This Day, That Year

Item from Dec 8, 1997, in China Daily: Wenwen, a 100-day-old chimpanzee, show off her various tricks. She entertained people in Beijing Zoo on Friday, under the guidance of her keeper. The zoo accommodates more than 3,000 animals.

Founded in 1906 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Beijing Zoo is well-known for its collection of rare animals, including giant pandas, Siberian tigers and golden snub-nosed monkeys.

Covering an area of 89 hectares, the zoo is home to more than 5,000 animals of about 450 species. In 1999, the Beijing Aquarium, part of the zoo, was opened to the public and attracts visitors with tens of thousands of ocean animals and freshwater fish.