Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

For animal lovers, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is, without dispute, the most popular destination in Chengdu. All different ages of pandas from tiny newborn pandas to adult giant pandas can be found there. Located in the northern outskirts of Chengdu and just 18 kilometers away from the city center, you can arrive at Chengdu Panda Base from the downtown area in about 30 minutes. Keep in mind that morning is the best time to see pandas — you can see them having fun, eating, and climbing trees with lots of energy. In this article, we have detailed fun facts, highlights, information about panda handling, and travel tips for you.

panda Cute Giant Panda

Fun Facts

  • You can see adorable tiny pandas during autumn or winter because March to May is panda's breeding season.
  • Morning is their most active period of the day while they fall asleep in the afternoon, especially in the suffocating summer heat.
  • Chengdu Panda Base is home to nearly 120 pandas.
  • Not only can you see the superstars – giant pandas – but you can also find red pandas, swans, peacocks, other birds, butterflies, and insects in this base.
  • Giant Panda Museum, located in the base, offers you a chance to have a more comprehensive understanding of their habits, history, and growth process.
panda Main Gate of Panda Base

The Story of Chengdu Panda Base

In the 1980s, most of the Qionglai Mountains’ Bashania fangiana (the pandas’ food in that area) died and some of the giant pandas were hungry and got sick. Chengdu Zoo’s staff found them and did their utmost to rescue them. In the end, six pandas survived. Since then, Chengdu Panda Base has been established and has committed itself to the research and breeding of giant pandas. During the three decades since that time, 214 giant pandas have been born there. That’s why Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is home to these giant pandas.

Giant pandas and their babies are regarded as national treasures and are treated as though they are emperors at Chengdu Panda Base. The beautiful natural environment including lakes, a stream, and bamboo plants has been designed according to their natural habitat in the wild. Most worthy of a mention is their special “panda villa”: a wonderful area for them to have fun and enjoy a rest.

With nothing to do but watch them having fun is delightful and interesting. Your heart will be melted by these cute creatures and they are so much more adorable up close than simply seeing them on the Internet. During warmer seasons, pandas like to have fun while they’re walking or rolling around in the gardens, and you can watch them doing this. But the clever pandas also enjoy comfortable air-conditioned rooms in summer and you will see sleeping pandas through the windows.

Therefore, the best time to see giant pandas is before 9am, especially in the heat of summer.

panda Visit baby pandas

Holding Pandas or Volunteer Programs

All activities relating to close contact with giant pandas (such as holding them or the volunteer programs) have been suspended. When they will reopen is unsure. Meanwhile, we don’t actually offer these types of activity because we are afraid they are bad for the pandas’ health and emotional well-being. We do, however, offer you a more insightful trip to learn more about their habits and give you a better experience by avoiding the crowds.

Travel Tips

  • Location: Futou Mountain, about 18 kilometers away from Chengdu city center; it’s about 40 minutes to drive there.
  • Number of pandas: 120
  • Best time: before 9am
  • Entrance fee: 55 yuan
  • Opening hours: 7:30am to 5pm all year round
  • Visiting duration: half a day
  • Another fun activity: sending a lovely postcard to your friends from the Panda Post Office

Visiting Tips

  • No map is provided at the entrance to Chengdu Panda Base.
  • It costs 10 yuan to take a shuttle to avoid wasting time walking.
  • You can take a shuttle from the subway station to the entrance for just 55 yuan.
  • Plan your trip in cooler months to see lively pandas.
  • Don’t use the flash when taking photos. Don’t shout at the pandas, even if you are very excited.
panda See panda in a distance

How to Get to Chengdu Panda Base

  • By bus: Take bus 87, 198, 198a, or 867 to Xiongmao Jidi (Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding) Station.
  • By metro: Take metro line 3 and get off at Dong Wu Yuan Station, then take bus 198 or 198a to get to the base.
  • By taxi: A taxi from Chengdu city center to the base costs about 50 yuan.

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