At 7:30 a.m. at the Beijing Zoo's south gate, a crowd gathers with phones in hand and excited expressions, all sharing the same goal—to rush to the Panda House, secure the best spot, and see the famed Meng Lan in person.

As the "top star" of the Beijing Zoo, the giant panda has won over countless fans with his lively, energetic, and highly intelligent personality.

If you want to catch a glimpse of Meng Lan, check out this guide:

01 Basics: Tickets & Transportation

To see Meng Lan at Beijing Zoo, start by sorting out tickets and transportation.

The zoo ticket prices vary by peak/off-peak seasons. It's recommended to buy a combo ticket that includes the Panda House for better value.

Peak season (April 1–October 31) combo ticket: 19 RMB. 

Off-peak (November 1–March 31): 14 RMB.

Zoo opening hours also differ:

Peak: opens 7:30, last entry 18:00.

Off-peak: opens 7:30, last entry 17:00.

Panda House opens at 8:00, with last entry same as above.

Ticket policy for foreign visitors:

Foreign minors aged 6 (exclusive) to 18 (inclusive) receive half-price admission with a valid passport or Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.

Foreign children aged 6 (inclusive) or under, or height 1.2m (inclusive) or under, enter free.

Visitors aged 60 or above may enter with a valid passport, ID card, or other official ID.

*For details on policy implementation (e.g., priority between age and height standards), please refer to the attraction's latest official notice.

For transportation, the subway is the best choice. Take Line 4 to Beijing Zoo Station, exit A, and you'll reach the main gate directly. Driving is not advised on holidays due to limited parking and heavy traffic around the zoo.

02 The Meng Lan Special: Viewing Strategy

Seeing Meng Lan requires strategy. He is usually most active in the morning. 8:00–10:00 is his breakfast and exercise time. Keepers often give him an extra snack around 10:30. He may rest in the afternoon but can become active again between 13:30 and 16:00.

The Panda House is divided into the Asian Games Panda House and Olympic Games House. Meng Lan lives in the Olympic Games House. After entering, queue in the dedicated line for Meng Lan. Visitors are let in every 5 minutes, with 5 minutes of viewing per group.

To get the best viewing spot, arrive right at opening time—aim to enter the zoo before 8:00 and go straight to the Panda House. Crowds are lighter then, giving you a better chance at a prime position.

03 The Beijing Zoo Panda Family

Beijing Zoo is home to 23 giant pandas with "Beijing residency," from four family lines: Meng Meng, Ying Hua, Xiao Bai Tu, and Ke Xiao, plus Gu Gu and the returnee Ya Ya, who have no offspring.

Currently, nine pandas are on display: Meng Meng, Meng Da, Meng Er, Dian Dian, Meng Lan, Fu Xing, Bai Tian, Ji Nian, and Fu Jiang.

They are distributed as follows (pandas separated by "/" do not appear at the same time):

Asian Games Hall: Fu Xing / Bai Tian, Meng Meng / Meng Er

Olympic Games Hall: Meng Da / Fu Jiang, Dian Dian / Ji Nian, Meng Lan

04 Important Notes

1）Meng Lan's activity schedule is up to him—seeing him is not 100% guaranteed. However, other pandas are on duty in the Panda House besides Meng Lan.

2) Do not use flash photography to avoid startling the animals.

3) Do not feed the animals.

4) There are no restrooms inside the Panda House. If you leave, re-entry requires a new ticket.