Chengdu Panda Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

成都大熊猫繁育研究基地; chéng dū dà xióng māo fán yù yán jiū jī dì

This is the biggest facility of this kind in the world. Due to habitat destruction and other reasons, the giant panda is maybe the most famous endangered animal. It is home to some 60 giant pandas, but also has some red pandas and a colony of black-necked cranes. The pandas are basically on display for tourists but views are much closer than is possible at most Western zoos. (If you want to get even closer and hold a panda or volunteer all day to feed them bamboo and clean the panda cage, visit the Dujiangyan Panda Base, about an hour's drive outside Chengdu.) A small museum and a cinema screening related documentaries is also available. A restaurant and souvenir-stalls top off the tourist installations. The best time to visit is in the morning, when pandas are most active. Pandas sleep during the hottest time of the day. Feeding time is around 09:30-10:00. Expect some crowd. It is recommended to arrive as early as you can to avoid the hordes of school and tour groups that arrive every morning.

• museum

Getting there

From Panda Avenue metro station (Line 3), take Exit B which will lead you the HiPanda counter (staff are wearing yellow uniform), where you can buy entry tickets with return shuttle bus for (¥54). After the bus ride, follow the signage and pawprints on pavement to go to the Panda Base. Alternatively, you can take public bus 198 or a taxi, and pay for entrance fee at the ticket booth for ¥55.

Hours

730-1700

Price

Entry fee is ¥55.English-speaking tour guide ¥100

Website

panda.org.cn (opens in a new tab)