Ringed by beautiful mountain vistas, Chongqing's zoo (Chongqing Dongwuyan) is the home of several hundred rare species of animals, but the undisputed highlight of the center is its panda enclosures, which house both giant pandas and red pandas. They are open daily between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., a window of time that also serves as panda dining hours. So it may be a safe bet to say visitors are then able to capture in their still cameras and videos the bears at their happiest moments during the day! While many people tend to skip out on the zoo after checking out the pandas (and possibly the tigers, the second most popular area), there are a few strange other features that may be worth exploring. The connection between disco wheels with animals and zoos may not be immediately clear, for example, but the zoo houses one very unlikely attraction with an area for patrons to roller skate.

Plan a vacation to Chongqing now for the end of the year and beyond and reserve a room at the Sheraton Chongqing, opening in December 2010. There, the concierge will assist in the planning of your zoo visit as well as any adventure that appeals. What are the most spectacular zoos you have ever visited? Please let us know in the comments section.