The Xining Wildlife Park in the Chengxi district specialises in the fauna of the Tibetan Plateau — animals that most visitors to Qinghai are unlikely to encounter in the wild. The collection includes snow leopards, Tibetan brown bears, yaks, Tibetan antelopes (chiru), kiang (Tibetan wild asses), Przewalski's horses, and a variety of high-altitude bird species. The facility is one of the better Chinese city zoos for the quality of the animal enclosures.
For travellers who are not heading into Sanjiangyuan or the remote plateau but want to understand the fauna they are reading about, this park is a worthwhile half-day. The snow leopard enclosure is the main draw; the animals here are breeding individuals participating in a conservation programme. The park is on Kunlun West Road; admission is around 60 yuan.