We inventoried the wild animal species displayed and assessed ex situ conservation capacity of Chinese zoos from 2007 to 2008. Altogether,we surveyed 58 zoos personally or interviewed 10 zoos by correspondence. We recorded 789 wild animal species ( including the subspecies of tiger Panthera tigris and leopard P. pardus) in the surveyed zoos; which was 180 species more than the 600 animal species recorded in the Chinese zoos in early 1990s. Number of exotic wild animal species in the surveyed zoos increased to 267 species from about 100 species recorded in Chinese zoos in early 1990s. About 4. 0% ,22. 7% ,28. 2% ,and 25. 0% respectively of the 302 amphibians,384 reptiles,1 332 birds and 607 mammals in China were displayed in those surveyed zoos. Among those species,234 State Key Protected Wild Animal Species and 254 CITES Appendix listed species were kept in those zoos. Category Ⅰ and Category Ⅱ State Key Protected Wild Animal Species kept in those zoo accounted for 70. 57% and 47. 09% of the national totals whereas Chinese animal species listed in CITES Appendix Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ accounted for 64. 21% ,60. 86% and 50% of the national totals. Chinese zoos successfully bred giant panda Ailuiopodidae melanoleuca,golden-haired monkey Rhinopithecus roxellanae,snow leopard P. unicia,South China tiger P. t. amoyensis,and Asiatic elephant Elephas maximus. Many exotic species such as cheetah Acinonyx jubatus,gorilla Gorilla gorilla and puma Puma concolor also have been successfully bred in Chinese zoos. However,we discovered: (1) only about one fourth of Chinese mammals,birds and reptile,even less amphibians were kept and displayed in the surveyed zoos; (2) captive populations in the surveyed zoos were small: 5. 09 ± 2. 15,5. 69 ± 4. 28,15. 00 ± 6. 63 and 10. 08 ± 2. 91 for amphibians,reptiles,birds and mammals,respectively; most of the populations in the zoos did not form viable populations; (3) cage sizes in some zoos,particularly the small sized zoos were too small; some animals in the zoos displayed stereotyped behaviors; ( 4 ) pedigrees of giant panda,South China tiger and cranes bred in Chinese zoos have been drawn up,however,most of the species kept in Chinese zoos do not have pedigrees; (5) in the old style small zoos,there were problems like sanitation,only keeping a single animal in cages and mistakes on the name plates of animals. Zoos are an important part of modern society and human civilization. We should attach importance to the development of modern zoos,to enhance the international collaboration and exchange in Chinese zoos,to establish pedigrees for more animals in zoo,to improve the infrastructure,to increase pen size and to enrich the captive environment. The demonstration role of the large zoos in the country will lead all zoos to fully realize its functions such as animal exhibition,biodiversity education and species conservation.