It is 9:15 AM at the Chengdu Panda Base. You are 4 metres from a giant panda sitting in a tree eating bamboo. The panda does not care about you at all. It just eats, slowly and methodically. You watch it for 20 minutes. Nobody rushes you. This is why you came to Chengdu. For the Chengdu city guide: Chengdu Travel Guide.
Key Takeaways
- Arrive at 8am. Feeding is at 9am. Active for 1 to 2 hours. Sleeping by 11am.
- ¥55 entry. Free for children under 1.2m.
- Allow 2 to 3 hours. The base is large and walkable.
- Metro Line 3 + Bus 198 or DiDi. 45 to 60 min from city center.
- Panda volunteer program: ¥1,800 to ¥2,500. Book in advance. Details here.
- Red pandas are also in residence and much more active than giant pandas.
Planning Your Visit
Getting there
Metro Line 3 northbound to Xiongmao Dadao station (also signed as Panda Avenue in English). This is the closest metro station. From the station: Bus 198 (10 minutes, ¥2) or DiDi (¥15, 10 minutes). Journey from Tianfu Square: approximately 50 minutes total. Leave your hotel by 7:15 AM to arrive at opening. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the official source for current hours and ticket prices.
Tickets
¥55 per adult. Free for children under 1.2m. Discounts for students and seniors with valid ID. Book online via the official base website or WeChat mini-program. During peak season (national holidays, May, summer) tickets sell out. For off-peak weekdays, walk-up purchase is usually fine.
Inside the base
The base covers 1,000 acres. Free shuttle buses run between the main areas. The giant panda enclosures are concentrated in the lower section near the main entrance. Sun enclosures are outdoor viewing areas. Moon enclosures are indoor. Giant pandas are usually in the sun enclosures in the morning. By late morning they move inside or to shaded areas. Red pandas are in a separate area and are active throughout the day.
What to Expect
You will not see all 80+ pandas. The enclosures are distributed across the base and some pandas are in breeding facilities not open to visitors. On a typical morning visit you will see 10 to 20 pandas in various states of eating and sleeping. The mother-and-cub enclosure (when cubs are in residence) has the longest viewing queues.
The Volunteer Program
The official volunteer program is a half-day experience costing approximately ¥1,800 to ¥2,500. Participants wear the keeper uniform and assist with cleaning enclosures, preparing bamboo portions, and observing a feeding session close-up. Minimum age: 12. Participants must not have recently been ill (to protect the pandas from human viruses). Book through the official base website at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Availability is limited and fills quickly in peak season. Full program details: Chengdu Panda Volunteer Guide.
Nearby
The base is near the north of Chengdu. After your morning visit: Sansheng Flower Farm is 15 minutes by DiDi (scenic countryside if visiting in spring). Or return to the city for lunch at a restaurant near Wenshu Monastery. Or continue north for a DiDi to the Qingcheng Mountain scenic area (1 hour). For the full Chengdu nature circuit extending beyond the city: Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Chengdu city guide: Chengdu Travel Guide. For the Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou nature route: Chengdu Nature Itinerary.