Dujiangyan Panda Base: A Base Dedicated to Giant Panda Disease Prevention and Field Rescue

Written by Veronica | Updated September 11,2025

China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Dujiangyan Panda Base is one of the four bases of China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center. Also, Dujiangyan Panda Base is the only scientific research institution in China that focuses on disease prevention and control of giant pandas and field rescue.

Dujiangyan Panda Base is adjacent to Qingcheng Mountain in the north. Qingcheng Mountain – Dujiangyan is located at the junction of Qionglai Mountain Range and Min Mountain Range. This has formed a natural corridor for gene exchange and reproduction of the two giant panda populations. Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base not only has the largest population of giant pandas, but also has a very suitable climate and tranquil environment for giant pandas.

Content Preview

• Dujiangyan Panda Base Facts
• Overview of Dujiangyan Panda Base
• Dujiangyan Panda Base Volunteer Program
• What to See and Do in Dujiangyan Panda Base
• How to Get to Dujiangyan Panda Base from Chengdu
• Best Time to Visit
• Essential Tips for Visitors
• Attractions nearby Dujiangyan Panda Base

Dujiangyan Panda Base Facts

• Location: No.22, Dasan Road, Qingchengshan Town, Dujiangyan City, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province
• Ticket Price: 58 yuan/person ( 15 yuan/person round trip for sightseeing vehicle)
• Opening Time: 8:30-17:00 (no entry at 16:30)
• Suggested Visiting Time: 2-3 hours
• Best Visiting Time in Summer: 9:00-11:00

Related Reading: 20+ Fascinating Giant Panda Facts: Getting to Know China’s National Treasure

Overview of Dujiangyan Panda Base

The giant panda enclosure, scientific research facilities of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center were severely damaged by a massive earthquake in Wenchuan, China on May 12, 2008.

In order to ensure the health of the core population of captive giant pandas, and strengthen the wild giant panda rescue capacity, China decided to relocate the site to build a specialized institution. The institution is now known as Dujiangyan Panda Base and Center for Disease Control. Through the joint efforts of all parties, Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base was completed in December 2013.

Dujiangyan Panda Base Volunteer Program

In the early days, giant panda breeding and management were less formal, so visitors could pay to take photos with them or hug pandas. However, any form of commercial contact with pandas has been banned since 2018, following the deaths of pandas infected with bacteria and viruses carried by humans. That’s to say, hold panda activity has been permanently terminated.

If you are a true giant panda lover and are eager to get in touch with them, it is recommended that you sign up for the Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base Volunteer Program.

Become a panda keeper: You will have the opportunity to cut bamboo, clean bamboo shoots, carry bamboo for giant pandas, etc. You can also learn the formula of specialized steamed bread and cook it for giant pandas. While participating in giant panda volunteer program, you can learn a wealth of panda protection knowledge and enhance ecological awareness.

Make friends with like-minded people: Anyone over the age of 8 can sign up to volunteer. So you have the opportunity to meet giant panda lovers from all over the world and contribute to the cause of giant panda conservation.

Certificates and Souvenirs: Your contribution will help improve the quality of life of giant pandas, which is a rare and meaningful experience. At the end of the program, you will receive a delicate volunteer certificate and a souvenir as a witness of your valuable experience.

Panda Volunteer Program Process

Your volunteer day begins with putting on a special work uniform in the base. Once ready, the staff will lead into the panda living areas to help clean both indoor enclosures and outdoor playgrounds. Then, under the guidance of panda keepers, you’ll assist with preparing panda’s meals. You’ll get involved in process like splitting bamboo, washing bamboo shoots, and carrying fresh bamboo to the feeding zones.

Next, you are going to watch the keepers feed the pandas up close, and during this time, there will also be people teaching you about pandas’ diet and daily care routines. Around midday, enjoy a simple lunch at the base and be ready to relax with an educational documentary that dives deeper into the pandas’ origins, habits, and conservation efforts.

In the afternoon, you’ll take part in one of the most interesting activities, which is making steamed corn buns — a nutritious treat for the pandas — from scratch. In the end, you’ll receive a certificate presentation, it is a mark of your contribution to panda care and conservation.

If you are interested, welcome to join our panda keeper program:

• Panda Volunteer Day Tour
• 4 Days Chengdu Panda Volunteer Experience

What to See and Do in Dujiangyan Panda Base

Dujiangyan Panda Base Tour Route

There are about 40 giant pandas living in the Dujiangyan panda base, and more than 20 can be visited. The first spot you see when you enter the Dujiangyan panda base is the Panda Science Museum, where you can learn the living habits of giant pandas and other related knowledge.

The next stop is the Panda Park, which consists of Panpan Garden, Linze Garden, Diequan Garden, and Shuangnan Garden. In Panpan Garden you can see Baiyun, a giant panda who has lived in the United States for 23 years, and a pair of panda twins “Jifu and Chunyu”. In addition to giant pandas, there are adorable red pandas and black bears in Linze Garden. If you are lucky enough, you can even pet red pandas.

Diequan Garden can be said to be the most lively district in Dujiangyan Panda Base. All the pandas roll around freely and taste the delicious bamboo, and no one can resist such lovely creatures. At eight o ‘clock every morning, the pandas will have breakfast on time.

Go through the Panda Park and you will come to the Panda Hospital in Dujiangyan Panda Base. You can learn about the disease prevention and control of giant pandas and witness how professional medical teams protect these rare animals.

The last stop is the Panda Maternity Room, where you can see many young pandas drinking milk or playing.

Panda Returnees

Dujiangyan Panda Base is home to many elderly pandas and those who have returned to China after their overseas leases. Tiantian and Meixiang, who returned from the United States last year, are living here for the rest of their lives. A 1-year-old giant panda is equivalent to 3.5-year-old human years. If calculated according to this ratio, they are equivalent to the elderly people over 90 years old.

It is particularly important for the elderly giant panda to be healthy, especially for the prevention of epidemics and the monitoring of geriatric diseases. In order to take good care of Tiantian and Meixiang, their enclosures were specially arranged opposite the animal hospital. By doing MRI and X-ray examinations, keepers can better observe the panda’s organs and food digestion. One of the keepers’ daily tasks is to weigh Tiantian and Meixiang and take their blood pressure.

Notes of Dujiangyan Panda Base:

1. Please turn off the flash when taking pictures of giant pandas.
2. Each panda park is equipped with surveillance cameras, among which Shuangnan Garden and Panpan Garden have global live webcast. So please mind your manners.
3. There is only a convenience store near Panpan Garden, and the rest of the area in Dujiangyan Panda Base has no dining place for tourists.

How to Get to Dujiangyan Panda Base from Chengdu

By train: You can take the bullet train from Chengdu Railway Station to Dujiangyan Railway Station, with around half an hour. Then you can take bus or taxi to Dujiangyan Panda Base.

By shuttle bus: There are direct buses to Dujiangyan Panda Base from Wuhou Temple Visitor Center, Kuanzhai Lane, etc.

By self-driving: You can drive along Chengguan Highway west from Chengdu and take about 30 minutes to Dujiangyan Panda Base. There are several parking lots around the scenic spot.

Best Time to Visit

The best seasons to have a panda tour are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). In spring, pandas are more active since this comfortable period is also their breeding season. While the bamboo forests are also full of fresh shoots, feeding time can be lively and easy to observe for visitors. Besides, Autumn also offers mild and cool weather for both pandas and visitors, and this creates plenty of opportunities for people to see pandas’ playful behaviors in a relaxed setting. Traveling in these seasons definitely ensures you a pleasant experience as you’ll get a higher chance of watching pandas at their most engaging moments.

Essential Tips for Visitors

• Always turn off flash photography to protect the pandas’sensitive eyes.
• Dress comfortably and also wear shoes that are friendly for long-distance walking — the base is spread out and requires plenty of walking to move between areas.
• Bring snacks or water — not many convenience stores are available inside the base.
• Arrive early in the morning to avoid major crowds. And it’s also worth a try to catch the feeding time at 8:00 a.m.
• If you want to go for a volunteer program, expect light physical work like bamboo handling.
• Respect the no-contact rule — touching pandas is strictlyprohibited for both the pandas’ and volunteers’ health and safety.

Attractions nearby Dujiangyan Panda Base

Dujiangyan Irrigation System: It is located on the Minjiang River to the west of Chengdu Plain. As the oldest and greatest water irrigation project in the world, Dujiangyan irrigation system has been playing an important role for more than 2000 years.

Mount Qingcheng: It is not only a‌ World cultural Heritage, but also one of the four famous Taoist mountains in China. Here you can learn the rich Taoist culture and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery.

Jiezi Ancient Town: It boasts six ancient streets and 68,000 square meters of ancient buildings. Whether you are a history lover or a natural scenery enthusiast, Jiezi Ancient Town can meet your needs.