The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu, nestled on the gentle slopes of Futou Mountain. This world-class facility was established with the mission to save the giant panda and serves as both a popular tourist attraction and a research center.
The base is surrounded by lush bamboo groves, dense greenery, and vibrant flowers, creating a serene environment where the sounds of birds fill the air. The natural landscape seamlessly blends with man-made features, providing an ideal habitat for giant pandas, red pandas, black-necked cranes, and other rare and endangered animals.
Key attractions at the base include Swan Lake and the Giant Panda Museum. For visitors interested in learning more about giant pandas, the base offers guided tours at the entrance, available in both Chinese and English. Additionally, expert-led tours focusing on the local flora and fauna can also be arranged.
Travel Information about Chengdu Panda Base
Tickets and Opening Hours
Tickets: ¥55 per person; an additional ¥10 per person for the on-site sightseeing bus.
Opening Hours: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
Getting There
Location: 1375 Panda Avenue, Waibei, Chenghua District, Chengdu.
Subway: Take Line 3 to Panda Avenue Station, exit at A, and then transfer to Bus 198 to the Panda Base Station.
Attraction Rating
- Cultural: ★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★
- Unique: ★★★
- Beautiful: ★★
- Romantic: ★★
- Exciting: ★
Highlights of Chengdu Panda Base
Giant Panda Museum
The Giant Panda Museum, one of the world’s first museums dedicated to the rare and precious giant panda, showcases the extensive knowledge humans have gathered about these creatures. The museum offers a comprehensive introduction to the evolutionary history of giant pandas, their historical and current distribution, their natural ecology in the wild, and the achievements in their conservation and artificial breeding. This is presented through numerous rare photographs and detailed information. Additionally, the museum features themed exhibitions such as “Butterfly World and Insects,” providing visitors with a broader understanding of the natural world.
Giant Panda Living Area
The Giant Panda Living Area is a dedicated space for housing giant pandas, consisting of several sections including the panda enclosures, villas for juvenile and adolescent pandas, adult panda villas, and the panda nursery. This area provides a comprehensive view of the daily lives of these beloved animals.
Here, visitors can observe pandas engaging in a variety of activities: some hang upside down from trees, others lie on their backs munching on bamboo, some clumsily but determinedly climb trees, while others sit quietly, lost in thought. Most often, they are seen lounging around, reminiscent of scenes from the movie “Kung Fu Panda.”
The panda nursery, where baby pandas are cared for, becomes a special highlight every autumn. Visitors can catch a glimpse of the tiny, pink newborn pandas through glass walls, witnessing these adorable creatures in their earliest stages of life.
Swan Lake
Swan Lake spans an area of 100,000 square meters, with over 30,000 square meters of its surface covered by water. It is a unique ecological wetland that integrates lakes, grasslands, woodlands, and shallow beaches, making it the most complete wetland ecosystem among all the parks in Chengdu.
Surrounding the lake is a 10,000-square-meter rose garden, where butterflies dance among blooming roses of various colors, and the gentle breeze carries a refreshing fragrance. The area is also home to groves of ornamental bamboo, including species like ma bamboo, mottled bamboo, and Buddha’s belly bamboo, creating a distinct bamboo landscape. Within the lake, rare waterfowl float leisurely, while colorful koi swim freely, adding to the serene and picturesque environment.
Along the wooden walkway by Swan Lake, there are rest areas where visitors can enjoy a cup of tea while leisurely observing the various waterfowl frolicking on the lake. Elegant black swans and white swans glide gracefully across the water, while groups of mallards, geese, and mandarin ducks swim together. The vibrant colors of the koi add to the serene atmosphere, allowing you to experience the harmony between nature and humanity.
Chengdu and Giant Panda
Chengdu has a long-standing connection with the giant panda, dating back over 4,000 years, as evidenced by fossil discoveries that show the presence of wild giant pandas in the region. Today, Chengdu is the only city in the world where both captive and wild giant pandas coexist. Positioned at the center of the panda habitat corridor that stretches from the Qinling Mountains to the Minshan, Qionglai, Daxiangling, Xiaoxiangling, and Liangshan mountain ranges, Chengdu plays a crucial role in the preservation and study of this endangered species.
On January 17, 1953, a wild giant panda was found in Yutang Town, Dujiangyan, and was brought to the Futou Mountain Breeding Research Base in Chengdu, the predecessor of today’s research base. This panda was the first individual rescued after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, marking the beginning of China’s efforts to save the giant panda.
Visitor Guide for Chengdu Panda Base
In-Park Transportation at Chengdu Panda Base
At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a full walking tour takes approximately 3 hours. If you prefer to use the electric sightseeing vehicle, it will take around 1 to 2 hours. The vehicle ticket costs 10 yuan and follows this route:
Ticket Office → Swan Lake → Giant Panda Charm Theater → Red Panda Activity Area → Giant Panda Sun Room → Giant Panda Villa No. 2 → Giant Panda Moon Room → Giant Panda Villa No. 1 (End point; visitors disembark here but do not board) → Giant Panda Moon Room → Giant Panda Villa No. 2 → Giant Panda Sun Room → Red Panda Activity Area → Giant Panda Charm Theater → Giant Panda Villa No. 14 → Ticket Office.
Dining Options at Chengdu Panda Base
Bamboo Rhythm Restaurant: Nestled on the southeast side of the picturesque Swan Lake, this restaurant covers nearly 900 square meters and has two floors with various private dining rooms. It can accommodate over 300 guests at once. As Chengdu’s only bamboo culture-themed restaurant, its interior decoration, dishes, and tableware all reflect the unique culture of giant pandas.
Rose Garden Restaurant: Located on the eastern shore of Swan Lake, this restaurant spans over 200 square meters and features 16 outdoor round tables and more than 20 indoor booths, allowing it to host over 200 diners simultaneously. The restaurant boasts a beautiful environment with seasonal blooms.
Panda Time Café: Situated next to the Giant Panda Charm Theater, the café has an indoor area of over 130 square meters and an outdoor space exceeding 370 square meters. It offers 12 indoor booths for around 50 people and 23 outdoor round tables for up to 80 guests. The café provides a warm indoor atmosphere and pleasant outdoor views, making it a great spot to relax.
Things to Do at Chengdu Panda Base
Visit the Service Areas: While exploring the base, take some time to check out the various service areas. There are several souvenir shops, including: Giant Panda Sun Room Original Trend Gift Shop, Red Panda Activity Area Gift Shop, Museum Gift Shop, and Charm Theater Gift Shop. These shops feature wooden structures and decor that blend seamlessly with the natural environment of the park, providing a cozy shopping atmosphere for both domestic and international visitors. The Giant Panda Sun Room Original Trend Gift Shop offers a variety of panda-themed original souvenirs, perfect for taking a piece of the experience home.
Learn About Panda Diet: At the food processing area, you can learn about the main food of pandas—bamboo—and discover how the special buns they eat, known as “wowo heads,” are made. If you’re interested, you might even get a chance to taste them!
Observe Panda Habits: In the bionic playground, you can closely observe the daily activities of pandas of various ages. Watch them lounge, play, eat, and interact with each other in a natural setting.
Panda Nursery Viewing: Visit the giant panda nursery to witness the heartwarming scenes of panda mothers nurturing their cubs up close. It’s an incredible opportunity to see these rare animals in a caring environment.