There are many places to see lovely giant pandas in China. But where is the best place for you to go for a special panda trip? What is the best time to go? We will give you some insiders' recommendations and suggestions on how to plan a panda tour.
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Where Are the Best Places to See Giant Pandas?
The four panda bases around Chengdu are the best places to see giant pandas. Which one is best for you depends on how much time you have and what kind of experience you want to have.
If it's just to SEE pandas…
If you just want to see giant pandas, we recommend you go to Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Base. It is the most easily accessible panda base. You can see pandas at different ages, from the oldest to the newborns.
This base is huge but usually crowded. A private tour is the best way to get around the base to see the most pandas and get the best experience.
For a deeper panda experience...
There are three recommended activities for a deeper panda experience:
1. Join a panda volunteer program.
Giant panda volunteer programs are available in three panda bases: Dujiangyan, Wolong, and Bifengxia. Their durations are from 1 to 3 days or longer.
Dujiangyan is the best place for a one-day program. If you want a less-crowded environment, consider Wolong and Bifengxia, though they require 2 or more days.
Your work would include weighing and cleaning bamboo, making panda cakes, cutting bamboo leaves for old pandas, watching pandas being fed, and cleaning pandas' enclosures. At the end of the program, you will receive a panda keeper certificate.
2. Join in a Red Panda Volunteer Program.
Unlike with giant pandas, you can have a zero-distance encounter with red pandas — you can feed a group of them without a fence in between. If you are interested in red pandas, you can join in our red panda volunteer program in Wolong Panda Center.
3. Hike into the Habitat of Wild Pandas.
If you are a lover of pandas and outdoor activity as well, consider having a hike in wild panda habitat in Wolong. Go panda tracking, and see if you will be lucky enough to see a wild panda. See our 2-Day Wolong Panda Volunteer Program Tour.
Place | Location | Activities | Visit | Crowds |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center | Chengdu City | Seeing pandas | ½ day | Very crowded |
Dujiangyan Panda Base | 1½ hours from Chengdu | Giant panda volunteer program | 1 day | Quiet |
Wolong Panda Center | 3 hours from Chengdu | Giant panda, red panda, panda baby volunteer program, hiking in panda habitat | 2 days | Quiet |
Bifengxia Giant Panda Base | 3 hours from Chengdu | Giant panda volunteer program | 2 days or more | Quiet |
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Chengdu at it`s best
We made a private tour through South China in January 2024. Altogether Chengdu was the highlight. We had an incredible day at Emeishan. In Chengdu our guidewas Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen. more
Feb 2024, peter
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Chengdu and Volunteer program Panda base
Our day volunteering at the Panda Base was truly unforgettable. Helen, our guide, provided us with invaluable insights about Chengdu and the pandas, enriching our tour with her knowledge and expertise. We're grateful to Helen for accompanying us throughout the day and showcasing the highlights of China. more
Feb 2024, Eliaquim
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Chengdu at it`s best
We had a booking with China Highlights through Silvia Ye who guarenteed a perfect organisation. In Chengdu our guide was Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen. more
Feb 2024, Peter
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Chengdu with friends
Bella, our tour guide in Chengdu, was excellent and very thoughtful. She picked us up from the train station (despite it being a free and easy day we wanted). She shared options for afternoon tea, places of interest around our hotel and helped us make dinner reservation at a local premium szechuan hotpot restaurant. During our stay in Chengdu, she took us to see the adorable pandas at the Panda Breeding Base, the beautiful Renmin Park (Chengdu People’s Park), the lively Jinli Old Street (pedestrian mall) and the Chengdu Opera (a must see - world famous face changing show). Bella is very attentive to our needs and preferences, and always made sure we were well taken care, comfortable and happy. We had so much fun together, laughing, joking and sharing stories. Food was excellent (best left the ordering to her). She is one of the best guide we had in China. more
Jan 2024, DLiew
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Excellent
Helen is the best! She is super knowledgeable and helpful with everything. Will definitely be using China Highlights and Helen when I bring my family back to Chengdu. more
Jan 2024, Riley
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Chengdu a great city
We had a great time visiting the Pandas, Michael was punctual, organized. He showed us around the great city of Chengdu,its museum,the Old Town, The Tea House,and while we were in the city park we saw a Chinese old lady in a wheelchair singing an Chinese Peking Opera Tune loudly and clearly.She said she is 90 years old and she comes to the park often just to sing and we asked her if she knows any song in English,she said yes and belted out a classic (you raised me up over the mountain) in perfect English. Absolutely amazing.She lived through the Civil War,Japanese Invasion, the Cultural Revolution,You can't plan an experience like this. more
Jan 2024, Peter W
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We went on a tour guided by Helen…
We went on a tour guided by Helen around Chengdu to see many cultural highlights. We were excited with the extensive knowledge. She speaks English very well. She was also always in a good mood and make us comfortable and we could see she is very passionate about her job. She gave us some gifts on Xmas day. Overall we are very grateful to have had Helen as our guide. Not to mention the great day we spent with the pandas. She took very good pictures for us and it's just a memorable day. more
Jan 2024, Monica
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Our tour led by Helen from Chengdu was amazing
Helen guided my family and I around Chengdu to see many cultural highlights. Her extensive knowledge and proficient English speaking skills enhanced our experience greatly. The historical facts that she shared with us made us even more excited to see the landmarks and left us in awe at every visit. She was also always smiling and her kind attitude during the tour made us feel that she was very passionate about her job and valued our experience a lot. She was very thoughtful, even giving us presents on Xmas day. She also recommended the best dishes in interesting restaurants that catered to my family’s taste. Overall we are very grateful to have had Helen as our guide because we know our holiday was so so much better due to her thoughtful pre-planning and positive demeanour! more
Jan 2024, Nicole
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Awesome trip in Chengdu guided by Helen
Our tour guide, Helen is superb and amazing. She is very knowledged and detailed with all the details and history of the destination. She is able to navigate through the attraction places easily, making the whole experience less tiring and easy to access.She is also very caring and detailed with taking care of us, making the trip very comfortable and enjoying. more
Jan 2024, 文文
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Fun Experience!
We had a lot of fun in ChengDu. The trip was nicely planned and organised. We had Helen as our guide in ChengDu. She was very friendly and knowledgeable, explained everything well. It was a great experience and would definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in travelling to China. more
Jan 2024, AdLee
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Helen was the best tour guide I’ve experienced! Can’t recommend her enough for anyone visiting Chengdu!
Helen was the best tour guide that my family and I have had on our international holiday trips so far! We were always kept entertained and fascinated by Helen’s extensive knowledge about Chengdu’s cultural highlights and fluency in both English and Mandarin. Helen was extremely personable and empathetic, always going out of her way to cater to our needs and ensure we always felt safe and comfortable. more
Jan 2024, Rachel
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Chengdu splendida città
Siamo stati a Chengdu città molto bella e vivace. Accompagnati da Helen guida molto attenta precisa cordiale e simpatica…the top!!! Con lei siamo stati a conoscere il panda gigante e il panda rosso. Poi abbiamo gustato il tè in una tipica casa da tè e fatto una piacevole passeggiata prima nel bel parco cittadino molto frequentato e poi per la città. Siamo stati molto bene!! Grazie Helen sei stata splendida. The top!!! more
Jan 2024, Trisia
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Excellent New Year's vacation in Chengdu! Happy memories!
Great thanks to our guide Sandy, who accompanied us tirelessly! He knows a lot about the city and every corner of Chengdu, as well as the culture of Sichuan: he lead us to amazing places and knew how to make excellent recommendations for the Opera and restaurants.The vehicle was very comfortable and Sandy was very generous to bring snacks for everyone and organize the best meals during the trips, to conclude memorable holidays! more
Jan 2024, Pioneer02494454516
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Wonderful Times in Chengdu with Aaron Huang
With the help of our tour guide, Aaron Huang, we were able to see many tourist attractions in Chengdu. We went to the famous Panda Research centre located a short distance away from the city . Our grandchildren loved the sight of so many cute pandas. We also went up to a mountain by cable car, the children had a good time playing with snow.Last but not least, we would like to thank our tour guide Aaron Huang who impressed us with his very excellent and fluent English, and he always answered our questions clearly and patiently. He is indeed a very professional tour guide and we highly recommend him to anyone who intends to visit Chengdu!Thank you Aaron again for going all the way to make our holiday in Chengdu such a memorable experience!Hope we will meet again! more
Jan 2024, Inspire39398
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Fanstric trip to Chengdu with Helen!
Helen brought me to some amazing hidden restaurants I would not be able to try otherwise. Helen was a top photographer and I really appreciate the photos she took during my time there. If you are going to Chengdu make sure to go with Helen! more
Jan 2024, David
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The Best Trip to Chengdu
Fifi is a super guide. She handled all ticket purchases and car orders professionally. I felt respected and very welcomed by her and the car driver. Fifi could recommend VEGETARIAN and VEGAN meal options for me. She even sought after restaurants that I had recommendations for, then did planning to fit them into our day schedule. I’m so happy!! more
Jan 2024, Blake
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Chengdu con Pablo 🇨🇳
Toda la experiencia fue muy agradable y se supieron sortear los problemas con el mal tiempo, los retrasos, la baja movilidad de mi mamá, y los itinerarios muy apretados.Seguramente recomendaremos a China Highlights a nuestros amigos y familiares, pues tanto en Chengdu como en otras 3 ciudades que hemos visitado, siempre han superado nuestras expectativas. more
Jan 2024, Kolombian_traveller
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Helen you are our STAR! Thanks
Our perfect honeymoon!When we decided to visit China for our honeymoon our first desire was making it the trip of a lifetime.China Highlights made it absolutely perfect!The itinerary was incredible and we could personalize and improve our experience - thanks Helen!! more
Jan 2024, Luca
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Our perfect honeymoon!
All the tour guides and the drivers provided an amazing service and they went out of their way to help us throughout all the stages of our journey. Particularly, we want to say a HUGE thank you to:Helen in Chengdu: you are a STAR! All your kindness, explanations about panda’s life and tips on the best places in more
Dec 2023, Sara
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An unforgatable experience
Dear Helen! We are slowly relaxing from the fatigue of our wonderful three-week trip to China, and all that remains are the unforgettable memories and experiences. These include the experiences I spent with you in Chengdu; the Panda Breeding and Research Center, Chengdu Kuanzhai Lane, Jinli Old Street and Shufengyayun Opera House. Thank you very much for your attitude, your attentiveness, more
Dec 2023, Geza
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Panda Tour itineraries
Here are three panda tour itineraries suitable for different needs/interests:
1. One-Day Panda Volunteer Tour
Dujiangyan Panda Base is the best place for a time-smart one-day program.
We will help you maximize your experience in your limited time. Our private transfers and flexible itineraries are the most efficient.
Activities include going into their enclosures, learning where they play, cleaning up, cutting bamboo leaves for old pandas, watching pandas fed at a very close distance, and making their favorite cakes. For more details, see One-Day Dujiangyan Panda Volunteer Program Tour.
There is a daily quota of 60 volunteers for the Panda Volunteer Program. We suggest an early inquiry and booking quickly to secure your place — preferably 3 months in advance.
If you have more time to spend with pandas and want more activities, you could check out our 2-Day Wolong Panda Volunteer Program Tour.
2. 3-Day Chengdu Tour with Pandas, Giant Buddha, and Ancient Towns
If you want to see other highlights of Chengdu besides pandas, you could check out this itinerary:
- Day 1: Watch pandas and start a food tour
- Day 2: Explore Leshan Giant Buddha and ancient towns
- Day 3: Departure
For more details, check out our 3-Day Giant Panda, Giant Buddha, and Ancient Town Tour
Further reading: Ultimate Chengdu Itineraries: How Long to Spend in Chengdu
3. 2-Week China Tour with Pandas
If you want a complete China tour itinerary that includes the panda experience, you can check out this itinerary.
Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai are must-see cities. Chengdu is definitely included if you want a panda tour. We also recommend a Yangtze River cruise, which would start in Chongqing near Chengdu, to enjoy China's natural views.
Here is the suggested itinerary:
- Days 1–4: Beijing arrival and exploration with must-sees including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City
- Days 5–6: Xi'an sightseeing with a visit to the Terracotta Army and clay-warrior-making experience
- Days 7–8: Chengdu panda tour with a keeper program — make panda cakes, see pandas being fed at a close distance, and clean their enclosures.
- Days 9–11: Yangtze River cruise with excursions
- Days 12–13: Shanghai exploration with a visit to the Bund and some free time.
The Cost of a Panda Tour
It is not expensive to get a ticket to see the pandas. But if you want to have a volunteer program, it may cost a little more, about US$250–300 per person including private transfers, lunch, and a guide.
For a private China trip with a panda experience, the average cost per day is about US$220–350 per person, including flights/trains within China, 4- or 5-star hotels, lunches, attractions, guides, and private transport. Kids under 10 will get 30 to 50 percent off.
Best Times for a Panda Tour
The Best Season to Visit
Giant pandas don't hibernate. You can visit them in all four seasons. Spring and autumn are the best times to see pandas when they are most active and temperatures are most comfortable.
As a bonus, if you visit between August and November, you will probably see adorable panda babies.
If you visit during Chinese holidays, e.g. May 1st–3rd, October 1st–7th, we recommend you visit Bifengxia Panda Base, which will be less crowded.
The Best Time of Day
Giant pandas spend almost half their time sleeping. So, if you want to see them walking or climbing, it's important to know their general rest schedule.
Grown-up giant pandas in captivity usually eat twice a day: early in the morning and late in the afternoon. They usually sleep around noon, any time from around 10:00 a.m. to around 2:00 p.m.
We recommend you get to a panda base as early as possible (8:00 to 10:00 a.m. is optimal), when it is less-crowded and the pandas are at their most active.
Accommodation Tips
If you visit Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Base and Dujiangyan Panda Base, you can stay in a hotel in Chengdu city.
If you visit Wolong or Bifengxia Panda Base, we suggest staying at nearby hotels, because the two bases are far away from Chengdu or the airport. Getting back and forth that day can be tiring and rushed. Hotel options are limited compared with in the city, and the standards are not as high. But we would carefully select the best hotels available to suit you.
When booking with us, we would coordinate your hotel booking, transfers, and lunch for a stress-free panda experience.
Popular Panda Tours
Just contact us and we'll create your ideal panda trip. We would create an itinerary according to your interests and any other requirements.
Our consultants listen to and answer your inquiries carefully and promptly and prepare the best tour plan for you.