Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

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As China’s beloved treasure, the giant panda has captured the hearts of millions of tourists with its charming appearance and leisurely movements. For panda lovers, the most popular spot to view giant pandas in China is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, nicknamed Panda Base, which is only about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northeast of downtown Chengdu. At present, a total of 260 giant pandas live here, including the superstar Hua Hua and those with experience of living abroad.

Dedicated to the conservation and breeding of endangered pandas, the Panda Base provides a top environment for raising these adorable creatures. Here, you can not only see giant pandas of all ages, but also closely view red pandas with brownish-red fur and ringed tails.
 Among all the pandas living in the Panda Base, Hua Hua with a round and plump body and slow-paced movements is undoubtably the most attractive one. Hua Hua naturally has a short body form with a thick and short neck, and when she sits on the ground, her body looks like a triangle rice ball. Hua Hua further appeals to people with her slower life pace. Whether she is walking leisurely or chewing bamboo shoots slowly, any move she makes has a soothing effect on your mind. She lives in No. 6 Giant Panda Villa, which closes each Monday so that Hua Hua can take a break.
 Since the base is dedicated to the breeding of giant pandas, you can see many giant panda cubs here. All around the base, the most heartwarming sight is panda cubs lying on the mat on the lawn and basking in the gentle sunlight. Since they are too young, their front and hind legs extend out to both sides of their bodies, just like those of crabs. Moreover, their coats haven’t been pure black and white, and instead, are light grey and pink. Active cubs won’t just lie down, and they’ll explore space outside the mat, feeling the soft green grass leaves with their paws.
 Some of the giant pandas here have previously lived and produced offspring abroad before returning to China to live in the Panda Base. Bing Xing is a male panda with long limbs, and he once lived in Spain. He’s nearly 26 years old, equivalent to being nearly 90 years old for a person. Yuan Meng came back from France, and he has light brown fur on his cheeks and head. Tao Bin was born in Japan in 2014, and now lives in No.1 Giant Panda Villa of the base. His iconic movement is to rest his chin on his paw, which is very adorable.
 

Red Panda in Chengdu Panda Base

Unlike giant pandas in large size and with black and white fur, red pandas are generally in small body size, and feature brownish-red fur on their heads and backs, black fur on their limbs, and ringed tails. In the enclosures for red pandas here, you can find that some of them sleep with their bodies curled up, and some walk on the handrail surface. Since the red panda’s legs are relatively short, it walks in small steps and its body sways from side to side during the walk. Don’t forget to record this cute scene with your camera.
 The Chengdu Panda Base covers a large area, and to tour it, some people choose to visit a few villas and pavilions on foot, and some choose to enjoy a full visit by sightseeing bus.
 1. For Viewing Top-star Hua Hua
 Route: South Gate → No.6 Giant Panda Villa → Sun Nursery House → Moon Nursery House → No.2 and No.1 Enclosures for Red Pandas → No. 7 Giant Panda Villa → South Gate
 Duration: More than 2 hours.

This route is specially recommended to Hua Hua enthusiasts, and that’s why her residence No. 6 Giant Panda Villa is the first stop. There’re two things to be noted: (1) No.6 Giant Panda Villa closes each Monday, except for those during China’s public holidays, so if you’re determined to view Hua Hua, please schedule your tour from Tuesday to Sunday. (2) You may queue for more than 1 hour to see Hua Hua, so please get to the Panda Base as early as possible to avoid large crowds.

Giant Pandas in Chengdu Panda Base

2. For Crowd Avoidance
 Route: West Gate → Shanyue Pavilion → Yunyue Pavilion → Wangyue Pavilion → Mingyue Pavilion → Jiangyue Pavilion → Lanyue Pavilion → West Gate
 Duration: 3 hours.

This route is suggested to those who want to view pandas and also avoid crowds. Generally, tourists in this area are fewer than those in the south gate area, so you can enjoy your sightseeing in a relatively tranquil atmosphere. Moreover, sections with steps are also fewer in this area, and your tour here won’t be very strenuous.

Pick the Cutest Panda Doll

Tourists in Chengdu Panda Base

3. For Admiring as Many Pandas as Possible
 Route: West Gate → Sightseeing Bus Section → Star Nursery House → Sightseeing Bus Section → No.1 Giant Panda Villa → Sightseeing Bus Section → Sun Nursery House → No.2 and No.1 Enclosures for Red Pandas → No. 7 Giant Panda Villa → South Gate
 Duration: More than 4 hours.

If you want to view as many pandas as possible in the base, you’re suggested to take this route. With giant pandas of all ages and red pandas both included, your travel experience will be diverse. Moreover, along this route, people generally enjoy their sightseeing downhill and take the sightseeing bus on some sections, so they can save much energy.
  From West to South Gate
West Gate Departure Station → Creek Valley → Star Nursery House → Panda Tower → No. 1 Giant Panda Villa → Sun Nursery House → Swan Lake → South Gate Terminal Station

 From South to West Gate
South Gate Departure Station → Panda Villa → Sun Nursery House → Panda Reception Hall → Panda Tower → Star Nursery House → Creek Valley → West Gate Terminal Station
 September to December is the best time to visit the Chengdu Panda Base. The base focuses on the breeding of giant pandas and they usually give birth between June and August. The following September to December thus becomes the most suitable period in a year to view cute panda cubs. Besides, the daily highest temperature in this period seldom exceeds 26°C (79°F), the temperature limit to guide the giant pandas back indoors; there’s a higher possibility of seeing pandas eating bamboos and playing outdoors.

During a day, the best time to view pandas here is the early morning, when the pandas are the most energetic in the daytime and begin to enjoy their breakfast. In this period, you’re very likely to see them munching on fresh bamboos, climbing trees, and paly-fighting with each other. In view of this, the best daily itinerary to visit Chengdu Panda Base is to view pandas outdoors between 7:30 and 10:30, and visit the indoor pavilions to admire pandas in the following hours.
 For the protection of giant pandas in the base, they are separated from visitors by guardrails. After all, pandas here still retain their wild nature, so the safety barriers also protect visitors. Thus, it’s impossible to hold a giant panda.
 No. All the food for giant pandas in the Panda Base is subject to strict quality control. Any unauthorized feeding by tourists can scare pandas. Throughout the Panda Base, tourists are not allowed to feed pandas any food or water.
 Unlike conventional adoption practices that the animal is brought home to raise, the adoption of pandas here are carried out through annual or lifetime sponsorship. Plus, the sponsor has the opportunity to name the panda.
  To South Gate; 1 hour; CNY 6
Take Metro Line 3 to Panda Avenue Station, get out from Exit D, and take shuttle bus No. 408 to Panda Base South Gate.

 To West Gate; 1 hour; CNY 6
Take Metro Line 3 to Chengdu Junqu General Hospital Station, get out from Exit B, and take shuttle bus No. 409 to Panda Base West Gate.

 By Direct Bus; 1 hour; CNY 8
Direct Bus No. 1 drives between Chunxi Road and Panda Base West Gate; No. 2 is between Chunxi Road and Panda Base South Gate; and No.3 is between Wide and Narrow Alleys and Panda Base West Gate.

 By Taxi; 40 minutes - 1 hour; CNY 30 - 50
Taking a taxi from downtown Chengdu to the Panda Base is very convenient and offers good value for money, especially for family trips with three to four people.
 Take Metro Line 2 to Chunxi Road Station, transfer to Line 3, get out from Exit D of Panda Avenue Station, and take shuttle bus No. 408 to Panda Base South Gate.
 Take Metro Line 10 from Terminal 2 of Shuangliu International Airport to Hongpailou, transfer to Metro Line 3 and get out from Panda Avenue Station, and take shuttle bus No. 408 to Panda Base South Gate.
 Take Special Bus Line 3 from the airport to Zoo Station, and transfer to Bus No. 87 to Panda Base Station.
 

November - February	8:00 - 17:30
March - October	7:30 - 18:00

 

Tourist Ticket	CNY 55
Sightseeing Bus Ticket	CNY 30

 Notes:
(1) The tourist tickets are sold for either the morning or afternoon session. Please check the time slot when booking. Children under 6 or no taller than 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) and people aged 60+ can enter the base for free.

(2) Each sightseeing bus ticket holder can take the sightseeing bus 5 times a day. Children under 6 or no taller than 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) are free of charge, but they need to sit on an adult’s lap.

 Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tickets Booking

Further Reading:
 Ya'an Bifengxia Base of China Conservation and Research Center of Giant Panda is 150 km (90 mi) to the southwest of Chengdu.
 Dujiangyan Panda Base about 55 km (35 mi) northwest of Chengdu, is also an ideal choice to see the cute animals. 
 Dujiangyan Panda Valley is 65 km (40 mi) away from Chengdu.
 Wolong National Nature Reserve is 130 km (80 mi) from Chengdu.

Read more information about Chinese Giant Panda:
 Facts
 Growing Process
 Diplomacy
 Top 10 Things to Do in Chengdu
10 Best Places to Visit in Chengdu for First-time Visitors