A monkey at Sigiriya, or lion rock, a fortress complex built by King Kashyapa during the 5th century.[Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]

It's better to carry a pair of binoculars to see different species of birds.

The park has one of the highest leopard densities in the world.

But seeing one really depends on your luck, as a large cat can appear and vanish in an instant.

On the trip, my friend suddenly spots a black leopard descending from a tree. We then try to track it down for about half an hour, but never see it again.

More Chinese tourists are traveling to Sri Lanka for encounters with animals, the sea and its cultural heritage.

The prices also make a difference.