Tips for Visiting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Chengdu is famous for two things: Sichuan cuisine and pandas. They’re cute, they’re cuddly and they’re everywhere! Chengdu is seriously the city of Pandas, and I cannot overstate how intensely panda imagery dominates the entire cityscape! Panda graphics, statues, mascots, you name it!
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Why All The Pandas?
Pandas are native to China’s Sichuan Province where Chengdu is located. After years of urban development, the natural habitat of the pandas is threatened. Today Sichuan’s protected breeding and research centers are critical to the survival of China’s endangered panda population. So, what’s the best way to actually visit some real-life pandas when in Chengdu? There are three different panda-viewing options within about 2 hours of Chengdu depending on your time, interest and budget
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding - (成都大熊猫繁育研究基)
Located on the outskirts of the city, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the most popular and easily accessible option for visiting pandas. The Research Base is like a panda-only zoo, but next level. There are a variety of panda enclosures, and depending on the time year you’re visiting you’ll also see infant or baby pandas! I’ve been to plenty of zoos in my life, and at first I was skeptical. But, honestly, a visit to the Research Base is worth it! First, just watching these cute, furry creatures eat, roll around and even nap is such a fun way to spend a morning (or day)!
The Research Base was established to initially care for 6 sick giant pandas that were rescued in the 1980s. Over the past 3 decades the Base has become one of the preeminent centers of panda research and breeding globally. On your visit you will see many cute, fluffy pandas and also have the opportunity to learn about many aspects of panda life.
Tips for Visiting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The Research Base is one of Chengdu’s busiest attractions. Follow these tips to set yourself up for the best visitor experience!
#1. Arrive Early
The Research Base opens daily at 7:30 am. Make sure to arrive by 7 am to be at the front of the line to buy your tickets. The line at the entrance will start to get pretty long by 7:30 am. Once the doors open it feels like a 5K starting line, but instead of runners you’re in a crowd of panda-lovers eager to get the panda party started!
Also, the pandas get breakfast first thing in the morning, so they’re most likely to be awake and active. If you arrive later in the day the pandas are more likely to be sleeping and the crowds of tourists more active. Not the dynamic you’re hoping for!
#2. Be Prepared for Souvenir Hawkers
While waiting in line for tickets, be prepared to be approached by local vendors selling panda headbands. We held firm not buying one, but if you’ve got kids you may just bring along some cash and lean into it. They do make for cute photos!
#3 Eat Breakfast Before You Arrive
Yes, I know planning for a 7:00 am arrival makes for a very early breakfast. But, meals at the Research Center are not sold until about 11:00 am. There are multiple cafes and restaurants, but don’t expect to buy breakfast. My latte was a good holdover, but by 10 am (after 3 hours of panda-filled bliss) I was getting hangry and the only option we could find was meat on a stick. (Honestly, the meat was pretty good, but again, not breakfast.) If you stay for lunch, there are very cute bento boxes made to look like panda faces.
For top food recommendations in Chengdu, read my guide to 'Eating Your Way Through Chengdu'!
#4 Visit the Pandas First and the Learning Centers After
The Museum and Scientific Discovery Center are located close to the entrance to the Research Base. If you’ve arrived nice and early, head to the further panda enclosures first. You’re more likely to get close-up views without being surrounded by hoards to fellow visitors.
#5 Don't Miss the Panda Learning Centers!
When you can finally pull yourself away from watching the lovable and playful pandas, make sure to visit the 2 learning centers: Giant Panda Museum and Scientific Discovery Center. You’ll leave the Research Base knowing more than you an ever thought about panda diets, relationship patterns, habitats and more! There is historical information about the research base itself and about panda life in general.
#6 Embrace the Panda-monium
Pandas are the name of the game when visiting Chengdu. Embrace and enjoy it! Wear your panda t-shirts, hats, socks, and backpacks! Everyone visiting the Panda Breeding and Research Base is there to see pandas, so join in the panda-monium and leave behind any worries about looking goofy. Spend time walking around Chengdu, and even in the city center you’ll see random kids (and sometimes adults!) wearing their panda accessories.
Chengdu Visitor's Guide - Tips for Visiting the Panda Research Base in Chengdu
Getting to The Panda Breeding & Research Base
There are a few different ways to get to and from to the Panda Research Base, including public transit, tourist shuttles and a taxi. Since you want to get there pretty early, I recommend paying the extra for a taxi in the morning. Click here for additional public transport information.
You can also try taking the HiPanda Shuttle Bus to travel between various tourist destinations in Chengdu including the Research Base, Wuhuo Shrine Museum, Du Fu’s Thatched Cottage and even the Dujiangyan Irrigation System. This is a bit more expensive than public transit, but super convenient and easy.
Wolong Panda Center & Dujiangyan Panda Base
Around Chengdu you will find two additional panda breeding and research centers: Wolong Panda Center and the Dujiangyan Panda Base. Both are further outside the city, and I recommend booking a tour if you visit either one. Sichuan’s panda sanctuaries are UNESCO-recognized sites and make up a portion of the largest remaining natural panda habitat in the world.
'Volunteer' for the Day
For a more interactive experience, you can ‘volunteer’ for the day to help take care of the pandas. ‘Volunteer’ programs usually include helping to clean the panda enclosures, learning about panda care, feeding the pandas (through the enclosure gate) and making panda food in a small group setting. I say ‘volunteer’ in quotes because you should expect to pay at least $150 per person for the full-day experience, including hotel pick-up and transportation.
Note that out of safety considerations for the pandas, you can no longer pay extra to hold or cuddle them. If it has been your life-long dream to be a panda keeper, then I say go for it. If not, a visit to the Research Base in Chengdu will probably satisfy your panda needs.
Other Places to Visit in Chengdu
Chengdu (成都) is the capital of China’s Sichuan Province and a bustling metropolis with a population of over 14 million people! Yet, Chengdu still maintains a more laid back atmosphere than cities like Beijing or Shanghai.
Read my Chendgu Foodie Guide for recommendations on eating your way through Chengdu.
Read my Chengdu Visitors Guide Part for more ‘must see’ places during your visit to Chengdu.
Planning your first visit to China?
Make sure to read these: Tips for First-time Travelers to Mainland China!
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Seeing the panda’s in Chengdu is on my bucket list when we can travel again. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences & tips! I’m saving this for later!
Linda – I hope you can make it there one day!
I did not know we could hold or cuddle pandas earlier. It is good that the same has been discontinued now.
Yes, I completely agree. Especially right now that would not be safe for the pandas!
Awwww….this looks like such a great place to visit. I am keeping this post for when I get to China – I definitely want to see the pandas.
What an incredible experience! I’ve never seen a Giant Panda before and would love to see one someday. They are so cute! Volunteering looks like a fun experience too!
This is something I would love to do! Great tips about showing up early and visiting the pandas first, but not to miss the learning centres. It looks like such a cute experience!
Hi, Krista – They are sooo cute! It is cuteness overload seeing all the pandas. 🙂
This would be the most amazing experience ever! I’d love to see the pandas. Quite tempted by the panda volunteer program.
Your tip to go early for feeding time is a good one. We saw the giant pandas at the Beijing zoo many years ago in the afternoon and they were just sitting around and doing nothing. That was not too exciting.
I agree, the volunteer program is more like a “get to handle pandas” experience than a volunteer program. But I can imagine that it is worth every penny.
Chengdu looks like a great place to add to a China itinerary! I would love to visit the panda centers. It’s so cute and funny that everything is panda themed. My mom and sister were supposed to go to China last year and visit Chengdu but they were obviously not able to visit. I will send them your post though, I’m sure they will appreciate it!
Kailyn – I’m so sorry to hear about your mom and sister’s plans getting disrupted. 🙁 I hope they can make it in the future. I have a food and visitor’s guide for Chengdu, too, once they are able to plan again.
Chengdu is a great place if you love Pandas.
Even though I live in China, I’ve not made it to Chengdu yet. I’m actually a bit worried about all the spicy food there, haha.
Kez – the food is definitely spicy! But, it is soooo good. My wife and I ordered average spice level hot pot, and it was extremely humbling. We should have definitely asked for low spice!
I have read about Chengdu several times. I would love to see pandas in real life. Being a huge fan of “Kung fu Panda” 🙂 It is really insightful and informative post.
This is a great article with lots of great information and thanks for the helpful tips! I loved my visit, and I cant wait to go back to learn more.
The volunteer idea is good because it educated more people, helps out the park with duties and puts some extra money into the care of the animals!
Thank you for sharing