Published : 05/08/2023
The 31st World University Games has started in Chengdu. Besides the exciting games, Chengdu's national treasures, the adorable pandas, once again became the focal point, especially the star panda He hua.
Which are the best places to visit pandas when you travel to Sichuan? We select three major panda bases for everyone. Which is the biggest? Which has the most pandas? Which has the least visitors? Which is the most convenient to get to? Take a look at the following guide.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
In Sichuan, there are many places to see giant pandas, but when it comes to the most popular panda base, it must be the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding!
The number of pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is numerous, with more than 200 pandas being kept.
In the base, you can see pandas of different age groups, from newborn cubs to adult pandas. They are thriving here, enjoying their time, including super popular giant pandas He Hua and He Ye all living here, making it a star panda habitat.
In addition to seeing adorable giant pandas, you can also find rare animals such as red pandas, red-crowned cranes and white cranes at the base.
Since Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is very large, it is recommended to visit in the morning to see the pandas in the panda villa first, then leisurely enjoy the scenery along the scenic area, lakes, streams, bamboo forests, lawns... and experience the natural landscape.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Address: No. 1375 Pandas Avenue, Xindu District, Chengdu
Ticket Price: 55 CNY
Opening Hours: 07:30-18:00
Star Pandas: He Hua, Heye, Ai Jiu etc.
Read More: The largest panda post office in China
Dujiangyan Panda Valley
If you do not want to be crowded during weekends or holidays, or if you are not specifically here to see the star panda He Hua, then Panda Valley in Dujiangyan, Sichuan, is definitely the best choice to watch giant pandas!
Dujiangyan Panda Valley is also a part of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The difference is that it mainly focuses on giant panda wildness training, so the environment is closer to the original natural ecology of the giant panda.
At present, Panda Valley has raised 15 adult giant pandas. Although the number is not as many as other panda bases, the environment here is quieter, there are less people, and you can see adorable lively pandas at a closer distance, strolling in the wilderness, and from time to time you can see free-ranging red pandas, and make close contact with them.
In addition to Panda Valley, Dujiangyan also has another giant panda base open to the public, called Dujiangyan China Giant Panda Garden (also known as Panda Paradise), located in the beautiful Qingcheng Mountain, which is also a good place to watch pandas away from the crowd.
What's worth mentioning is that Panda Paradise was built with the assistance of the Hong Kong government, which has a special significance for Hong Kong residents!
Dujiangyan Panda Valley
Address: No. 408 Huan Shan Tourist Road, Yutang Section, Dujiangyan
Ticket Price: 55 CNY
Opening Hours: 07:50-17:30
Star pandas: Mei Lan, Oreo etc.
Dujiangyan China Panda Garden (Panda Paradise)
Address: Shi Qiao Village, Qingcheng Mountain Town, Dujiangyan
Ticket Price: 53 CNY
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
Star pandas: Jia Bao, Xing Ye etc.
Ya'an Bifengxia Panda Base
Do you know where the world's first giant panda was discovered? The answer is Ya'an, Sichuan.
As the "panda's hometown", Ya'an, Sichuan, also hosts a panda base called Bifengxia Panda Base.
Bifengxia Panda Base is located in Bifengxia Scenic Area covering an area of about 400 hectares. The natural scenery is very beautiful.
In addition to the vast and beautiful mountain forest scenery, the climate is also very cool and pleasant, making it a summer resort.
Since the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, many pandas from Wolong Base have been transferred to Bifengxia Base, so the number of pandas here is very large, with more than 300 wild giant pandas alone. It is currently the base with the most pandas in China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda.
If Dujiangyan Panda Valley is suitable for seeing wild adult pandas, then Bifengxia Base is the best place to see panda babies, because this place mainly focuses on breeding work. You can always see a few months old or even newborns.
In addition, the base also has a "returned" panda paradise, where many pandas born abroad and returned to China live, which is very special.
If you are interested in going to Bifengxia Scenic Area to watch giant pandas, please take note of the park's opening hours. The pandas' rest time from 11:30 to 1:30 in the afternoon, therefore the park will be temporarily closed.
Bifengxia Panda Base
Address: Bifengxia Town, Yucheng District, Ya'an CityTicket Price: 95 yuan CNY
Opening hours: 09:00-15:40
Star Pandas: Tuan Tuan, Yuan Yuan, Fei Yun (newborn)