Wolong National Nature Reserve or Wolong Panda Center is considered to be the real hometown of wild pandas. It is a newly built panda center that focuses on panda wilderness training programs.
If you want to see pandas enjoying their original habitat and experience a variety of panda volunteer programs, Wolong National Nature Reserve is the perfect choice for you.
- Location: about 120 kilometers (75 miles)northwest of Chengdu, which takes about 3 hours by road
- Number of pandas: about 30 (second only to Chengdu ResearchBase of Giant Panda Breeding)
- Time needed: at least 2 days
- Best times to visit: March to May and September to November
- Activities: giant panda/red panda volunteer programs, hiking in the wild pandas' habitat
Recommended tours:
Giant Panda Volunteer Program
Wolong Panda Research CenterIn Wolong Panda Center, you can have a great opportunity to get close to the lovely giant pandas through the panda volunteer program.
During the program, the activities you can do include cleaning the glass of their enclosures, weighing and cleaning bamboo, and making panda cakes. You will also have time to tour around the panda center and watch a panda movie.
Every day, a limited number of visitors are allowed to take care of the pandas.
Age limit: 10 to 70 years old. Your guide can help take care of your child if he/she is unable to join in with the program.
Wild Pandas' Habitat Exploration
Hiking in Dengsheng Gorge in WolongWolong, known as "the homeland of pandas" in China, is part of the original habitat of wild pandas.
To enrich your experience, you can consider taking a 2-hour hike in Dengsheng Gorge, which is an authentic natural habitat for wild giant pandas as well as other wild and rare animals.
Even though there is a slim chance of seeing pandas or even their footprints, you will be impressed by the beautiful scenery, fresh air, rare plants, and tranquility far away from the city's hustle and bustle.
How to Get to Wolong Panda Center from Chengdu
Wolong Panda Center is 120 kilometers outside of Chengdu by road. It takes about 3 hours to get there by public bus. Buses operate from Chadianzi Bus Station in Chengdu's Jinniu District to Wolong Town.
It is more convenient to get there by private car, which is included in our private Wolong tours. This ensures you save time on transportation and enjoy spending more time with pandas.
Accommodation in Wolong
Due to the long distance from Chengdu, we recommend you stay overnight in Wolong. Don't expect too much from the accommodation, however.
As tourism in Wolong is still in its early stages, there are no standard hotels but several hostels instead, which have very basic facilities.
We have carefully selected the best hostels available, based on criteria that include the location and environment.
Recommended tours:
Contact us for a private tour of Leshan and Mount Emei.
A Recommended Wolong Itinerary
Since there are so many interesting activities to do at Wolong Panda Center, we suggest you spend 2 days there. Including the arrival and departure days, you should have a 4-day tour:
Day 1: Arrive in Chengdu.
Day 2: Transfer to Wolong and hike in Dengsheng Gorge.
Day 3: Take part in the one-day giant panda volunteer program and return to Chengdu.
Day 4: Depart from Chengdu.