1. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding （成都大熊猫繁育研究基地）
📍 Location: Chenghua District, Chengdu
🕒 Hours: 7:30–18:00
🎫 Ticket: ¥55 (via official WeChat mini program)
🚇 How to get there: Metro Line 3 to “Panda Avenue” + shuttle/taxi
This is Chengdu’s most famous panda base, home to over 200 pandas, including social media star Huahua. You’ll see pandas at every life stage—from newborns to lazy adults.
🌟 Highlights
- Largest number of pandas
- Closest to downtown Chengdu
- Sun & Moon Nurseries + Panda Theater
⚠️Heads-Up
- Arrive by 7:30 AM for active pandas
- Expect large crowds, especially near Huahua
- Wear comfy shoes or take the internal shuttle (¥30)
👉 Best for: First-time visitors, families, short-stay travelers
2. Dujiangyan Panda Valley （都江堰熊猫谷）
📍 Location: Yutang Town, Dujiangyan
🕒 Hours: 8:10–17:30
🎫 Ticket: ¥55
🚇 Getting there: Metro to Xipu → Train to Dujiangyan → Bus or taxi
Focused on rewilding pandas, this is a quiet, semi-natural base ideal for nature lovers.
🌟 Highlights
- Semi-wild panda environment
- Red panda walk-through zones
- Less commercial & fewer crowds
⚠️ Heads-Up
- Only 30–40 pandas
- Public transport takes about 2 hours
- Few facilities—bring snacks
👉 Best for: Nature enthusiasts, photographers, peace seekers
3. Dujiangyan China Giant Panda Garden （中华大熊猫苑）
📍 Location: Qingchengshan, Dujiangyan
🕒 Hours: 8:30–17:00
🎫 Ticket: ¥55
🚇 Getting there: Train to Dujiangyan Station → short taxi ride
Famous for lively pandas, this base is where many viral panda videos are filmed.
🌟 Highlights
- Active pandas: fights, tree climbing, bamboo drama
- Smaller crowds than Chengdu base
⚠️ Heads-Up
- Limited public transit
- Fewer English signs
- Minimal food options—bring your own
👉 Best for: Repeat visitors, those wanting action without the chaos
4. Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base （卧龙神树坪熊猫基地）
📍 Location: Wenchuan County, Wolong Nature Reserve
🕒 Hours: 9:00–17:00
🎫 Ticket: ¥85
🚌 Getting there: 2.5hrs shuttle from Xinnanmen Bus Station (¥110 RT)
Set deep in the mountains, Wolong is the original panda homeland. Famous panda Fu Bao (returned from South Korea) lives here!
🌟 Highlights
- Close-to-wild environment
- Cooler mountain air (great in summer)
- Fewer tourists, vast landscape
⚠️ Heads-Up
- Best as a full-day trip (2.5–3 hours single way)
- Potential weather closures in winter
- Limited dining nearby
👉 Best for: Panda superfans, summer travelers, photographers
5. Bifengxia Panda Base （碧峰峡熊猫基地）
📍 Location: Ya’an, Bifengxia Scenic Area
🕒 Hours: 8:30–16:30
🎫 Ticket: ¥100 (includes scenic area)
🚅 Getting there: High-speed train to Ya’an → 30 min taxi
Located in a lush canyon, this base is peaceful and stunning—home to panda Xiang Xiang (returned from Japan).
🌟 Highlights
- Beautiful setting in a forest gorge
- Combo with safari park
- Fewer visitors = peaceful experience
⚠️ Heads-Up
- Hilly terrain—not ideal for elderly
- Travel takes time (2–2.5 hrs)
- Bring water and snacks
👉 Best for: Adventure travelers, Xiang Xiang fans, day-trippers from Ya’an
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Panda Base | Travel Time | Crowd Level | Baby Pandas | Nature Vibes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu Base | 🚇 30 min | 😵 High | ✅ | ❌ | First-timers, families |
| Panda Valley | 🚅 1.5 hrs | 🙂 Low | ❌ | ✅✅ | Nature lovers, quiet setting |
| Dujiangyan Garden | 🚅 1.5 hrs | 🙂 Medium | ✅ | ✅ | Active scenes, repeat visits |
| Wolong Base | 🚐 2.5 hrs | 🙂 Low | ✅ | ✅✅✅ | Superfans, summer trips |
| Bifengxia Base | 🚅 2 hrs | 🙂 Low | ✅ | ✅✅ | Canyon views, tranquility |
✈️ Final Tips Before You Go
🍱 Pack snacks: Not all bases have restaurants
🎟️ Book early: Use the WeChat mini program for tickets, especially Chengdu base
🐼 Go early: Pandas are most active from 8:00–10:00 AM
🎒 Travel light: Some parks involve long walks or stairs
📷 Bring a zoom lens: For distant views at Wolong/Bifengxia
Want to see pandas and explore China’s most iconic cities in one unforgettable trip? Don’t miss our 14-Day All the Best China Tour — it includes a panda-packed stop in Chengdu, where you’ll get up close with these adorable national treasures!