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Prior to the coming Chinese New Year of the Snake, Chimelong Safari Park on the suburbs of South China's city of Guangzhou, recently opened the "Snake Trail" ---- the largest Eco Theme Park of snakes in the world, with more than 300 serpents in 20 different species.
Tourists take photos at the entrance of the Snake Trail at Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou, on Jan. 22, 2013. (APD/Panjie)
Visiting snakes in a harmonious ecosystem
Tourists visiting Snake Trail are embraced in the imitating ecosystem where snakes inhabit. According to Su Yonglong, a snake expert from Taiwan with more than 10 years' experience feeding the animal, climate in the pavilion is strictly controlled at temperature between 28 to 30 degrees Centigrade, and humidity ranges 60 to 65 percentage, which is the best climate for snakes.
According to the sales manager, Chen Xiaoyong, the park is cooperating with animal-protection organizations, Chen said, aiming at rebuilding an original ecological habitat for snakes and accommodate them with comfort.
A milk snake exhibited at the Snake Trail on Jan. 22, 2013. The snake lies in the old tree truck, shedding its skin. (APD/Panjie)
Surrounded by ponds and old trees with withered canes, tourists strolling inside the pavilion is like adventuring in misty rain forest of Southeast Asia or South America. "Snakes haunt nearby inadvertently," Chen said. "It makes the visiting experience unforgettable."
An interactive exploring tour
The exhibition pavilion is delicately designed to enable tourists observing snakes from any possible angle. Through a glass ceiling or floor, there are snakes zigzag above or under. Tourists can stare into the cobra's eyes by sneaking into a 360 degree built-in dome inside the snake pit.
A tourist stares into a cobra's eyes throuth a 360 degree built-in dome at the Snake Trail in Guangzhou. (Official picture of the Chimelong Safari Park)
Besides window-exhibition, the Snake Trail makes it possible for tourists to have "zero distance" with snakes by touching them. Inside the Experiencing Hall, trainers put some small-sized pet snakes, such as milk snakes or corn snakes in their hands, let visitors have a true feeling of how smooth the snake scale is.
Inside the pavilion, tourists can also have access to a lot of multimedia facilities teaching knowledge about the snake. These are visitor-friendly tools and everyone can get what he wants to know just by pressing the screen.
A tourist Gao with her kid said that she was amazed at the colorful snakes. "In my former experience, snakes are horrible creatures with grey color and live in the mud. They are sneaky and poisonous," she said. "Now I see various kinds of snakes which I never thought of and many of them are so beautiful." Her son also likes the snakes here very much and gets to know a lot of things about the animal.
Snakes with cultural meaning
To some people, snakes are mysterious as well as malicious, cold-blooded animal. But like in ancient Egyptian and Indian culture, the snake is also worshiped in China.
Five thousand years ago, Chinese civilization originated with ancient deities have bodies of snakes. Besides, the snake is in close relationship with the most powerful Chinese totem, the dragon. Listed the 6th in the Chinese animal zodiac, snake also is seen as a symbol of fortune, health and luck.
A tourist observes a Burmese Python through a 360 degree built-in dome at the Snake Trail in Guangzhou, on Jan 22, 2013. (APD/Panjie)
The Snake Trail exhibited a 6-meter Patteraless, an Albino variation of Burmese Python imported from Southeast Asia named "Gold". "The python has a rare pattern colored white and gold," Chen said, "It's a symbol of good fortune and hope of a prosperous new year."
