Jinan Zoo, Sun City.

If you're looking for the best value zoo, look no further than Jinan Zoo. At just 25 yuan per person, it's a steal! Not only does it have a full range of animals, including giant pandas, flamingos, lions, and tigers, but it also boasts lush greenery and a beautiful environment. You can easily spend a whole day here with your kids without feeling any pressure. It's guaranteed to be a fun-filled day for them! This weekend, take a day trip to the zoo. Even though it's been a while since I've been there, I still feel a sense of familiarity as soon as I walk through the gate. After all, I used to come here often when I was the same age as my daughter. (Good news: Seniors over 60 and children under 1.4 cm are free!) Parking is limited nearby, so it's recommended to take a taxi. Walking along the tree-lined avenue, my mood is as bright as the weather today. The large iron ox at the entrance stands proudly in the sunshine, looking like it rules the world. When I was a child, this place was called "Golden Bull Zoo". It is said that the park was named after the "Golden Bull Mountain" where it was built in 1926. The park is quite large. If you want to spend a day here, it's recommended to take the sightseeing bus. It stops on demand, so you can get off at any station to see the animals and then wait for the bus at the same spot. If you prefer to walk, you can choose to walk a large or small circle. The large circle starts at the entrance and goes directly to the "White Bird Paradise" on the right-hand side. This way, you can see most of the animals, but it will be tiring. If you want to take it easy, it's recommended to enter from the "Monkey Mountain" in the middle. This way, you can see the main animals without getting too tired. Walk and stop as you please, and enjoy the leisurely atmosphere. Today, we brought our second child, so we chose to walk the small circle. Our first stop was the "Monkey Mountain", which we always visit. I love this open-air area because the monkeys live in a more "natural" environment. They can run and jump freely, and even swing on a swing or climb a fake mountain. Monkeys that are friends can groom each other, and you can even see a mother monkey feeding her baby. In comparison, the animals that are kept in cages seem lazy and listless, which feels a bit inhumane. Perhaps because it was the first time she saw a monkey, our second child's expression was incredibly rich, as if she had discovered a new world. She would open her mouth in surprise and shout "ah ah", as if she wanted to attract the monkey's attention. Unfortunately, the monkeys here are all seasoned veterans and don't seem to care. Next up is the home of the black bear and brown bear. Their enclosure is quite large. We looked around for a long time before finally finding them in a crowd. The laziest animal must be the black bear. Today, I saw it with my own eyes. Someone threw a large apple down, and it landed right at its feet. However, the black bear, which was sitting down, was too lazy to stand up and pick it up. It tilted its head and stretched its neck, but still couldn't reach it, so it gave up. Anyway, there will be more pies falling from the sky, so it just needs to keep its mouth open. My daughter asked to see the giraffe. We went inside and found that they weren't there. I slapped my forehead. Today's weather is good, so the giraffes must be in the backyard sunbathing. We went around to the back and, sure enough, we saw a large and a small giraffe eating leaves leisurely. I always feel that giraffes are elegant and graceful animals. Their large eyes are gentle, their faces are small and delicate, and their bodies are elegant, like a noble lady. Behind the giraffe pavilion is the predator zone. A large tiger paces back and forth inside the glass enclosure. Perhaps due to its long captivity, it has lost its freedom and wildness. Its gentle face looks like a big cat, making it hard to associate it with the majestic king of beasts. Instead, it looks more like the tiger plush toys sold at the entrance. The vast expanse of land to the west belongs to the herbivores. Camels, sika deer, cows, and sheep live here in a free-ranging, peaceful group. Over there, a camel is rolling on the ground, kicking up dust everywhere. Look, a group of newborn sika deer are eating grass. Their butts are facing us, and we waited for a long time but still didn't see their cute faces. On the way back, we passed by the panda pavilion that my daughter has been looking forward to. We saw a cute giant panda sleeping soundly, hugging a large pillar. Its adorable, lazy, and silly look makes you want to hug it. The other giant panda is hiding quietly by the wall, as if playing hide-and-seek with us. Or maybe it's just trying to find some peace and quiet, as there are always so many people coming to see it. Even so, my daughter's sharp eyes spotted it. To avoid disturbing it, we took a quick photo and then left quietly. At this point, my daughter, who had been playing all morning, started to cry for lunch. So, we made the nearby flamingos our last stop for the day. A group of charming flamingos stood close to us, like a pink cloud. Their legs are long and straight. On closer inspection, a few of them are actually kneeling, as if they walked out of a painting. Lunch was at Oriental Gourmet near the zoo entrance. There's a buffet of steak, pizza, fries, and fruit salad. A full table, with all the colors, flavors, and aromas you could ask for. After lunch, you can take a stroll around Sun City (children's clothing wholesale market) to see the affordable toys and children's products. There's also a huge children's playground. If you have time, you can let your child continue to burn off some energy there. Remember to bargain when you buy things! My daughter liked the colorful little turtles. Three large ones were bought for ten yuan, and three small ones were given as a gift. It's a great deal!