Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

4.6 (2,995 reviews)

Tourist AttractionResearch InstituteNon Profit OrganizationAssociation Or OrganizationPoint of Interest

Best time to visit

Arrive before 8am, when the pandas are most active and feeding on bamboo. In summer, the heat makes the animals sleep earlier, so the morning is essential.

Budget tips

Admission costs about 55 RMB (approximately 40 Brazilian reais) and includes internal transportation within the zoo. Children under 6 years old get in free, and checking packages with transportation departing from downtown Chengdu can save time and money.

Recommended for

Families with children, Wildlife lovers, Nature photographers, Travelers seeking unique experiences

Plan your visit

2-3 hours

About

Quick facts: More than 200 giant pandas call this research center home, making it the largest captive breeding population anywhere in the world. Visitors can watch newborn cubs, barely the size of a stick of butter, tumble around in their nurseries during the summer months.

Highlights: Around 8:30 each morning, keepers scatter fresh bamboo stalks across the enclosures and the pandas go into a synchronized feeding frenzy, gnawing loudly while sprawled on their backs. The breeding program here is so successful that over 300 cubs have been born since the 1990s, and some of these pandas have been sent abroad as part of China's panda diplomacy program.

Insider tips

Wear comfortable footwear, as the park is extensive and requires a lot of walking between enclosures.
Go straight to the cub nursery first, because the line gets long after 9am.
Bring a camera with a powerful zoom, since the pandas tend to stay far from the viewing areas.
Avoid the summer high season and Chinese holidays, when the park receives crowds of visitors.