Panda Valley in Dujiangyan ended up being our favourite panda experience in China. We stayed overnight in Dujiangyan specifically so we could arrive before opening the following morning, and despite getting there around 30 minutes early, there were already about 20 people waiting ahead of us.

Inside, the experience was completely different from the much larger Chengdu Panda Base. Panda Valley felt smaller, greener and more relaxed, and on our morning visit we saw around nine giant pandas along with three red pandas in the free-ranging red-panda area. We spent around 3.5 hours here before continuing to Chengdu, and we’d absolutely visit again.

Panda Valley does take more planning than the main Chengdu Panda Base because it’s around 50 km from central Chengdu, tickets must be reserved in advance and it is frequently confused online with a completely different Dujiangyan panda facility.

In this guide we’ll explain exactly which Panda Valley we visited, how tickets work, how we’d get there from Chengdu, what time we’d arrive, what you’ll actually see and whether it’s worth travelling to Dujiangyan for it.

Visited: August 2026 | Ticket/visitor information checked: October 2026

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Panda Valley at a Glance

Our quick verdict: If you have only one or two days in Chengdu, the main Chengdu Panda Base is easier to visit. If you have extra time, are visiting Dujiangyan anyway or want a smaller, greener panda experience, Panda Valley is absolutely worth the journey.

🐼 Not sure which panda experience to choose? Read our Chengdu Panda Base vs Panda Valley comparison →

Is Panda Valley Worth Visiting?

Yes. Panda Valley was our favourite of the two panda facilities we visited around Chengdu. We loved the green setting among the mountains. It felt like a more natural setting that was easier to walk. The atmosphere felt calmer and it was a little quieter when we visited.

The enclosures had good viewing angles and we enjoyed spending longer at individual enclosures as there was a smaller area to cover. The red panda area was great, we loved that they could climb around the trees as they pleased and we didn’t feel like we were racing around trying to see a huge attraction.

That doesn’t necessarily mean we’d recommend Panda Valley to someone with only two days in Chengdu. Read our comparison between Panda Valley and Chengdu Panda Base to see which suits you best.

Best for:

• panda lovers;
• people with 3–5+ days around Chengdu;
• Dujiangyan visitors;
• photographers;
• people who prefer smaller attractions;
• red-panda fans;
• anyone willing to start early.

Maybe skip if:

• Chengdu stay is extremely short;
• you don’t want the extra transport;
• main Chengdu Base already satisfies your panda interest.

Panda Valley Tickets — What You Need to Know

Officially, all visitors to Panda Valley need an advance online reservation, using passport details. There is no standard offline or in-person ticket window at Panda Valley and you need to bring your passport for entry.

We booked our tickets before arriving and entered using our passports. At the entrance we simply had our booking details checked by scanning our passport. Entry was very fast.

We paid CNY 77.09 per person through Klook. This was slightly more than the official ticket price, but we chose Klook because the English interface, international card payment and booking management made it straightforward for us as foreign visitors. We’ve also used Klook for numerous attractions throughout China and Asia without any problems.

Panda Valley Opening Hours

The current opening hours for Panda Valley are listed as:

May–October: 7:50 am–5:30 pm

November–April: 8:10 am–5:00 pm

Reservations are split between morning and afternoon entry. We took the morning visit. When we visited in August 2026, the gates opened at 7:30 am. Hours can change, so use the current time shown with your ticket rather than relying solely on our visit.

What Time Should You Visit Panda Valley?

We would arrive for opening, to make the most of the morning, arriving at 6:56 am, and there were already about 20 people in the queue. We entered when the gates opened at 7:30 am and saw around six giant pandas actively eating and moving, however they started to settle down around 9 am and by the time we left many were sleeping.

On our visit, early morning was clearly better for panda activity. Animal behaviour varies, so there’s no guarantee that every morning will be the same.

Our Panda Valley Morning — Exactly What Happened

This is how our day went when we visited Panda Valley. It was quite smooth and an easy visit.

What Is Panda Valley Actually Like?

Immediately upon entering Panda Valley you notice that it feels very lush, green and forest-like. The landscaping is gorgeous and it creates a natural-looking environment. Walking up the hill you’re surrounded by plants, waterfalls and pretty scenery. It is a really nice walk.

The paths are quieter and felt like they were integrated into the natural surroundings as did the enclosures. The park is smaller, easier to navigate and there are lots of places to stop and observe and just soak up the experience.

It felt as though we were closer to the pandas and had better viewing angles, although that is our subjective impression rather than something we can be sure of. Either way, we loved it.

How Many Giant Pandas Are at Panda Valley?

The official Panda Valley site currently says the facility houses 12 giant pandas. That does not mean all 12 will necessarily be visible during your visit. We saw about nine giant pandas during our visit. Six of these were active-moving, eating or scratching. This was such a highlight of our time here as only a few hours later they were mostly sleeping. We loved the first enclosure we came to at Panda Valley, the panda was munching away on bamboo and enjoying himself, I wish we had stayed there longer watching him.

The Red Pandas at Panda Valley

Panda Valley has a specially designed ecological free-range area for red pandas to run around in the trees as they wish. There is a tiered area where you slowly walk up and start to see the red pandas running around. They can run in the trees or on the wooden planks that are there for them to cross overhead of the visitors.

We saw three red pandas on our first walk through the enclosure area. They were in the misty forest and cooling off under some water. We watched them walk along the trees and the wooden poles freely through the area and just loved that they were doing whatever they wanted. It really helped make Panda Valley a natural experience.

Are the Red Pandas Actually Free Roaming?

The red pandas are not free-roaming as in they can roam through the entire Panda Valley rather, they occupy a designated ecological free-range red-panda zone in the park.

How Long Do You Need at Panda Valley?

As a general suggestion I would plan around 2.5–3.5 hours for most visitors. We spent 3.5 hours and walked the site twice. Two hours is enough if you are moving efficiently. On average three hours should suit most visitors and 3.5+ hours for panda obsessives like us who stop and watch.

How to Get to Panda Valley from Chengdu

We didn’t personally travel from central Chengdu to Panda Valley—we stayed overnight in Dujiangyan and travelled from there the following morning. The routes below explain how we’d organise it from Chengdu, based on the current transport options.

Option 1 — Train to Dujiangyan + Didi to Panda Valley

If you are an independent traveller, then this is a great option for you.

Chengdu city → Xipu Railway Station → train → Lidui Park or Dujiangyan → Didi → Panda Valley

For this route, first travel to Xipu Railway Station, then take an intercity train toward Dujiangyan. If the timetable suits, we’d choose Lidui Park Station because it places you close to central Dujiangyan; from there, continue to Panda Valley by Didi.

🚄 Check Chengdu–Dujiangyan train times on Trip.com →

Option 2 — Didi Direct from Chengdu

While this is the easiest way to DIY a trip to Panda Valley it would be the most expensive option. Depending on your starting point it would take roughly an hour and if you are splitting the fare between two or more people then it could make sense. Being a door-to-door trip is always nice and would be useful for families or those with lots of luggage.

Option 3 — Organised Panda Valley Day Tour

Tours are attractive if you want Chengdu hotel pickup and to combine Panda Valley with other Dujiangyan attractions without coordinating trains and taxis. They would make a day trip easier for families or travellers who prefer to minimise independent transport planning.

🚐 Want transport organised from Chengdu? Compare the current Panda Valley day-tour options on Klook — check carefully that your selected package is available in English if required and visits Panda Valley, not the separate Panda Base →

How to Get to Panda Valley from Dujiangyan

We visited Panda Valley from Dujiangyan and it was really simple, as we stayed overnight and got up early to catch a Didi at 6:47 am. It was really quick and we arrived at Panda Valley by 6:56 am, the Didi ride cost us 11.20 CNY and it was easy and quick.

We were in the queue half an hour before the gates opened and ready to see the pandas first thing. When we were ready to leave we crossed the street from the exit and walked down the long path until we reached a car park. On the left is a Didi pick-up area and this is where you will meet your Didi driver, the return cost to Dujiangyan was approximately CNY10. We grabbed our bags and caught a Didi to the train station to get our train to Chengdu.

This is one of the biggest reasons we liked staying overnight. See our complete one-night Dujiangyan itinerary →

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Day Trip from Chengdu or Stay Overnight?

Trying to decide between a day trip or staying overnight? We really enjoyed the chance to explore Dujiangyan without racing back to catch a train, here is our comparison.

For Panda Valley alone, you don’t need to stay overnight. We stayed because we also wanted the Blue Tears and wanted to be at Panda Valley early without leaving Chengdu before dawn.

Where We’d Stay in Dujiangyan Next Time

We stayed inside the ancient town but wouldn’t choose the same hotel again. If we returned, we’d look first at Holiday Inn Dujiangyan Ancient Town by IHG because of its location close to Lidui Park Station and easy access to the old town. We haven’t personally stayed there, but this is where we’d choose next time based on location, facilities and current guest reviews.

🏨 Check Holiday Inn Dujiangyan Ancient Town rates on Trip.com →

Compare on Booking.com →

Can You Combine Panda Valley With Dujiangyan?

Yes. You can definitely combine a trip to Panda Valley with Dujiangyan, we think it is one of the ways to make the extra journey worthwhile. This is what we did, our basic itinerary was:

Day 1 in Dujiangyan

Dujiangyan ancient town
→ Yangtianwo giant panda
→ Blue Tears
→ overnight stay

Day 2 in Dujiangyan

Panda Valley
→ Chengdu

Read our complete Dujiangyan overnight itinerary →

Can You Combine Panda Valley With the Dujiangyan Irrigation System?

We didn’t personally combine these two attractions. We arrived too late on our first day for the irrigation system and prioritised the ancient town and Blue Tears. Combining the irrigation system and Panda Valley is a common tour from Chengdu. Alternatively you could swap out the ancient town to explore the irrigation system. If you arrived in the morning on the first day you would most likely be able to fit both in.

🚐 Want to combine a day trip to see the irrigation system with Panda Valley? Check out this tour option →

What Facilities Are at Panda Valley?

Panda Valley has the basic facilities that you require for any attraction. There are cafes and restaurants, audio tours, toilets, bag storage, seating in shaded areas and paths that are clear and easy to walk.

Is Panda Valley Hard to Walk Around?

There is an uphill walk at Panda Valley but as it is smaller than Chengdu Base it felt easier and more relaxed. The gardens are lovely and it feels like you are strolling in a pleasant park. The surfaces are concrete and were in good condition. There is a suspension bridge at one point which is fun. It only took about 3 hours (including time to stop and watch the animals) to see it all if you aren’t walking it twice so it wasn’t too exhausting.

The red panda area is a slightly farther uphill again as you go up a tiered enclosure, it also has a forest walk that is quite uphill if you choose to do it.

We found Panda Valley considerably easier for us to walk than Chengdu Panda Base.

Is Panda Valley Good for Families?

There are some benefits to visiting Panda Valley as a family, it is smaller, walking is easier and it was calmer when we visited.

However, it does require a longer journey from Chengdu and an early start. The walking is uphill and we didn’t use or see a sightseeing shuttle during our visit, so plan on walking the site.

Read our comparison between Chengdu Panda Base and Panda Valley to see all of the detailed differences between the two locations →

Panda Valley vs Chengdu Panda Base

For our full side-by-side comparison, see Chengdu Panda Base vs Panda Valley: Which Is Better? →

How Much Did Our Panda Valley Visit Cost?

This excludes the Dujiangyan hotel and transport from Xi’an or onward to Chengdu. The current direct official adult ticket price is CNY55; our booking-platform price was higher but easier for us to book and use.

Check current Klook ticket prices →

What We’d Do Differently Next Time

We’d Stay Somewhere Near Lidui Park Station

This is the best station to access the town of Dujiangyan from and Holiday Inn Dujiangyan Ancient Town is only 180 m away. We would stay at this hotel as the reviews are great, location looks ideal for this itinerary and it is still walkable to the giant panda statue and the ancient town.

We’d Pre-Book Tickets Immediately

Because there is no gate purchase option, I would make sure to book the tickets to Panda Valley as soon as possible so you make sure you get the right day and time.

We’d Give Ourselves Around Three Hours

Even though we spent 3.5 hours wandering around, we really only needed three.

We Wouldn’t Go Through the Red Panda Enclosure Twice

We walked the whole area twice, from the giant pandas to the red pandas but we really didn’t need to. Because of the tiered structure of the red panda enclosure it can bottleneck and on our second time around we were waiting to move. On the second walk through we didn’t see the red pandas, so I wouldn’t bother twice again.

We Would Take More Time to Observe Pandas on Our First Walk-Through

We did the whole circuit twice but I wish we had just stayed longer watching the pandas the first time around. This is when they were more active and we had great spots at the front earlier with fewer people. It never got too busy but it was nicer first thing.

Best Time of Year to Visit Panda Valley

Summer is a lush time of year to visit with the greenery at its best but it is also hot and humid. The cooler seasons should be more comfortable for walking around the park. During our August visit, early morning gave us the best panda activity, with several of the giant pandas beginning to settle down later in the morning. Animal behaviour varies, so we wouldn’t rely on a particular season or time to guarantee activity.

It will definitely be busier around Chinese school and public holidays. We were there in the school holidays and there was a bit of a line before opening time. We found the early morning to be the best time to see the pandas.

What It Was Like in August

We visited in August, which happened in to be during the school holidays and 20 people were waiting before opening time. The landscape was lush and panda activity was better in early morning on our visit.