Lockdown has given human beings a taste of their own medicine. Not being able to leave our homes has given people the time and the empathy to imagine life for animals stuck in zoos. This has led to many people around the world rethinking our relationships with nature and the world around us.
Netizens in China have been at the forefront of these discussions. Zoos in China have a bad reputation and many foreign visitor are often critical after a visit. It is not as often that we get to hear about Chinese zoos from the perspective of Chinese people.
In today’s translation we get shown round 武汉动物园 （Wǔhàn dòngwùyuán）Wuhan Zoo by a YouTuber called Travel Alone in China.
This page can be used by non-Chinese to practice their Mandarin listening skills. It could also be used by Chinese IELTS students who are looking for ways to convert their thoughts about the topic of animals and zoos from Chinese to English. Whatever your motivation for reading this page we hope you enjoy your tour round Wuhan Zoo, courtesy of Travel Alone in China.
This video is recorded in Wuhan, in Hubei Province, China.
0.00 我现在在湖北武汉，前边是武汉动物园。
Wǒ xiànzài zài Húběi Wǔhàn qiánbian shì Wǔhàn dòngwùyuán 。
I am now in Wuhan, Hebei Province, in front of me is Wuhan Zoo.
0.05 带大家转一下。
Dài dàjiā zhuǎn yīxià
Let me just show you around.
Our narrator has already bought his entrance ticket, we learn that a ticket for Wuhan Zoo costs 20 yuan. This is about £2.20.
0.06 我已经买上票了。票价是二十。
Wǒ yǐjīng mǎi shǎng piào le piào jià shì èrshí
I’ve already purchased my ticket, it cost me 20 yuan.
We are then told a bit more about the location of Wuhan Zoo. Hanyang is an urban district in Hubei on the banks of the Yangtze river.
0.09 这里位于武汉的汉阳区
Zhèlǐ wèiyú Wǔhàn de Hànyángqū
It is located in the Hanyang district of Wuhan。
Our narrator now tells us a few more details about Wuhan zoo including the size in terms of area, how many types of animals there are and how many animals the zoo houses in total. This is some good descriptive language, the translation of which could be helpful for IELTS students. Students of Mandarin Chinese should also note down the language he uses to describe the zoo. Here he uses the phrase 占地面积 (Zhàndì miànji) this means area; so the total area is 640 thousand square metres (平). He also uses the measure word 种 (zhǒng), which in this sentence means types of; so (there are) 100 types of animals in Wuhan Zoo. We then learn the character 共 (gòng) which means total and 头 (tóu) headcount. So , basically if you did a headcount the total number of animals would be 1000.
0.13 占地面积啊 六十四万平. 里面有一百多种动物，共一千多头。
Zhàndì miànji a liùshísìwàn píng。Lǐmiàn yǒu yībǎi duō zhǒng dòngwù，gòng yīqiān duōtóu。
The zoo covers an area of 640 thousand square metres. Inside there are over a hundred species of animals, and the total number of animals is 1000.
We then learn that the narrator actually purchased his ticket online. The characters he uses are:
网 （wǎng）internet
上 (shàng) on
买 的 (mǎi de) bought. After making the online purchase for the ticket, he received a 二维码 (èrwéimǎ) barcode, which he was able to scan at the entry to Wuhan Zoo.
0.22 网上买的。给了个二维码.
wǎngshàng mǎi de gěile gè èrwéimǎ.
I made the purchase online and they sent me a barcode (to be used for entry).
Inside Wuhan Zoo
After scanning his barcode to gain entry our narrator’s attention is taken by some 游览车 (yóulǎnchē) tourist carts . These can be found in many tourist destinations in China for use by the young and old, or anyone who may struggle to walk around unaided.
0.24 扫码进来了。有游览车的，我就不坐车了票价五块钱，我就不坐车了。
Sǎomǎ jìnlái le。 Yǒu yóulǎnchē de wǒ jiù bù zuòchē ， piàojià wǔ kuài qián wǒ jiù bù zuòchē 。
I’ve scanned my barcode and entered. There is a tourist cart, it costs 5 yuan for a ticket. I don’t want to use it.
The next piece of helpful vocabulary is 导览图 (dǎolǎn tú) or tourist map. From the map we learn that Wuhan Zoo has been constructed around a lake called 马沧湖 （mǎ cāng hú）Macang Lake. We also see that there are a number of bridges to get to the island where the animals are located on the other side of the lake. Our narrator has started his journey after just passing through the North Gate.
0.30 这有个导览图，我现在是在这，北大门，这有个胡，马沧湖。动物在后面这个视频这样拍不行步行通过步行曲桥到后面那个岛
zhè yǒu gè dǎolǎn tú wǒ xiànzài shì zài zhè BěiDà mén, zhè yǒu hú mǎ cāng hú。 Dòngwù zàihòumiàn zhège shìpín zhèyàng pāi bùxíng bùxíng tōngguò bùxíng qū qiáo dào hòumiàn nàge dǎo。
This is a tourist map, I’m right here by the north gate. This lake is called called Macang Lake. The animals are on the other side of the lake, so I’ll have to go over there to film them. To do this I will use this pedestrian bridge.
Around Wuhan Zoo
We are then fortunate enough to be introduced to three directional phrases. The first, given by mistake, is 顺时针 (shùnshízhēn) clockwise. He then corrects himself with 逆时针 (nìshízhēn) which means anticlockwise. Finally a phrase worth remembering is
0.42 围着这个岛顺时针啊。。逆时针转一圈。
Wéizhe zhège dǎo shùnshízhēn a.. nìshízhēn zhuǎn yīquān
Then go around the island in a clockwise.. sorry anticlockwise direction.
0.46 再从这边个桥，回到北大门。
Zài cóng zhèbiān gè qiáo huídào Běi Dà mén.
After that (I’ll) use this bridge to get back to the North Gate.
Our narrator then introduces us to two helpful pieces of vocabulary. The first is 大象 (dàxiàng) elephant and the second 雕塑 (diāosù) or sculpture.
0.50 正对门两只大象的雕塑
Zhèngduì mén liǎng zhī dàxiàng de diāosù
Facing the door there is a sculpture of two elephants.
0.53 刚才下雨了，现在停了。
Gāngcái xiàyǔ xiànzài tíng le
Before it was raining, but now it has stopped.
Wuhan Zoo Ice World
Our narrator’s first port of call is Wuhan Zoo Ice World 冰雪世界 （bīngxuě shìjiè）Ice World. We are also introduced to another helpful piece of vocabulary: 冰雕 (bīngdiāo) or ice sculpture. Ice sculptures are popular in China. In fact there an Ice Sculpture Festival held annually in Harbin a city in Harbin a city near the Russian border.
0.56 冰雪世界入口。进来了里面好冷啊。这些是并做的冰雕。哦就是个冰雕展馆。
Bīngxuě shìjiè rùkǒu. Jìnlái le. Lǐmiàn hǎo lěng a 。 Zhèxiē shì bìng zuò de bīngdiāo…. jiùshì gè bīngdiāo zhǎnguǎn.
(this is) The entrance to the Ice World. Now I’m inside and it’s really cold! There are things made out of ice.. oh, it’s an ice sculpture exhibition.
And now we get to meet our first real, live animals. They are penguins who are housed in a 玻璃罩 (bōlizhào), or glass enclosure.
1.16 北极熊，企鹅。。这有个玻璃罩, 哦这企鹅是真的，刚才那是冰雕。哈喽你看懂了… 太冷了，赶紧出去。
Běijíxióng。。 qǐé zhè 。 yǒu gè bōlizhào。
。o zhè shì zhēnde。 Gāngcái nàshi bīngdiāo hālóu nǐkān dǒng le？ Tài lěng ， gǎnjǐn chūqùPolar Bear.. Penguin.., this is a glass enclosure, Oh.. the others were just ice sculptures… but these penguins are real. Hello.. look.. he understood. It’s too cold.. I must leave right away.
Zigzag Footbridge 步行曲桥
Now our narrator has left Ice World and he is moving towards the Zigzag footbridge. Therefore we can locate his position on the map:
1.33 出来了，前面就是步行曲桥. 上桥，弯弯曲曲的所以叫曲桥。岛桥中间了，马沧湖从这环视一下。
Chūlái le，qiánmiàn jiùshì bùxíng qū qiáo
shǎng ， wānwānqūqū de suǒyǐ jiào qū qiáo. Dǎo qiáo zhōngjiān ， mǎ cāng hú cōng zhè huánshì yīxià。I’ve come out. In front of me is the zigzag footbridge. Because it winds and bends it has got the name the zigzag, or crooked bridge. I’m in the middle of the bridge and from here I can see Macang lake.
1.52 今天周末要是不下雨的话人比较多好多的。上岛.
Jīntiān zhōumò yàoshi bùxià yǔ dehuà rén bǐjiào duō hǎoduō de. Shǎng dǎo.
It’s the weekend, if it wasn’t raining there would be many, many more people here. I’m going to go onto the island.
Having crossed the Zigzag bridge our narrator finds himself outside the botanical / bonsai garden. However it is closed so he turns left and heads towards the animal enclosures.
2.04 哎这边这个们好像关着。景园关着要往这走，刚才是个盆景园. 动物在这边，里面树木葱茏到第一个管了。
āi zhèbiān zhège men hǎoxiàng guānzhuó jǐng yuán guānzhuó yāo wǎng zhè zǒu gāngcái shìgè pénjǐng yuán.
Dòngwù zàizhèbiān ， lǐmiàn shùmù cōnglóng dào dìyīge guǎn le.Oh, this entrance seems to be closed, the botanical garden is closed. I’ll go this way, past the bonsai gardens. The animals are this way. The trees on this route are very lush… oh and here is our first enclosure.
Wuhan Zoo Baboon Enclosure – 武汉动物园狒狒管
The next animal that our narrator comes across is a baboon called 山魈 （shānxiāo) which means mischievous mountain spirit in ancient Chines folklore. He also tells us that the natural habitat of these animals is the rainforest 热带雨林 (rèdàiyǔlín)
2.26 狒狒管, 这个叫山魈脸和臀都是红色的。生活在热带雨林里。这个是狒狒。你好。群居的，另一只在吃东西。。哈喽。。嘿。
Fèifèi guǎn zhège jiào shānxiāo liǎn hé tún dōu shì hóngsè de shēnghuó zài rèdàiyǔlín lǐ 。 Zhège shì 。 Nǐhǎo qúnjū 。 Lìngyī zhǐ zài chī dōngxī hālóu hēi。
Baboon enclosure, this one is called Shanxiao his face and bum are red. Their natural habitat is the rainforest. This is a baboon too… hello..they live in groups.. the other one is eating… hello.. hey!
Next we meet a baboon that he calls 绿狒狒 （lu:4 fèifèi）。
2.54 绿狒狒地下有一只小的，他生活在草原和山地中，寿命能达到40岁。
Lu:4 fèifèi dìxià yǒu yī zhī xiǎode tā shēnghuózài cǎoyuán hé shāndì zhōng. shòumìng néng dádào
suì.There is a small green baboon, on the floor. Their natural habitat is grasslands and on the sides of mountains, and they can live up to 40 years.
Wuhan Zoo Giant Panda Enclosure – 大熊猫馆
The next part of the zoo that we get to visit is the Panda enclosure.
3.06 下一个管，里面环境不错。大熊猫馆。哦刚才旁边工作人员说大熊猫室外。刚才那是个空调防， 大熊猫怕热，夏天会在刚才的房间里面。 现在比较冷他就在室外了。
Xiàyīge guǎn lǐmiàn huánjìng bùcuò dàxióngmāo guǎn 。 o gāngcái pángbiān gōngzuòrényuán shuō 。 shìwài ， nàshi gè kōngtiáo fáng ， pà rè xiàtiān huì zài gāngcái de fángjiān 。Xiànzài bǐjiào lěng tā jiù zàiwài le.
The next enclosure… the temperature is nice in here. It is the Giant Panda enclosure. The zookeeper over there said the Giant panda’s are outside. Well this room is air conditioned… they (Giant panda’s) are averse to the summer heat so they can go in to this (air-conditioned) room. But at the moment it is a bit colder so they are outside.
Our narrator then tells us a bit more about Giant Panda’s including the terrain they like to occupy –山区 (shānqū) mountainous terrain, and the provinces they can be found in:
陕西 Shǎnxī
甘肃 Gānsù
四川 Sìchuān
3.36 看到了在那趴着呢。。大熊猫是中国特有的动物，生活在陕西，甘肃，四川的山区。
Kàndào le zài nǎpā zhene dàxióngmāo ， shì Zhōngguó tèyǒu de dòngwù shēnghuózài Shǎnxī Gānsù Sìchuān shānqū
Over there you can one lying over there. They are China’s most famous animal, they live in mountainous areas in Shanxi, Gansu and Sichuan.
Next we learn that 70% of Giant Panda’s live in Sichuan province. In fact one nickname for Sichuan is the home of giant pandas. One of the last bastions for this endangered species is the Qinling Mountains.
3.49 其中百分之70生活在四川。
Qízhōng bǎifēnzhī shēnghuózài Sìchuān
Around 70% of the giant panda population is located in Sichuan.
Wuhan Zoo Rhino Enclosure – 犀牛管
Next up are the rhino and elephant enclosures, just a bit further up along the path from the pandas.
3.56 这是犀牛管和象管，很多动物。都进去躲雨了现在又开始下雨了。
Zhè shì xīniú guǎn hé xiàng guǎn hěnduō dòngwù dōu jìnqù duǒyǔ le. Xiànzài yòu kāishǐ xiàyǔ le
These are the buffalo and elephant enclosures.. lots of animals. Lots of them go inside when it is rains, and it has just started raining now.
Our narrator then points out, quite rightly, that walking round a zoo when it is raining is not a good idea. This is because most of the animals will have taken shelter inside so you won’t be able to see them wandering around outside.
4.05 下雨天逛动物园, 不是一个好选择。
Xiàyǔ tiān guàng dòngwùyuán bùshì yīgè hǎoxuǎnzé
Visiting a zoo when it is raining is not a good choice.
4.10 犀牛管。在里面隔着玻璃看不清。角上。
Xīniú guǎn zàilǐmiàn gé zhé bōli kànbuqīng 。 jiǎo shàng。
The rhino enclosure. I’m inside but I can’t see clearly through the glass. (the rhino) Is in the corner.
4.20象管。这是非洲象，好大呀。
Xiàng guǎn。 Zhèshì fēi zhōu xiàng hǎo dà ya
The elephant enclosure. These are African Elephants, they are very big.
Wuhan’s Ink Lake – 墨水湖
Our narrator is now right at the back of the zoo, about half-way through his trip. He looks over at the Ink Lake, which is a shallow water lake in Wuhan. On our map we can see it’s location below:
4.32 下一个绕道最后面了。这个湖就是墨水湖了，对面有个大桥这个叫墨水湖大桥。
Xiàyīge ràodào zuìhòu miàn le. Zhège hú jiùshì mòshuǐ hú le duìmiàn yǒu gè DàQiáo zhège jiào mòshuǐ hú DàQiáo.
We are now right at the furthest part out on this route. This lake is called Ink lake, on the other side is a bridge called Ink Lake Bridge.
Next we come to the hippo enclosure.
4.47 河马馆在水里趴着，两只河马。边上还有鳄鱼，这是尼罗鳄。非洲体型最大的爬行动物。
Hémǎ guǎn zài Shuǐlǐ pā zhe 。 Biānshǎng háiyǒu èyú zhè shì níluóè Fēizhōu tǐxíng zuìdàde páxíngdòngwù.
The hippo is lying in the water.. there are two of them. There is a crocodile on this side. A Nile Crocodile, the largest reptile in Africa.
Wuhan Zoo Giraffe Enclosure – 武汉动物园长颈鹿馆
Next we get to meet the giraffes at Wuhan Zoo, and then some peacocks.
5.08 长颈鹿馆。哎，这可以看到两只长颈鹿在树下。。在呢。
Chángjǐnglù guǎn。 āi zhè kěyǐ kàndào liǎng zhǐ 。 Zài shù xià ne
（this is the) Giraffe enclosure. I can see a couple of them under the tree.
5.22 这个网子里面是孔雀。。哈喽
Zhège wǎngzi lǐmiàn shì kǒngquè。。 hālóu 。
There are peacocks behind this net… hello.
5.35 卖小吃的地方
Mài xiǎochī de dìfāng
This is a place where you can buy snacks.
Wildfowl at Wuhan Zoo
5.36 这有个岛，周围一圈有水的。哦黑天鹅， 还有鹤。。。白鹤。。哎抓了一条鱼看到了吧。
Zhè yǒu gè dǎo zhōuwéi yījuàn yǒushuǐ de. O hēitiāné ， háiyǒu hè báihè. āi zhuā le yī tiáo yú kàndào le ba.
This is an island with water flowing round it. Oh.. a black swan.. and a crane.。。a white crane. Oh it has caught a fish.. look.
Next we have a break from the wildfowl and meet some of Wuhan zoos’ other animals, including the 斑马 (bānmǎ) zebra and the 小熊猫 (xiǎoxióngmāo) lesser panda.
6.02斑马管斑马在角上好几只。小熊猫馆在角上，小熊猫主要圣湖在云南。他是夜间活动的白天睡大觉。
Bānmǎ guǎn bānmǎ zài jiǎoshàng. Hǎo jǐzhǐ xiǎoxióngmāo guǎn zài jiǎo shǎng xiǎoxióngmāo zhǔyào shèng húo 。 Yúnnán tā shì yèjiān huódòng de, báitiān shuì dàjiào
(this is the) Zebra enclosure，they are in the corner. The red panda enclosure is on the corner here. They are native to Yunnan, they and nocturnal animals very busy at night and then having a long sleep during the day.
6.28 又到了一个胡，这个湖叫天鹅湖。是从黑水湖里分出来的一个胡，是墨水湖里分出来的一个胡。
Yòu dàoliǎo yīgè hú zhège hú jiào TiānéHú shì cōng Hēishuǐ Húlǐfèn chūlái de yīgè ， shì mòshuǐ Húlǐ fèn chūlái de yīgè hú
This is another Lake, called Swan Lake. The water in this lake come from Ink Lake, it is part of that system.
6.38 小鸭子，另一种鸭，这叫什么这个？这是天鹅。啊。黑天鹅一对黑天鹅。
Xiǎoyāzi lìngyīzhǒng yā ， zhè jiào shénme zhège？ 。 shì tiāné a。。 hēitiāné yīduì hēitiāné
A duck, and another one. What is this one called? oh… a swan. And a black swan, a bevy of swans.
7.07 哇哦岛中间一片红火热鸟。下一个馆，转了一半了。
Wa o dǎo zhōngjiān yīpiàn hónghuǒ rè niǎo。 Xiàyīge guǎn zhuǎn le yībàn 。
Wow there is a flamingo over there. The next enclosure is just over there.
7.29 好多人在这看。。土拨鼠在啃木头，这是一种啮齿动物。和兔子差不多大， 哎呀还挺活得。
Hǎoduō rén zài zhè kàn …tǔbōshǔ 。 zài kěn mùtou ， shì yīzhǒng nièchǐdòngwù hé tùzi chàbuduō dà. āiyā hái tǐng huó de
Many people are looking at something here. .. It’s a groundhog, it’s gnawing at some wood. It’s a type of rodent about the same size as a rabbit. I can hear them moving around in there.
7.42 鳄龟，为什么叫这个名？因为长得像鳄鱼
è guī wèishénme jiào zhège míng？ yīnwèi zhǎngde xiàng èyú。
Why does the snapping turtle have this name? Because when it is grown it looks like a crocodile.
7.49 豪猪在那身上长满了刺像刺猬一样。
Háozhū zài nǎshēnshang zhǎngmǎn le cìwei yīyàng
The porcupine is covered with sharp quills, just like a hedgehog.
7.58 刚才那都是一些小动物。这边应该是猛兽了吧。
Gāngcái nǎ dōu shì yīxiē xiǎo dòngwù zhèbiān yīnggāi shì měngshòu le ba。
They were all just small animals, the next one should be a beast right?
The Tigers at Wuhan Zoo – 武汉动物园的白虎
8.06 白虎这是加拉虎的白化品种。东北虎哈喽你好值得肯定的。
Báihǔ zhè shì jiālā hǔ de bái huà pǐnzhǒng dōngběihǔ. Hālóu nǐhǎo zhíde kěndìng de.
White tiger. This is a kind of albino species of tiger. And this one is the Siberian Tiger… hello…
8.28 金钱豹在那个角上哎进屋了。没看到狮子呢。。狮子估计在这边。。。狮子在这两只公母体型着异好大。。。在睡觉。
Jīnqiánbào zài nàge jiǎoshǎng āi jìn wū le. Méi kàndào shīzi ne 。 Gūjì zàizhèbiān shīzi 。 Zhè liǎng zhī gōng mǔtǐ xíng zhe yì hǎo dà. Zài shuìjiào.
The leopard is in the corner over there… Oh no.. he’s gone inside. I haven’t seen a lion yet… ah the lions are here.. this is a male and female pair.. they are sleeping.
8.49 这边也是老虎哇哦，这只老虎也太大了吧
Zhèbiān yěshì lǎohǔ wāo zhèzhǐ lǎohǔ yě tài dà le ba。
This is also a tiger. Wow.. this tiger is also extremely big.
Wuhan Zoo Bear Enclosure – 武汉动物园熊元了
Our narrator is nearing the end of his tour of Wuhan Zoo, he is now back at the edge of Macang Lake and is near the bear enclosure.
9.01 就差熊了。。这就是熊园子，可以绕到下面看。哇大黑熊。
Jiù chā xióng le。 Zhèjiùshì 。 。 yuán zǐkěyǐ rào dào xiàmian kān dàhēixióng。
I still haven’t seen any bears. This is the bear enclosure, we can go around it to look at the bears… Wow a big black bear!
The end of the tour
We are coming towards the end of our trip round Wuhan Zoo now. I hope you enjoyed this translation。
9.23 这就转完了，右绕到马沧湖了，上桥。这个桥叫圆洞桥。到桥中间了，那边是北门。 我一开始从曲桥上的岛。 这里还不错，动物挺多的。大家来的时候，一定要找个好天气。行这个视频就拍打这里。结束了。
Zhèjiù zhuǎn wánle yòu rào dào mǎ cāng hú le. Shǎng qiáo zhège qiáo jiào yuán dòng 。 Dào qiáo zhōngjiān 。 Nàbian shì Běimén wǒ yīkāishǐ cóng qǔ qiáo ， de zhèlǐ. Háibùcuò dòngwù tǐng duō 。 Dàjiā lái deshíhòu yīdìngyào zhǎo gè hǎo tiānqì xìng zhège shìpín jiù pāidǎ 。 jiéshù le.
This is the end of the tour. I’m going to get on the bridge. This bridge is called Round Hole Bridge… Now we are in the middle of the bridge and from here we can see the North Gate. I started from the other bridge; the zigzag footbridge. It’s pretty good here, but if you come you should choose a nice day for your trip. I’m going to end the video here. Over.
Thank you to our narrator TravelAloneInChina. Check out more of his videos here: Travel China