Where to see Giant Pandas in China?
The Giant Pandas have long been loved by people around the world, and are known to be China’s national treasure and an endangered species. They are used as the logo of the Word Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) which works on wilderness preservation and is the largest conservation organisation in the world. The success in Giant Panda conservation in China has caused the reclassification in 2016 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from “endangered” species to “vulnerable” species.
Where to see Giant Pandas in Sichuan?
You can see giant pandas in the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre. Natural habitats have been created to provide the best possible environment for rearing and breeding the adorable creatures. It is the Chinese government’s main research base for endangered wildlife in China. There are over 100 giant pandas among the other rare, wild animals, like the red panda and the black and white necked crane, living on the site designed with 96% natural coverage.
You can be a day volunteer with the Panda Keeper Program inDujiangyan Panda Base, to get closer with the Giant Pandas, including feeding and learning about the important panda conservation work in China.
The centre accepts up to 30 volunteers aged between 12 to 65 daily. Application has to be done 2 weeks in advance with the Application Form and Health Examinations Form (valid medical certificate and signature).
The Panda Keeper Progamme Schedule at the Dujiangyan Panda Base
| Time | Duration | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Morning (8:30-11:30) |
08:30~09:00 | Learn safety announcement and sign the security agreement; put on the work suit and gloves, wear the volunteer pass card before go to the work place; the staff will tell you important matters that need your attention. |
| 09:00~10:00 | “Honorable Panda Keeper” experience: carry out the old bamboo, wash the panda house, clean up the panda excrement, carry in the fresh bamboo, etc. | |
| 10:00~11:00 | “Wonderful Panda Tour” time: visit other panda enclosures, look around the panda base for more giant pandas and red pandas. | |
| 11:00~11:30 | “Regardful Panda Feeding” experience: feed the panda with panda cake or other food, like carrot, bamboo shoot and apple. | |
| Lunch (11:30-13:00) |
1.5 hours | Have lunch with the staff in the restaurant and take a break; Visit around the base and see the cute panda if you like. |
| Afternoon (13:00-15:30) |
13:00~14:00 | “Panda Cinema”: Watch a panda documentary that shows the scientific facts about panda, to understand how humans protect them. |
| 14:00~14:50 | clean the panda house and feed the giant pandas again. | |
| 14:50~15:30 | “Panda Nutritionist” time: prepare food for the panda and also make the panda cake. | |
| 15:30 and after | Answer some scientific questions about panda through your whole days’ experience; Plant bamboo to improve the pandas’ environment; and then, finish the panda volunteer experience and get the panda volunteer certificate and souvenirs. |
A selection of tours for inspiration
-
View this packageChina Group Tour Nature
Essential Plus Panda
This Essential Plus Panda tour visits the Giant Pandas in their natural habitat, Zhujiajiao and the must-see cities of Beijing, Xian and Shanghai.
-
View this packageChina Group Tour Rail
Private: China Rail Discovery
There are now many bullet trains in operation in China, which provide an interesting way to see more of the countryside and scenery away from the big cities.
-
View this packageChina Tailor Made Family
China Family Tour
Explore classic china with family-friendly hotels and activities including Shanghai Disneyland!
-
View this packageChina Group Tour Cruise
Private: Cruise and Panda
For those with more time in China the Cruise and Panda tour means you can combine the golden route of Beijing, Xian and Shanghai with a Yangtze Cruise and Giant Panda visit.