I can finally tick off the list seeing all of the Panda bases in Sichuan Province, or more specifically in the Chengdu area! When I had the dream of seeing all the bases, I don’t think I intended to see them all on one trip, but that somehow managed to happen (although I’ve seen some on multiple previous trips too) – and I think it was completely worth it. When I was first looking up about seeing pandas in China, and even on more recent trips, I could never really find one resource that covered all of the bases – or even where they all were, especially somewhere that wasn’t a tour company. So hopefully this is something I can contribute to with this post summarising all 5 of the main giant panda bases in Sichuan Province that you can reach from Chengdu – covering the pros and cons of each, perhaps helping you figure out what might be the best option for what you want to see of pandas!
Chengdu Panda Base
Chengdu Panda Base is the most convenient location to Chengdu city centre – it’s around 25 minutes in a taxi (depending where you start) or a little longer if you take the metro plus a shuttle bus to the entrance. Chengdu city has expanded so much since my first visit that you now don’t really leave the hustle and bustle of city life while travelling to the pandas. The location between the third and fourth ring roads of the city, on aptly named ‘Panda Boulevard’ means it’s easy to get to by road – lots of travel companies offer trips here while you are on a layover (it’s probably just under an hour from Shuangliu Airport, and a little longer from the newly opened Tianfu Airport). It’s also an affordable attraction, at just 55RMB for an adult ticket (approximately £6.00-7.00). The convenient location paired with the affordable ticket, alongside the fact that they have the most giant pandas on show to the public, means that this is by far the busiest place to see giant pandas. No matter what month, day of the week, or time of my visits, it’s always been busy. But if you go prepared with the crowds in mind, you can still have a good visit seeing plenty of pandas – I’ve never left disappointed from being there! The new expansion to the base officially opened in 2022 and on my visits since then, I do think the crowds have thinned a bit, with it being busy at a few particular pandas. The caveat to the expansion however is that the base is absolutely massive – if you want to see it all in one day, you will be there from open (7:30/8AM) until close (5:30/6PM) and be prepared to move around a lot to see all the pandas. For a more leisurely time, it’s a 2-day base at a minimum – I had 2 days there on my 2024 trip and still then felt like it wasn’t quite enough. To get around in the base you can take advantage of the tourist bus, this is an extra 30RMB (for the whole day) but you can then save your legs on walking up/down several hills and more quickly get to other areas of the park, I really think it’s worth the extra expense.
Amenity-wise the base comes out top compared with the others. There are so many shops, you can buy everything you’ve ever thought of and more with a panda on it, and plenty of restaurant and snack options. Most of the restaurants are on the edge of the expansion next to the original park, the Panda Pedestrian Street makes for a good stopping point mid-way through a visit. And there is food for all tastes with Western options included for those who want to choose that (McDonalds). The base also has plenty of toilet facilities, and in the womens there are both squat and Western-style toilets available, with signs on cubicle doors indicating which toilet is available in that cubicle. There are generally more squat cubicles available at each location, but I have always been able to find a Western toilet, and generally if there’s a queue out the door, ladies will be queueing for the squat toilets. Toilet facilities all have sinks, soap, paper towels/hand driers and toilet paper available, and many have fancy Japanese-style seats! Accessibility-wise, I would say the base might be tough for those in a manual wheelchair, or those that need extra assistance with walking, it’s incredible hilly and very steep in some places – I’ve pushed someone in a wheelchair both up and down the hill at Edinburgh Zoo and I don’t fancy repeating that at Chengdu base. In terms of language, I’ve never had an issues at all – all the signs for directions and on the map are also in English. If you buy your ticket at the ticket desk, you don’t really even need to speak the language at all because they just put their hand out for your passport then will ask for the money (they do take cash still, or you can use a QR code; I’ve not tried card to know if they accept that), then they give your passport back. In the line for the entrance there are signs marked that you need to go to a certain side with a passport, it’s all very clear and well explained.
Panda Valley (Chengdu Base)
Panda Valley is the second base owned by the Chengdu Panda Base and it’s located just outside of Dujiangyan city centre. While it’s not as centrally located as the Chengdu Base, this is also very easy to get to – Dujiangyan is around an hours drive from Chengdu, or a fast 20-minute train journey, so it makes for a good day trip. Or if you stay in Dujiangyan centre, it’s an easy 15-minute taxi ride – I used Didi to get here (under 20RMB) and was able to type in ‘Panda Valley’ to the destination and it had no trouble finding it even though I didn’t know the Mandarin for it. It’s also on the same side of town as the Shuangliu Airport, so would be an easy layover trip if you’re going through this airport. The cost is the same as the Chengdu Base, 55RMB, and actually I found I could use the WeChat app to buy tickets for Panda Valley no problem (where I can’t for Chengdu Base), so I’ve not visited the ticket office here. For the same price, although with a bit more distance, there aren’t as many giant pandas to see here. When I went it was around 14 or 15, but on a positive note I saw almost all of them and for a long time too. The crowds are significantly less here, it’s generally easy to get a front spot for panda viewing and keep it for as long as you want. There were some tour groups going around, but really only a handful compared to at the Chengdu base, and they tended to move on very quickly. Panda Valley is a very quiet base, and has a much more relaxed vibe – there’s less need to rush around to see all the pandas because they are a lot closer to each other. With the smaller size, the base can easily be seen in a couple of hours, giving you plenty of time to see other things as well. When I was here there were also only adult pandas, no cubs or young ones (on show at least), so if that’s a priority, then I wouldn’t recommend this base.
On the amenities, there aren’t a lot of options – which is likely due to the smaller size and shorter time that a visit here will last. There is one shop at the exit, which is small but it covers all the standard souvenirs – actually I got a very cute reusable coffee cup here that I didn’t see at the Chengdu base shops, but for the most part it has the same items as there. There are 2 food huts, one just had coffee and the other sold a meat snack (I didn’t buy it, but I think some sort of sausage on a stick?!) and ice creams – so not a lot of options, if you need food you really need to bring it. There are good toilet facilities here, with fancy Japanese toilet seats, and as with at the Chengdu base, a mix of squat and Western options which are all marked on cubicle doors. One thing I did notice here (and make use of) was a drinking water refill station – it was a hot day when I was there so I was happy to be able to fill my water bottle with nice cool water! For accessibility, actually I think this base is the best option for someone using a wheelchair or who needs extra walking assistance. There were only a couple of gentle slopes and all the paths were smoothly tarmac’d and wide. At points with stairs there were also ramps and a lift/elevator available for those who needed them. The only section that would be a struggle was the red panda walkthrough, this was basically up a mountain side and the walkways were very narrow in places. With language, again all signage also had English included.
Dujiangyan Panda Base (CCRCGP)
Next up and also in the Dujiangyan area is the Dujiangyan Panda Base which is run by CCRCGP (China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda). It’s a little further out of Dujiangyan and it really has a countryside, mountain air feel to it. I’ve visited in 2016, 2017 and 2024 so I’ve seen it over several years – honestly it hasn’t changed a bit and I think I quite like that about it. Here there are a very good mix of ages, I’ve seen young playful 1 year olds all the way up to pandas who are in their late 20’s – but what you see will likely depend on the time of year, I only saw young ones on my November visits. I’m not sure the total number of pandas here, but it was more than I saw in Panda Valley. I’ve seen very different crowd levels here – on a weekday in November, I’ve been the only person watching some of the pandas, while a weekday in May it was packed and there were many tourist groups and school groups. Alike Panda Valley, this is around an hour outside of Chengdu city centre or from the Shuangliu Airport; or around 25 minutes Didi/taxi ride from Dujiangyan. The distance between the two bases in Dujiangyan is not much, it would be easy to complete both in the same day. I’m not sure how much the entrance fee is as I’ve always been with a staff member who has taken me in, I would expect it to be around the 55RMB mark.
For amenities, it doesn’t have a lot. There is a shop at the exit, which sells the usual souvenirs, along with a stand selling ice creams and hot/cold drinks and maybe some small snacks (I was too focused on the panda shaped ice cream to pay attention to the other items!). There is a tea house marked on the map, but I’ve never been to it to know if it’s there/what it sells, but I did come across another couple of ice cream/cold drinks stand further into the base too (with a red panda ice cream, it’s the only place I’ve seen one!). The toilet provisions at this base aren’t quite the same as offered in the Chengdu Base or Panda Valley – it’s squat toilets only here and there’s not very many cubicles in them, so the toilets at the entrance were very busy with the coach-tours of tourists (the toilets further into the park were quieter, but some of those have only 2 cubicles). And definitely bring your own toilet paper for these ones! But with the base size, you can see everything in a few hours so it’s not a base really aimed at a whole day visit. There are little tourists buses within the base, I’ve never used one so I’m not sure the cost or quite where it will take you or if there are multiple stops, but it’s a good option there if you want to use it. For accessibility the main paths aren’t too bad, but the base is built on a hill – some of the panda viewing paths are on quite rough ground (e.g. it’s paved with rough stones, edges were sticking up and I thought it was a trip hazard for myself, let alone if someone’s in a wheelchair etc.), so it might not be the best option. Not all the pandas have glass windows, some you need to be standing to see over the wall into the yard, so this is also a consideration.
Wolong Shenshuping Base (CCRCGP)
The Wolong Shenshuping Base is the first of the ‘further afield’ bases in the Chengdu area and it’s also run by CCRCGP. This base was built following the 2008 earthquake which destroyed much of the previous base in the area, so it is a relatively new base, and the road out to the base is all pretty newly built too. It’s around a 1 hour drive from Dujiangyan, or 2 from Chengdu – I’d recommend starting in Dujiangyan so you can get a bit of a later start to the day. This base has all ages of pandas, but I saw so many baby pandas it was honestly a dream experience! There are a lot of pandas here, more than either of the bases near Dujiangyan, but probably less than the Chengdu Base – but I think I saw a greater proportion of the pandas here than I did at the Chengdu Base. Overall if seeing cubs is your thing, then this is the place for you! It is trickier to get to, but the experience once there is completely worth it. My friend who works for CCRCGP took me there and got me into the base, but I would recommend either booking on a tour (MyPandaTours offers one for the base) or hiring a driver for the day. The environment is incredibly peaceful and beautiful, more-so than I’d imagined it would be. I was there on a weekday in May and it was mostly very quiet, I only saw large groups at a few particular pandas. But in the afternoon there was a large school group of teenagers, which made things a little less quiet, I just headed away from where they were going and it was fine. For the most part this is one of the quieter bases.
For somewhere that does take a bit of time and planning to get to, it doesn’t have a lot of amenities. In the middle of the base is a shop with plenty of souvenirs and some small snacks. There were also a couple of drinks vending machines around the base too. So definitely bring food before getting there – if you book a tour, it’s likely a lunch stop will be included so you wouldn’t need to bring much. I didn’t go in via the main entrance, so there may have been another option there too. There were two main toilet blocks at the base, there was 1 western cubicle in each, but honestly the squat cubicles were cleaner and more appealing here! But plenty of cubicles available (bring own toilet paper again), and also sinks/soap. There is a small internal bus with a couple of stops around the base, I didn’t see this running, so perhaps it only runs on request or in the busier season. The base didn’t seem big enough to really need it, but there was quite a hill to one of the sections (depending on what direction you took). The roads were all smoothly paved and the pathways were all wide, however some sections had stairs where they were the only option, so not always fully suited for a wheelchair, but I think there was probably an alternative route to make sure you could see all the pandas. English was available on all the maps and signage that I saw, the base layout is very self-explanatory so it’s very easy to navigate.
Ya’an Bifengxia Base (CCRCGP)
The Ya’an Bifengxia Base, also run by CCRCGP, is the second further afield base to travel to. The base is located just outside of Ya’an city, which is now very conveniently connected to Chengdu by a high-speed rail. The train is only 1 hour from Chengdu, then it’s around 30 minutes in a taxi to the Bifengxia tourist centre, then another 15-20 minutes on the internal bus to the base entrance – it’s definitely the base that needs the most effort to get to. But once you are there it’s a lovely serene environment to enjoy panda-viewing in! There are lots of pandas here, somewhere between the amounts in Dujiangyan and Wolong, but here I think I saw every panda that was available on show, so that’s definitely something special. The base is spread over quite a sizeable area with the panda yards split into different sections – you definitely can walk between all the areas, but there is a hill in the middle, and with a tourist bus available (think it was 10 or 20RMB for a round-trip ticket) it’s worth taking advantage to get to the furthest away pandas. This is the most expensive base to visit – a ticket is 100RMB for an adult (this does include a return trip for the internal bus to the panda base entrance from the tourist centre), so that should also be considered, however this was the quietest base with not a lot of other people around viewing the pandas. They did have all ages, so I did see cubs with their mums here, but also older pandas. It felt like this base in particular had more returned pandas than other bases (I didn’t count specifically, so might not be the case, but it felt like it).
Similar to the other CCRCGP bases, there aren’t a lot of amenities in the base here, but the tourist centre does offer plenty of options. Inside the base there was one small shop selling ice creams and drinks, and maybe one hot snack (I think it was a sausage/something similar), and also some souvenirs comparable to what all the other bases sell. At the tourist centre there is a restaurant (didn’t go in so can’t comment on what it offers), several stalls selling snack foods and several stalls selling panda souvenirs. There were plenty of toilet stops around the base, some of these had a western cubicle (albeit without a lock, and bring toilet paper!), but not all, so be aware of that if it matters to you. I travelled there with a male friend who had prepared me by saying the toilets at the base were the worst toilets he’d ever been in, but I think they must have significantly improved the facilities between his last visit and this one because I didn’t think they were that bad (and it turned out that some toilets at the Dujiangyan Base were much worse!). The maps and signs all also included English, so while the layout was a bit more complicated, it was easy enough to figure it out and get around. The base isn’t quite as accessible to wheelchair users or those needing mobility assistance, there were some areas where there are only steps and those are also on steep slopes – however the White Bear Ground and Kindergarten areas would be fine to get around as they are all flat and you can take the bus to the Kindergarten.
Panda-viewing tips – a round-up
For me, there’s not one single base I’d recommend visiting over the others – I think they all have pros and cons, and what suits me best will be completely different than what suits someone else.
The most convenient is definitely Chengdu Panda Base, you can easily reach here on public transport from the centre of Chengdu in no time at all, and they have a lot of pandas, so you’ll definitely see something. But, it’s also the most crowded – if you want a more calm panda viewing experience go to Ya’an Bifengxia Base or Wolong Shenshuping, those are worth the extra time in getting there. And for something in between, that’s relatively conveninet but gives you a more ‘nature’ experience then the Dujiangyan bases (both Dujiangyan Panda Base and Panda Valley) are good options, they are also the best options if you’re short on time as you can see everything they have to offer in under 2 hours. Also take into consideration the time of year – Ya’an is known as the rainy city, and I know the Wolong base has been impacted by local flooding and landslides a few times, so these may be trickier to get to under certain conditions.
Also consider if there’s some specific pandas you want to see – there are many returned from overseas pandas now living in the panda bases and they’re quite popular. Definitely try and research who is where if there’s someone specific you want to see. The older pandas who have returned (e.g. SNZP’s Mei Xiang and Tian Tian) also might have ‘retired’ and are in off show areas and can’t be seen, but cubs who have returned should mostly be able to be seen – I’ve seen cubs born in so many different countries back in China and it’s great to see them thriving and even many of them joining the breeding programme and having cubs of their own. Finding out who is where can sometimes be a challenge, but if you’re looking for a panda who is living at the Chengdu Panda Base, make use of their WeChat mini-app, on there you can check out who lives in which house at the base (so long as they’re in on-show houses) so you can know where to head to on your visit. This app can be translated into other languages, but I find the English version harder to navigate and see the panda names than the original Chinese, so try and find the hanzi/Chinese character name of the panda you want to see. I’m also sure if you ask at the bases for a specific panda they will do their best to help you!
Where else to see pandas in China + what next?
So even though I’ve been to all the bases now, I don’t class myself as having seen it all – I still have specific pandas and scenarios on my little panda bucket list (one day I’ll see a panda going down a slide!), so I will most definitely return to all of the bases at some point. But there’s plenty of other places in China to see pandas. I’ve visited the Chengdu Zoo in the past in 2016 and 2018, they have a couple of giant pandas there, and I’ve also been to Beijing Zoo in 2017, 2018 and 2023 where they have a number of giant pandas.
Well, upcoming on the blog is my next travel series/diary – I made another 2 week trip in February 2025! Alongside visiting a few new countries, I’m expanding my travels within mainland China. Chongqing, also in Sichuan and around a 1-2hour train ride from Chengdu, also has many giant pandas in their zoo, so I planned a day trip there. And I’ve finally found the time to visit Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou, who also have many pandas to see – going here has been on my list for years, so I’m excited to have finally made it there!