Seeing giant pandas up close in Chengdu is one of the most unforgettable experiences in China. Honestly I wasn’t prepared for how good it would be, it really is a bucket list experience! This is everything we wished we knew before our first visit to the Chengdu Panda Base.
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Is the Chengdu Panda Base Worth Visiting?
Yes — it’s one of the best places in the world to see giant pandas, you will get to see them in natural enclosures living their best life. We watched them for hours rolling around, sleeping and eating.
It is easily accessed from the city, only a 20 minute Didi ride or you can book a shuttle bus from Chunxi Road which will get you there and back. All the ticket options are on this page including tours, shuttles and various other options.
The park is best for families (kids will love it!), wildlife lovers, first-time China travellers. We loved it as an adult couple, there was enough to keep us interested.
Is it a Zoo or does it have an ethical conservation focus? While the ethics of the panda research base have been questioned as yes it is touristic, it does excellent work in panda conservation and breeding, which has helped increase the panda population and downgrade it from endangered to vulnerable which is heading in the right direction.
Check out our Chengdu travel vlog to see what we got up to at the Panda Research Base. Like and subscribe to our channel to help support us!
What Is the Chengdu Panda Base?
The Chengdu Panda Base is a research centre, with conservation and a breeding program at its core. While it offers Panda Valley where tourists can come to see the pandas it also has private, un-accessible by public research areas where Giant Pandas are studied, cared for and a breeding program which has been successful in increasing the panda population.
It is approximately 238 hectares that is separated into public and non public space, it would take around 3-4 hours to walk the whole thing. The public areas are called Panda Valley and Panda World. Here you can see the pandas and experience panda based entertainment such as dances and performances, involving humans only of course!
What You’ll See at the Panda Base
There is actually a lot to see at the Chengdu Panda Base, obviously pandas but also lots of activities and learning opportunities.
Giant Pandas
The main highlight of anyones visit to the Chengdu Panda Base are the Giant Pandas and you will get your fill of them! We watched for hours as these huge pandas sat around eating, walked around, hung in trees, slept on logs. It was the most fascinating thing and we were so much closer than I expected. It wasn’t that we were very close but the viewing opportunities were so good that you felt close. We got there at opening time and they were out and about wandering around and eating. It was wonderful and we were shocked at how much we could see!
Red Pandas & Other Wildlife
There aren’t just pandas at the Chengdu Panda Base, you will also see red pandas (so cute!) and golden snub-nosed monkeys, golden pheasants, swans and peacocks. The red pandas were my favourite, they are just as sweet as regular pandas but more active!
Best Time to Visit the Panda Base
When you visit the Panda Base in China will really determine how much of the pandas you will see. Pandas sleep for a lot of the day and they generally will hang in trees, under trees or on logs making it hard to see them. These tips will help you plan your trip to see some activity.
What Time of Day Is Best?
Visiting in the early morning when the park opens at 7:30am will be your best chance to see the most active pandas. This is during their breakfast feeding time around 8am – 10am as they tend to sleep throughout the hot afternoons. When it gets really warm they will go indoors as well which makes it harder to see them.
Best Time of Year
The best time of year to see the pandas is the cooler months. Spring (March-May) and Autumn (October-November) are ideal as they are cooler and more pleasing to the pandas. We went in June and it was really quite warm but because we were there early on opening we saw what I think is a decent amount of panda activity. They were eating, grabbing at big bamboo trees, walking around, rolling and climbing on logs. They were also very much sleeping….in trees, on logs and wherever they felt like it!
If you are concerned about the weather in terms of rain I would pack accordingly. Definitely take sunscreen and hats if your trip falls in the warmer months as it is really, really hot. If it might rain take an umbrella or raincoat as it is almost all outside. Take or buy water and keep hydrated.
How to Visit the Panda Base
It might seem silly but being prepared for your visit here will really make it much more enjoyable. We were kind of organised but I should have researched harder…this is what I would do.
Tickets & Entry Tips
Pre-purchase your tickets! This is my first and most important tip. By doing this you can just go and line up to get in on opening time and giving yourself the maximum time while pandas are still active. Almost everyone will have done this so while the ticket line isn’t long the line to scan your tickets and get in can be. Check out all the options for tickets, you can add on a cheap shuttle bus to the base from Chunxi Road and back to the Kuan Alleys, a private tour, learning based tours, tickets that give you a headband, tickets that include a show, the choice is almost endless! We just chose the standard ticket which is surprisingly cheap!
How to Get There from Chengdu
There are three main ways to get to the Chengdu Panda Base:
Taxi or Didi
We would only recommend using the Didi app, don’t just jump in a taxi as the pricing isn’t going to be set. The Didi app is pretty much Chinese Uber and works the same way and is really affordable. The only issue we had was that it took a long time to get a driver back to town from the base and we considered grabbing a shuttle bus ticket which you can get there.
Best Tip-One tip I wish I knew was to get your Didi drop off location at the West Gate entrance. This will take you to the top of the park and you can walk downhill to see it all. We entered with everyone else at the main south gate and had to walk uphill to the rest of the park. Had we known we would have saved ourselves the effort. Check out the panda base map to see what I mean. You can also take a sightseeing bus inside the park to get around easily.
Tours vs DIY
We didn’t feel the need for a tour, it is really easy to get out there and once there the signs are all in English and Chinese making it easy to understand the information. If you would prefer a private or group tour then you can book them on the ticket page, just scroll down until you find what suits you most.
Shuttle Bus
You can add a cheap shuttle bus ticket on to your admission ticket to get out to the base. It does make it very easy to know you will get to the right place and if you are not trying to be there before it opens I would do this next time. First shuttle departure is at 7:30am from Chunxi Road, you can also add on a return shuttle.
Chengdu Panda Base Itinerary
Spending about half a day at the panda base it what most people will end up doing. It does take a while to get around and you will want to stay and watch at different enclosures. This is how I would plan my time.
Half-Day Chengdu Panda Itinerary
- Arrive early – we got there just before the 7:30am opening time and there was a bit of a line up already. Arriving early helps you see as much panda activity as possible and avoids the crowds as much as possible.
- Key walking route – if you are starting from the south gate then walk up towards the Giant Panda enclosures (number 8 on this simplified map), you will want to walk all the way up to 15 for the red pandas. This is the most basic path. You can also head over to Panda World (use the sightseeing bus as it is a long way!) to see the performances if you have tickets. There is a McDonalds there and other stores as well as Panda Tower.
- Time allocation – you will spend between 3-5 hours at the park…time flies when you are staring at Giant Pandas!
Tips for the Best Experience
How to avoid crowds
Crowds build from 10am onwards and it is particularly busy on weekends or any of China’s national holidays. Get there early to avoid them and try to time your visit for a weekday.
Best photo spots
Panda Villas 1 & 2 were our favourite to watch the Giant Pandas but we also loved the red panda playground. We didn’t get to see any babies in the nursery due to timing but that would have been amazing too.
What to wear
Plan for the weather at the time of year you are visiting. It is almost all outdoors so you would need sunscreen, hat, poncho/raincoat or umbrella. Be ready with your most comfortable walking shoes as we did thousands of steps here (or take the sightseeing bus). Wear cool, breathable fabrics, particularly if visiting in the warmer months like we did!
Bring snacks / water
You need to bring or buy drinks as it gets really hot. There is always food and drinks available for purchase but we prefer to make sure we at least bring one bottle with us to start off with. We brought some snacks with us but had to buy a panda icecream…who could resist!
Sightseeing bus inside park
Alternatively there are paid sightseeing buses you can use to get around inside the park, this is a great way to see everything without having to walk an excessive amount, you pay for them at the stations inside the park. It costs 30CNY and includes 5 rides within the park. The routes are: 1) South to West Route: South Gate Departure Station → Panda Villa Stop → Sun Giant Panda Nursery House Stop → Panda Reception Hall Stop → Panda Tower Stop → Star Giant Panda Nursery House Stop → Panda Creek Valley Stop → West Gate Terminal Station.
(2) West to South Route: West Gate Departure Station → Panda Creek Valley Stop → Star Giant Panda Nursery House Stop → Panda Tower Stop → No.1 Giant Panda Villa Stop → Sun Giant Panda Nursery House Stop → Swan Lake Stop → South Gate Terminal Station.
Cost of Visiting the Panda Base
- Ticket price – The basic entry ticket for an adult is $8 USD. Which is incredibly affordable!
- Transport cost – You can add on a shuttle bus for approximately $2 USD ( again crazily cheap!) Just click the ticket link and scroll down to Direct Shuttle (Excluding Admission) section, the return is there too. Or we took a Didi which cost approximately 40CNY.
- Sight seeing bus – 30 CNY
- Tour vs DIY comparison – a tour can cost around $50 USD or we found this tour that combines a Chengdu Panda Base tour with the Leshan Buddah. It is really affordable way to see both!
- Souvenirs – You will find one of the many Panda Post stations-buy a post card, stamp and mail it from there! There are tons of shops and kiosks selling panda parafanalia and it is so tempting. Remember the prices are cheaper in town, although you wont find exactly the same things as at the park.
- Food – food and drinks are more expensive than outside but not by a crazily inflated price. We grabbed an ice cream and some water and had brought a bottle of water and snacks with us.
- Don’t underestimate Chengdu – Chengdu is panda crazy-if you are exploring the park before experiencing the city make sure to remember that in town there will be hundreds of panda desserts, toys, souvenirs, foods…..literally everything panda to buy at a cheaper price.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Arriving too late – if you arrive late you are going to get there at the times with the biggest crowds, hottest part of the day and when the pandads are sleeping. Now if this is the only time you have then you have to make do with what is available, otherwise we recommend going earlier.
- Expecting active pandas all day – pandas are pretty lazy (something I love about them) they will sit and eat bamboo for ages, lie down and chill, walk a couple of steps and decide it’s enough and sleep for hours. If you get a little panda activity you have been pretty lucky! Red Pandas are more active.
- Underestimating walking distances – the park is huge! We walked the whole time we were there and it was a LOT. I would recommend taking the sightseeing bus in the park to cover the largest distances-the maps make them look closer.
- Be mindful of your behaviour – There are signs up around the park but make sure not to: climb on/over walls or barriers, keep your voice lower/no screaming or yelling so the pandas don’t get scared, don’t throw food over barriers or give to animals. These seem like basic common sense but are important to keep in mind.
How to Add This to Your Chengdu Itinerary
Visiting the Chengdu Panda Base is one of the top things to do in Chengdu and a total highlight of our time in China. It can be combined with food experiences, face changing opera performances and pretty acnient streets in Chengdu to be a really memorable stop on your China Itinerary. We have fit it into our 2-week China Itinerary and 4-week China Itinerary and really think it is a must visit.
Where to Stay in Chengdu: Best Areas for First-Time Visitors
We stayed at a very cool little hotel near the Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley area. It is Nostalgia Hotelkuanzhai Alley Chengdu, they had the nicest breakfast in the morning and the hotel had a retro vibe that we loved! It served tea and a warm snack of congee at night, was quiet and an easy walk to People’s Park too.
FAQs About Chengdu Panda Base
Is the Chengdu Panda Base worth visiting?
Yes, seeing pandas as close as this was a bucket list opportunity. We loved it and think you will too.
What is the best time to see pandas in Chengdu?
See the pandas at their most ‘active’ during their breakfast feeding time (around 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM) as they generally sleep in the afternoon. We do use the word active loosely as they are not the most active creatures and tend to be eating, rolling around or sometimes walking! They are always cute though no matter what they are doing.
How long do you need at the panda base?
We spent at least 4 hours here and could have stayed longer. The park is huge, walking around it took ages. You can definitely do it more easily by following our tips above!
Can you hold a panda in Chengdu?
I have not seen any opportunity to ‘hold’ a panda and honestly I wouldn’t recommend it if you found one. There are occasions where you can apply to be a panda volunteer but it usually involves cleaning areas and not actually being in contact with pandas themselves.
Is the panda base ethical?
The ethics of the panda research base have been questioned as yes it is touristic and slightly zoo like. I am usually pretty opposed to these types of environments but here it felt different. Once I realised that the base has significantly contributed to rescuing the endangered giant panda, moving from 10% cub survival rates to over 90% I started to look at it in a different light. It is a major facility for panda breeding, research, and educating the public on species protection all of which have lead to the increase in population.
So to answer with my honest opinion-yes it is touristic but also yes they are taking measures to control behaviour in the park, to utilise funds raised to help the pandas by increasing public awareness and population numbers. I do think that this is a delicate balance and hope that in the future further practices like limiting the number of visitors per day may come into effect. Regardless of your personal beliefs it is undeniable that they have done some great work in increasing the population of this once endangered (now classified as vulnerable) species.
Chengdu is the home of pandas in China and it’s a vibe! If you think pandas are the cutest animals you will love it here…it’s a place that steals your heart.
Next Steps:
- 👉 Read next: Chengdu Itinerary: How Many Days + The Perfect 1, 2 & 3 Day Plan
- 👉 Plan your trip: 2-Week China Itinerary or our 4-Week China Itinerary
Want to see it all in action? Watch our Chengdu guide and full China series on YouTube and follow along on Instagram @passport_nomads and @kelly___buckley for travel tips and inspiration.
