Written by Natalia |
Giant pandas have become a cultural symbol for China. These adorable animals are well loved by Chinese people and foreign visitors from all over the world. You should definitely take the chance to see them if you’re traveling to China. Here’s the ultimate guide on how to plan a panda tour in China to help you achieve the most worthwhile experience.
This guide will include best places to see giant pandas in China, top panda experiences, best time to see them, and practical tips for creating your itinerary. You can contact us for more detailed information.
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- Why Take a Panda Tour in China?
- Best Places to See Giant Pandas in China
- Unique Panda Experiences in China
- How Many Days Do You Need for a China Panda Tour?
- Best Time to Visit Panda Reserves in China
- Practical Tips on How to Plan a Panda Tour
- FAQs on How to Plan a Panda Tour in China
- Plan Your Panda Tour with China Xian Tour
Why Take a Panda Tour in China?
Meet the Iconic Giant Pandas of China
A panda tour in China will be a rare chance for you to see giant pandas in their natural habitats. And you’ll be able to meet the famous pandas of China. Located across the country, they have become famous among Chinese people through the internet and attracted lots of fans to come see them in person.
Learn about Panda Conservation & Breeding Efforts
Apart from observing the animals in person, you’ll be able to learn lots of giant panda facts. The staff members can tell you about their daily lives, behaviors, and even individual characters. The research bases also provide information on panda habitat preservation and captive breeding efforts.
Experience a Once-in-a-Lifetime Panda Keeper Program
For individuals who are particularly interested in the preservation of giant pandas, you can join a panda tour with volunteer programs at one of the research bases. It’ll be especially exciting for families with kids. The panda keeper program will allow you to get hands-on experience working alongside professional staff members of the institution and put your personal effort into the preservation of giant pandas.
Best Places to See Giant Pandas in China
There are many places to see pandas in China, and the best ones are in Sichuan Province around Chengdu because it is natural home of these animals. Below this article will talk in detail about the most popular panda research and breeding sites in Sichuan.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding – The Top Choice
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the most popular destination for travelers because it is the closest base to Chengdu and has the most pandas. It is an important research institute of giant pandas in China with comprehensive facilities and simulates their natural habitat. It’s the top choice for Chengdu panda tours.
Dujiangyan Panda Base – Best for Volunteer Experiences
Dujiangyan Panda Base is located outside of Chengdu in the city of Dujiangyan, a popular destination for Chengdu side trips. This institution focuses on disease control and field rescue of giant pandas. It offers panda keeper programs to visitors who would like to spend their time contributing to the conservation effort.
Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve – The Best Natural Environment
Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve is part of Wolong National Nature Reserve near Dujiangyan. Thanks to its ideal natural environment, it is home to many rare animals including giant pandas. It’s a great place to visit for nature lovers. You can go on a scenic hike in the reserve while seeing the adorable pandas.
Bifengxia Panda Base – Less Crowded Facility
Bifengxia Panda Base in Ya’an City is another place to see giant pandas in China. It is less crowded compared to other facilities so you will have a more peaceful experience. Enjoy the nature and the excellent opportunity to observe these cute animals.
Chengdu Panda Bases at a Glance
<td”>half a day to one day
Panda Base |
Location |
Number of Pandas |
Things to Do |
Best for |
Recommended Visit Time |
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding |
15 km (9 miles) from Chengdu city center; 30-40 minutes drive |
over 200 |
walking/sightseeing bus tour |
visitors short on time, adult travelers, families with young children |
2-3 hours |
Dujiangyan Panda Base |
70 km (43 miles) from Chengdu; 1 hour drive |
around 60 |
Panda Volunteer Program, walking tour |
families with kids, couples, solo travelers |
half a day to one day |
Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve |
100 km (62 miles) from Chengdu; 2 hours drive |
around 50 |
Panda Volunteer Program, hiking tour |
families with kids, couples, solo travelers |
half a day to one day |
Bifengxia Panda Base |
150 km (93 miles) from Chengdu; 2.5 hours drive |
around 60 |
Panda Volunteer Program, walking tour |
families with kids, couples, solo travelers |
half a day to one day |
Recommended Chengdu Panda Tours:
- One Day Chengdu Highlight Tour
- 2 Days Wolong Panda Base Volunteer Tour
- 4 Days Chengdu Panda Volunteer Tour
Other Places to See Pandas in China
If you’re not traveling to Chengdu for your China trip, you can still see giant pandas in zoos. One of the best zoos in China, Beijing Zoo, is home to lots of animals including over 10 pandas. It’s a top activity for families with kids. You will also find giant pandas at Shanghai Wild Animal Park, Chongqing Zoo, and Guangzhou Chimelong Safari Park. There are also a number of places to see pandas around Xi’an.
Recommended China Panda Tours:
- Beijing Panda and Forbidden City Day Tour
- 4 Days Family-Friendly Guangzhou Chimelong Safari Park Tour
Unique Panda Experiences in China
Panda Keeper Volunteer Programs
The giant panda volunteer program will be the most meaningful part of your China panda tour. Several panda bases offer this experience to visitors including Dujiangyan Panda Base, Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve, and Bifengxia Panda Base.
In these programs, you will be working alongside professional staff members to prepare food for the pandas, make steamed bread, split bamboos. You’ll clean the living areas of the pandas and watch them being fed up-close. At the end of your program, you will receive a Panda Volunteer Certificate. You can book a panda volunteer tour with us.
Recommended Panda Volunteer Tours:
- China Panda Volunteer Day Tour from Chengdu
- 3 Days Chengdu Family Tour with Panda Volunteering & Cooking Class
Can I Hold a Panda During my Visit?
Unfortunately, visitors are no longer allowed to hold pandas at any of the facilities in order to reduce human-animal contact. The volunteer programs are the best options for observing pandas up-close.
How Many Days Do You Need for a China Panda Tour?
Suggested Itineraries: 1 Day, 2–3 Days, 5 Days+
Panda Day Trip Itinerary: For a day trip, you can choose a panda reserve, get there early in the morning, and start your tour which will last about 2-3 hours. It’s recommended that you stay in downtown Chengdu. If you’d like to spend more time around the pandas, you can participate in a volunteer program which ends around 3 or 4pm.
2-3 Days Classic Itinerary: 2-3 days will give you time to explore the city of Chengdu. As the capital city of Sichuan and a major hub in Southwest China, it is known for its regional culture. Popular Chengdu tour destinations include Wide and Narrow Valley or Jinli Street with rich local culture. You should definitely experience the famous Chengdu cuisine especially authentic hot pot.
5 Days+ In-Depth Itinerary: With 5 or more days, you can extent your panda trip to nearby destinations. Chengdu is surrounded by mountains and other beautiful sites. You can go on a hiking trip or sightseeing trip for photography.
Chengdu Nearby Destinations: Leshan, Mount Emei, Jiuzhaigou
When planning your Chengdu tour, you might want to consider destinations nearby the panda bases. Sichuan Province is known for beautiful natural sceneries. You can discover the Leshan Giant Buddha hidden in the mountains. It is the tallest stone carved seated Buddha in the world – as tall as the mountain itself.
Mount Emei is a sacred mountain of Buddhism. You can go on a hike to visit the ancient temples and enjoy the views. Jiuzhaigou or Jiuzhai Valley is often named one of the most beautiful places in China. Its mountains, lakes, and forests create a colorful painting that changes with the seasons.
Recommended Chengdu Panda Tours with Side Trips:
- 4 Days Chengdu Panda Volunteer Tour with Leshan Giant Buddha
- 4 Days Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Tour with Panda Volunteer Program
- 6 Days Chengdu Leshan Mt. Emei Tour with Panda Volunteer Program
Best Time to Visit Panda Reserves in China
The Best Time to Visit Chengdu
Surrounded by mountains, Chengdu has a humid subtropical climate. It is hot and humid in the summer and has mild winters. Although the city is suitable for visit all year round, the best time to visit Chengdu is in spring and autumn. The temperature will be the most comfortable for outdoor activities.
Best Time of the Year to See Active Pandas
You can see pandas at the reserves all year round, but their behaviors vary during different time of the year. Their mating season is in spring, from March to May. This is when you might see male pandas engage in physical conflicts. In the summer, pandas may not be as active due to the heat and humidity. Baby pandas are born in late summer or autumn.
Best Time of the Day
It is highly recommended that you visit the panda reserves in the morning as it is when they will be the most active. At around 7-10am, they have breakfast, and afterwards you are likely to see them playing around or climbing trees. Later in the morning around 10:30am or 12pm, pandas tend to be less active. They like to take naps or lie around.
They have another meal in the afternoon around 1-3pm. You may catch them having their snacks, eating bamboos or apples, having a stroll around the enclosure. Panda behaviors change with the seasons. In the summer when it’s hot out, they spend more time indoors and are less active especially in the afternoon. While in the winter, they may be seen outdoors a lot more being more energetic.
China Holidays & Peak Travel Times
Another important thing to note regarding timing is that China sees its peak tourist season during national public holidays and the summer. When the school is out, lots of people go on vacations with their families. Considering the volume of tourism traffic, it is advisable to avoid these times for your China tour.
Practical Tips on How to Plan a Panda Tour
How to Get to Chengdu
To begin your China panda tour, you should first get to Chengdu in Sichuan Province. If you’re traveling directly from your home country, you can take an international flight to Tianfu International Airport or Shuangliu International Airport. If you would like to start your China tour in other cities in China, you can also choose to use the highspeed rail service.
Once you there, the convenient Chengdu transportation system can take you around and out the city. Within the city, you can use the metro system. For example, you can take Line 3 to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. To travel outside the city, like to Dujiangyan, you can take a train or coach.
Where to Stay on a Panda Tour
Depending on your itinerary, it is recommended that you stay in the city of Chengdu. There are a wide range of accommodation options catering to different needs. There are lots of restaurants, entertainment venues, and convenient public transportation. You can take a day trip to the panda reserve of your choice.
Of course, if you don’t want your schedule to be too tight, you can book a local hotel in Wolong town or Dujiangyan. You won’t have as many options as in Chengdu, but you’ll be able to get to the panda reserve early and have time to explore other parts of the area.
What to Bring on a Panda Tour
You won’t need anything in particular when you visit a panda reserve. You can bring some water with you. In the summer, dress light and wear sunscreen. You might want to dress in layers in other seasons.
FAQs on How to Plan a Panda Tour in China
Can I take my kids to a panda keeper program?
Yes, kids above the age of 8 can participate in the panda volunteer programs. It’s in fact one of the top things to do on a China family trip. Kids will have fun, learn about panda conservation, and receive a panda volunteer certificate.
Are panda bases ethical and eco-friendly?
Yes, the aims of the reserves are to preserve the natural habitat of giant pandas and other animals, protect these endangered animals through research, and raise awareness through educating the public.
How much does it cost to feed a panda?
The diet of giant pandas must adhere strictly to nutritional formulas. Therefore, visitors are not allowed to feed them. However, you can learn to make a panda meal in a volunteer program and observe up-close as professional keepers feed them. The program will cost around CNY 750 per person.
Do I need to speak Chinese to take part in a tour?
If you book a China tour with us, you will be accompanied by our local English-speaking guide. Our guide will make sure that your trip is smooth and enjoyable.
Plan Your Panda Tour with China Xian Tour
Travel to China and see adorable pandas with China Xian Tour. Our professional travel consultants will answer all the questions you have about how to plan a panda tour. You can customize your itinerary, travel care-free with private transportation and English-speaking guides. Here are some of our most popular China tours with panda experiences.
