A Chinese news agency reports that visitors became suspicious when the supposed "big cat" started barking at the zoo in the Henan Province.
Officials are apologizing and claim the mix-up occurred because they couldn't afford to have real lions.
Visitors say they also found a white fox posing as a leopard in a separate enclosure, and two giant sea cucumbers trying to be passed off as snakes.
The zoo says it will give refunds to customers unhappy with the displays.
