Bioparc Valencia has presented this Monday, May 5, the expansion project that will involve a total investment of 64 million euros and that will have as its central axis the recreation of the historic Silk Road within the current grounds of the park.
The mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, accompanied by representatives of the company Rain Forest and the Bioparc Foundation, announced that the first phase of this remodeling is expected to open to the public in 2027.
3 new areas without physical barriers
This project will enhance the city’s cultural connections with China and Africa. The plan includes three distinct phases.
As in the rest of Bioparc, these new areas will follow the “Zoo immersion” model, in which the physical barriers between the animals and the public are hidden.
The first, with a budget of 18 million euros, will recreate the “Coptic Road”, a lesser-known section of the Silk Road connecting East Africa with the Mediterranean. This phase will include ecosystems such as the Red Sea and Ethiopian areas, spaces inspired by Ancient Egypt, large aviaries and children’s play areas, as well as a Zanzibar-themed restaurant area.
The second phase will focus on the Valencian farmhouses, currently being restored. These structures will be the link between Africa and Europe, illustrating the Valencian sericultural legacy with didactic spaces on the silkworm cycle, traditional looms and the role of Valencia in silk production. This stage has an investment of more than 1.2 million euros.
The third and most extensive phase, endowed with 44.5 million euros, will be dedicated to Imperial China. A traditional Chinese garden will be built that will integrate cultural and recreational elements such as Chinese shadow shows, the tea ceremony, virtual reality experiences and activities inspired by the rivers and national parks of the Asian country.
It will also incorporate a space on the “tornaviaje”, which closes the journey through the Pacific to the Philippines, highlighting the role of the city of Valencia in global trade.
Bioparc València was inaugurated in 2008, and has more than 6,000 animals of 150 species. In addition, it participates annually in fifty international programs for the conservation of endangered species.
It is estimated that the park could reach one million visitors per year, doubling the current figures.