Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding成都大熊猫繁育研究基地
The best place in the world to see giant pandas — go early, and know what is and isn’t on offer.
Photo: George Lu · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Best time
- Opening time to about 10am; autumn for cubs.
- Nearest base
- Chengdu
About Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding was founded in 1987 with a handful of rescued pandas and is now a large landscaped park in the north of the city. Enclosures house adult giant pandas, young pandas and red pandas, and in late summer and autumn you may see the year’s cubs in the nursery.
Pandas are most active in the cool of the morning when they are fed. By late morning, especially in summer, many are asleep or in air-conditioned indoor rooms.
Tickets and getting there
- Booking
- Book timed tickets online with your passport. Panda holding is no longer offered, and keeper/volunteer programmes have changed several times — treat third-party “volunteer” offers with caution.
- How to get there
- Metro to Panda Avenue (Xiongmao Dadao) station and a shuttle or short walk, or a DiDi from the city centre (about 30–40 minutes).
Almost every major sight in China books by passport number. See what to set up before you fly.
Highlights
- Sunshine Nursery — Cubs, usually from late summer.
- Sub-adult enclosures — Playful young pandas, best in the morning.
- Red panda area — Free-roaming red pandas.
Field notes
- Use the internal sightseeing carts to get to the far enclosures first, then walk back.
Staying in Chengdu
Chengdu travel guide
Pandas, teahouses and some of the best food in China, in a city famous for taking life slowly.
Classic China by High-Speed Rail: 12 Days
China with Kids: 10 Days of Walls, Warriors and Pandas
Chongqing, the Yangtze and Zhangjiajie: 9 Days
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FAQ
Can I hold a panda in Chengdu?
No. Holding was stopped for animal welfare reasons and is not available at the Chengdu base.
Are there other places to see pandas near Chengdu?
Yes — the China Conservation and Research Centre bases at Dujiangyan and Wolong are quieter and set in mountain scenery, but take longer to reach.
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