undersea atmosphere, suitable for relaxing walking and simple atmosphere photos.

6) Freshwater Fish & Amazon Exhibition Area

• This area restores the original ecological scene of Amazon river basin.
• Visitors can view various rare freshwater fish including arapaima, Asian arowana, archerfish and discus fish.
• It is a great place to learn knowledge about tropical freshwater creatures.

7) Shark & Sea Turtle Viewing Zone

• Different kinds of sharks are raised here, such as nurse sharks and leopard sharks.
• Visitors can also watch big sea turtles swimming leisurely in the water.
• It presents the real living state of large marine predators and reptiles.

8) Coral Reef & Clownfish Exhibition Area

• Simulate complete tropical coral reef ecological environment.
• Colorful live corals, cute clownfish, butterflyfish and angelfish can be seen everywhere.
• The bright water color creates a vivid tropical seabed scenery.

9) Undersea Performance Theater

The indoor performance hall hosts a series of signature marine shows with comfortable seating and clear sightlines, allowing visitors to enjoy exciting underwater performances and animal interactions. Some shows take place in the underwater tunnel and require visitors to move along the walkway to follow the action.

Best Photo Spot
• For sea lion shows: Choose seats in the middle-front section of the Ocean Theater to capture the full performance.
• For underwater shows (Mermaid Show, Sharks Show, Underwater Golden Storm Show): Position yourself in the middle part of the tunnel, with the glass directly in front of you, and turn off the flash to avoid reflections.

3.5 Must-See Shows Schedule

            Show                                                              Time Arrangement
        Sharks Show                                                     10:10 & 14:30 daily 
    Underwater Dance                      10:40, 11:50, 14:20, 16:10 daily; 13:00                                                                                             & 15:10 on weekends and public holidays
Sea Lion Interactive Talent Show                       11:15, 13:30, 15:50 daily; 14:45                                                                                                                   on weekends and public holidays
 Underwater Golden Storm Show                               11:00 & 15:30 daily
        Mermaid Show                                                       11:30 & 14:00 daily

Visiting Tips
• Sharks Show, Mermaid Show, Underwater Golden Storm Show: Held in the underwater tunnel; visitors need to move along the walkway to watch.
• Underwater Fairy Show / Underwater Dance: Held in the Ocean Theater at the tunnel exit.
• Sea Lion Show: Held in the Ocean Theater on B1 floor.
• Arrive 15 minutes early to secure good viewing positions, especially for weekend and holiday shows.
• Remember to turn off your camera flash when photographing underwater shows to avoid disturbing marine animals.

3.6 Visitor Tips

1) Clothing Suggestions
• Indoor constant temperature keeps around 23°C all year round, wear light and casual daily outfits.
• Fresh light color clothes are more suitable for underwater scene photography.
• Prepare a small backpack to carry drinking water and personal belongings.

2) Family Travel Tips
• Baby strollers are not allowed into the exhibition area, free stroller storage service is provided at the entrance.
• Multiple rest benches are set inside for parents to rest with kids.
• Popular science marine knowledge popularization is available in public areas.

3) Catering & Supplies Rules
• Simple western-style meals and casual snacks are provided inside the scenic area with medium consumption price.
• Visitors can bring self-prepared drinking water and light snacks.
• Strong-smelling food is forbidden inside to maintain indoor environment.
• Independent rest areas are distributed near the theater and interactive zones.

4) Practical Extra Tips
• Avoid visiting during 11:00-15:00 weekend rush hours to prevent crowding.
• Do not knock on viewing glass or feed marine animals without permission.
• Clean public restrooms are fully equipped in all functional areas, with maternal and infant care facilities available.


IV. Nearby Attractions &  Recommended Itinerary

4.1 Near Beijing Aquarium

Neighboring spots:
Beijing Zoo, Beijing Planetarium, Beijing Exhibition Center, Xizhimen Shopping & Dining Area

Itinerary 1: Half-Day Route

Duration: 4-5 Hours
Route: Beijing Aquarium — Beijing Zoo (Giant Panda House) — Casual lunch at Xizhimen
Best for: Families with kids, animal lovers, casual sightseeing
Features & Highlights:
• “Sea + Land” combo: ocean creatures + real pandas in one trip
• Indoor air-conditioned aquarium for hot summer days
• Flat walking paths, stroller-friendly; many photo spots

Itinerary 2: Full-Day Leisure & Science Route

Duration: 7-8 Hours
Route: Beijing Aquarium — Beijing Zoo — Beijing Planetarium — Dinner at Xizhimen
Best for: In-depth visitors, science fans, students, parent–child education
Features & Highlights:
• Marine life + wild animals + astronomy in one day
• Planetarium 4D/3D shows & cosmic education for kids
• Easy walk between all venues (5–15 min on foot)

4.2 Near Blue Zoo Beijing

Neighboring spots:
Workers’ Stadium, Sanlitun Taikoo Li, Chaoyang Park, Tuanjiehu Park, CBD shopping & restaurants

Itinerary 1: Urban Leisure Day Route

Duration: 6-7 Hours
Route: Blue Zoo Beijing — Workers’ Stadium photo walk — Lunch at Gongti — Sanlitun Taikoo Li (shopping/café)
Best for: City travelers, shoppers, foodies, casual day out
Features & Highlights:
• 120 m acrylic underwater tunnel experience
• Trendy Gongti & Sanlitun vibe, great for photos
• Many dining styles: local Beijing, international, cafés & bars

Itinerary 2: Couple’s Romantic Route

Duration: 5-6 Hours
Route: Blue Zoo Beijing — Tuanjiehu Park lakeside walk — Dinner at  Sanlitun
Best for: Couples, anniversary dates, romantic photo trips
Features & Highlights:
• Underwater blue light and fish swarm scenes create romantic vibe
• Quiet lakeside park for slow walks & couple photos
• Easy metro access (Line 6/10) & evening Sanlitun nightlife


V. FAQs

Q1: Beijing Aquarium vs Blue Zoo, which is better?
A: It depends on your needs. Beijing Aquarium is larger with more marine species and grander shows. Blue Zoo is more compact, famous for its 120m underwater tunnel and relaxed visiting experience.

Q2: What is the largest aquarium in Beijing?
A: Beijing Aquarium, located inside Beijing Zoo, is the largest and most professional inland aquarium in Beijing.

Q3: Is Beijing Aquarium worth visiting?
A: Yes. It has rich exhibits, wonderful dolphin and sea lion shows, constant indoor temperature, and can be combined with Beijing Zoo for a full-day trip.

Q4: Is Blue Zoo suitable for adults?
A: Yes. Adults can enjoy the immersive underwater tunnel, beautiful mermaid shows, and its nearby trendy dining and shopping areas are also convenient for leisure.

Q5: Which is best for couples?
A: Blue Zoo is more suitable for couples. It has dreamy underwater scenery and romantic lighting, and is close to Sanlitun for post-visit dating activities.

Q6: Which is best for children?
A: Beijing Aquarium is the best choice for children, with more educational exhibits, bigger shows, and stroller-friendly passages.

Q7: Any dolphin shows at Beijing Aquarium?
A: Yes, Beijing Aquarium holds daily dolphin, sea lion and beluga whale shows, which are popular highlights.

Q8: Best indoor attractions on rainy days?
A: Both Beijing Aquarium and Blue Zoo are top choices. They are fully indoor and temperature-controlled, not affected by rainy weather.

Q9: How long to spend at Beijing Aquarium?
A: It is recommended to spend 3–5 hours: 3 hours for a quick visit, and 4–5 hours if you want to watch all shows and rest properly.

Q10: Can foreigners visit Beijing Aquarium?
A: Yes. Foreigners are welcome, with English signs in main areas and easy ticketing through on-site or online platforms.

Top Experiences at Beijing Aquarium&Blue Zoo Beijing Recommended by Your Way Holiday

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