I Opened a Zoo in the Northern Song Dynasty

I Opened a Zoo in the Northern Song Dynasty is an entertaining novel blending historical transmigration, a System, pet-centered business management, and lighthearted, imaginative comedy.

The protagonist, Lin Wan, was an overworked programmer. After dying suddenly from staying up all night, he transmigrates to the outskirts of Bianjing in the Northern Song Dynasty and takes over the dilapidated Wan Shou Park, which is on the verge of closing. To activate the System, he must turn the zoo into the greatest wonder in the Song Empire and attract the emperor for a visit, allowing him to return to the modern era.

Lin Wan has two golden fingers. The first is MAX animal affinity, which lets him communicate with animals telepathically. By feeding them special recipes, he can increase their intelligence and unlock adorable skills, such as pandas doing accounts and parrots reciting Song dynasty poetry. The second is a construction simulator, which lets him spend Prestige Points to obtain modern materials compatible with the logic of ancient technology, such as glass and cement, for building up the zoo.

In this world, which blends historical research with imaginative twists, Lin Wan uses a business strategy combining animal shows with viral food to draw in visitors and solve his funding crisis. But he also faces plenty of challenges. His commercial rival, Fanlou, copies his animal-themed dishes, launching a fierce business war, while the Xuantian Sect, a cultivation sect, covets the mythical beasts in his zoo and plots to capture them for alchemy.

The story follows Lin Wan's battles against these villains, interspersed with hilarious everyday moments, such as a parrot reciting Rhapsody on the Red Cliffs and causing a plagiarism scandal in literary circles, as well as thrilling battle scenes, like a black panther taking human form to fight an elder of the Xuantian Sect. Through its unique blend of genres, the novel delivers emotional touchstones including relatable overworked-office-worker experiences and sweet moments popular with female readers. Its episodic structure gives it strong potential as an intellectual property, with possible adaptations into short dramas, collectible figures, collaborative Hanfu clothing, and more.