There are currently six panda bases around Chengdu, with a driving distance of 0.5 to 2.5 hours from the downtown Chengdu. I believe that you will gain insights into the overall status of six panda bases after reading this article. We would share six panda bases, starting from the ones closest to Chengdu and moving towards those farther away.
1.Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Chengdu Panda Base)
Add. 1375 Panda Avenue, Chenghua District, Chengdu.
Chengdu Panda Base is 10 kilometers from the city center (Tianfu Square), 30 kilometers from Shuangliu International Airport, and 70 kilometers from Tianfu International Airport. This base, established in 1987, started with six pandas rescued from the wild.
This is the panda base closest to Chengdu city. It can be reached by taking the subway, bus, or taxi, with a travel time of 30-50 minutes. You can see 50-80 giant pandas. In addition to giant pandas, you can also see red pandas, peacocks, and swans. It has excelled in the relocation protection of giant pandas, giant panda breeding, science education, and cultural tourism. The park covers an area of 3.07 square kilometers and includes panda exhibition areas, shopping areas, restaurants, souvenir shops, and an artificial lake. It is a lovely place to see giant pandas.
2.Dujiangyan Panda Valley
Add. 408 Yutang Section, Huanshan Tourist Road, Yutang Town, Dujiangyan City.
Dujiangyan Panda Valley is 50 kilometers from downtown Chengdu with a travel time of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Established in 2010, the Panda Valley currently houses 20-30 giant pandas. The main function of this base is wilderness training, simulating outdoor environments to help pandas adapt. The park is smaller, but its gardens are beautiful. Popular pandas like Oreo (aka. Ao Li Ao) , Meilan, Jixiao, Chengfeng, and Chenglang reside here.
3.Dujiangyan Panda Base
Add. Shiqiao Village, Qingchengshan Town, Dujiangyan City.
Dujiangyan Panda Base is 55 kilometers from Chengdu with a travel time of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Established in 2013, this park was built with the assistance of the Hong Kong government after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. In addition to 40-50 giant pandas, visitors can see two Asiatic black bears (aka. Moon bear).
Dujiangyan Panda Base focuses on public education, research experiences, tourism, and panda conservation. Unlike other bases, it has several elderly pandas, and the keepers have scientific methods for their care. Bai Yun and Gao Gao, the giant pandas from San Diego Zoo, currently make their home at this Dujiangyan Panda Base.
*Available program: Giant Panda Volunteering.
4.Wolong Panda Base
Add. Wolong Nature Reserve.
At an altitude of about 1300 meters, Wolong Panda Base is 115 kilometers from Chengdu with a travel time of 1 hour and 40 minutes. Established in 2016 with assistance from the Hong Kong government, the Wolong Panda Base primarily researches giant panda breeding and promotion of public education. The area is known for its beautiful natural scenery and is considered an ideal habitat for giant pandas. The base has 50 giant pandas, and some female pandas can be seen with their cubs in the snow during the spring.
Wolong Nature Reserve is called a "precious biological gene bank" because it is home to a rich variety of animals and plants. The family consisting of Tai Shan, Bao Bao, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji, who returned from Washington, USA, has gathered here.
*Available program: Giant Panda Volunteering.
5.Wolong Hetaoping Base
Add. Wolong Nature Reserve.
Hetaoping Base, which also located in the Wolong Nature Reserve, it is 135 kilometers from Chengdu with a travel time of 2 hours and 20 minutes, and 25 minutes from the Wolong Panda Base. Established in the 1980s, Hetaoping Base is the earliest panda breeding and research base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP).
The Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 caused partial damage to the Hetaoping Base, interrupting transportation. The staff and giant pandas were forced to relocate to the Bifengxia Base in Ya'an. During the earthquake, keepers immediately rescued pandas frightened by the seismic activity. Except for one panda named Mao Mao who passed away and another one named Xiao Xiao who went missing, all other pandas were safely transferred.
In 2010, Hetaoping Base resumed the captive giant panda training and reintroduction project, adopting a new training method—wilderness training with mother pandas and cubs. From 2010 to 2016, Hetaoping Base successfully trained and released six giant pandas, with five of them surviving in the wild. Currently, Hetaoping Base is not open to visitors.
*Available program: Red Panda Volunteering.
6.Bifengxia Panda Base
Add. Bifengxia Scenic Area, Ya'an City.
Bifengxia Panda Base is 150 kilometers from Chengdu with a travel time of 2 hours. Established in 2003, some pandas were transferred here after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.
The base is expansive, covering over 6000 acres, providing a tranquil environment for the pandas. It houses 60-70 giant pandas and offers giant panda volunteer activities. Prominent pandas from abroad, such as Xiang Xiang from Japan and Bei Bei from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. are living at Bifengxia Panda Base. This is a panda base that integrates the breeding, reproduction, rescue, and educational promotion of giant pandas. When visiting the Bifengxia Base, you can see 60-70 giant pandas.
*Available program: Giant Panda Volunteering.
Check the map of 6 panda bases around Chengdu.
