The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is widely seen as one of the biggest panda paradises in China—and arguably the world. Visitors come from everywhere to see these “national treasures” up close. Here you can watch pandas in spacious habitats as they eat, play, and nap. If you’re lucky, you may even spot newborn cubs in the nursery.

How to Find Pandas Quickly

Even though the base map is clear, it’s still easy to lose your bearings among the bamboo and trees. The tips below help you find pandas faster.

In the wild, giant pandas live in cool, high-altitude bamboo forests. They dislike heat. In cooler weather, they’re more active outdoors. When temperatures rise (often above about 26°C), many pandas head indoors to rest.

If it’s hot and you don’t see pandas outside, head to indoor viewing areas such as the Moonlight Nursery, Villa No. 1, Villa No. 2, the Sunlight Nursery, and the Juvenile Panda Villa. You can also ask nearby staff where the pandas are most active that day.

Villa No. 1 + Villa No. 2

Villa 1 and Villa 2 are adult panda habitats. This is a great place to watch the full routine: eating, playing, and long, lazy naps.

Moon Nursery + Sun Nursery

The Moon Nursery and Sun Nursery are where pregnant pandas and very young cubs are cared for. There is often a daily newborn meet-and-greet window, typically in the afternoon. Autumn is commonly associated with panda breeding, and many people consider it an especially good time to visit.

The juvenile pandas in the Moonlight Nursery are absolutely worth seeing. Many are around 3–4 months old: some roll around and scratch, others nap on their sides without a care in the world. The crowd reaction is usually instant and loud (in a good way).

Recommended Tour Routes

Scenic area ticket price (reference): 55 yuan/person, half price 27 yuan/person.

Tour Route 1 (Tour Duration: 1.5 hours)

Main Gate → Swan Lake (Rose Garden) → Sub-adult Giant Panda Villa → Adult Giant Panda Villa → Juvenile Giant Panda Villa → Giant Panda Sun Maternity House → Red Panda Activity Area No. 2 → Red Panda Maternity House → Red Panda Activity Area No. 1 → Giant Panda Charm Theater → Giant Panda Enclosure No. 14 → Panda Science Exploration Hall → Giant Panda Museum → Main Gate

Tour Route 2 (Tour Duration: 3 hours)

Main Gate → Swan Lake (Rose Garden) → Adult Giant Panda Villa → Juvenile Giant Panda Villa → Giant Panda Sun Maternity House → Giant Panda Villa No. 2 → Giant Panda Moon Maternity House → Giant Panda Villa No. 1 → Panda Kitchen → Panda Hospital → Panda Science Exploration Hall → Giant Panda Museum → Main Gate

Remember These Tips to Increase Your Chances of Seeing Pandas

Step 1: Arrive early. Serious fans often line up well before opening.
Step 2: Use the closest gate for your target area. If you’re aiming for a specific panda, check which entrance is most efficient that day.
Step 3: Move with purpose. Some popular enclosures are still a long walk from the gate. If you’re unsure, ask staff and follow the main flow.
Step 4: Use the sightseeing bus if needed. An early bus can save time and energy, especially if you’re heading to nurseries or mountaintop areas first.
Step 5: Plan a top-down route. After key enclosures, ride up and walk downhill, stopping at each panda area along the way.

Finally: eat breakfast or bring snacks. Early starts are easier when you’re not hungry.

Ticket and Sightseeing Bus Practical Information

Ticket

Ticket Prices: Morning ticket 50 yuan/person, afternoon ticket 55 yuan/person; tickets can be booked online 7 days in advance.

Opening Hours: From November 1st to February 29th of the following year, the park operates on winter hours, which are 8:00-17:30, with last entry at 16:30 (morning ticket entry time is 8:00-12:00, afternoon ticket entry time is 12:00-16:30); from March 1st to October 31st, 2024, the park operates on summer hours, which are 7:30-18:00, with last entry at 17:00 (morning ticket entry time is 7:30-12:00, afternoon ticket entry time is 12:00-17:00).

Tourist Sightseeing Bus

The Chengdu Panda Base is large (around 1,000 acres). A full walking loop can take about 3 hours, so many visitors use the electric sightseeing vehicles to save time and energy.

Sightseeing Vehicle Ticket Price: 30 yuan/person

Route: Ticket Office → Swan Lake → Panda Charm Theater → Red Panda Activity Area → Panda Sun Nursery → Panda Villa No. 2 → Panda Moon Nursery → Panda Villa No. 1 → Panda Moon Nursery → Panda Villa No. 2 → Panda Sun Nursery → Red Panda Activity Area → Panda Charm Theater → Panda Villa No. 14 → Ticket Office

Operating Hours: Peak Season (April - October) 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM; Off-Season (November - March) 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Shopping and Dining

Within the scenic area, there are currently four souvenir shops: the entrance tourist souvenir store, the museum hall tourist souvenir store, the Panda Book House, and the Sun Maternity House souvenir shop.

The scenic area also features four dining establishments: the Bamboo Rhyme Restaurant, the Rose Garden Western Restaurant, the Panda Time Café, and the Pange Bar, offering a variety of food options including coffee, cakes, and fast food.

Guided / Explanation Services

How to Get to the Giant Panda Breeding Base

Departing from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport

Public Transportation: From Terminal 1 of Shuangliu Airport, take Metro Line 10 and get off at [Taipingyuan] Station. Transfer to Metro Line 3 and alight at [Panda Avenue] Station. Exit the metro (Exit A) and take bus D025/198/198A to [Panda Base] Station. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Self-driving/Taxi: The distance from Shuangliu International Airport to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is about 37 kilometers, taking approximately 40 minutes.

Departing from Chengdu North Railway Station

Public Transportation: From North Railway Station, take Metro Line 7 and get off at [Simaqiao] Station, then transfer to Metro Line 3 and alight at [Panda Avenue] Station. After exiting the metro (Exit A), take bus D025/198/198A to [Panda Base] Station. The total journey takes approximately 48 minutes.

Self-driving/Taxi: From North Railway Station to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, the total distance is about 11 kilometers, taking approximately 25 minutes.

3. Departing from Chengdu City Center

Public Transportation: Take a bus to the Chengdu Zoo bus station in the city, then transfer to bus 198/198A to the "Panda Base" stop. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Self-driving/Taxi: Traveling from the city center to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding takes about 40 minutes.

Scenic Area Shuttle Bus to the Panda Base

Search for the official WeChat account “Chengdu Scenic Spot Shuttle” to access the official booking system. It lets you reserve transport plus entry from various attractions.

Park Entry Guidelines

1. Please do not make loud noises or produce unusual, sharp sounds, as this may disturb the wildlife. Animals like giant pandas naturally prefer a quiet environment and are sensitive to noise. To ensure a pleasant visit, please respect their living habits and maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

2. If taking photos, please avoid using flash, especially for panda cubs, as their eyes are highly sensitive to light, and the flash could potentially harm them.

3. Do not feed the animals; visitors' food is not suitable for them, and do not pick bamboo from the base to feed the pandas. The pandas' daily food is provided in measured quantities by the caretakers.

4. Do not throw anything into the animal enclosures to avoid disrupting the pandas' eating habits and to prevent the spread of diseases. If the animals accidentally ingest foreign objects, it could lead to serious consequences.

5. Please do not tease the free-roaming animals in the park (such as peacocks and red pandas) and maintain a distance of at least 3 meters to avoid animal-related injuries.

6. Please help maintain the park environment by not scribbling or drawing on any part of the park (including rocks, trees, buildings, etc.). Also, refrain from straying off the paths during your visit to prevent trampling on the vegetation.

7. This is a smoke-free scenic area. Please refrain from smoking within the park. Additionally, discharging firearms and setting off fireworks are strictly prohibited, as they may inadvertently cause forest fires.

8. Please do not pick flowers or damage trees; do not intentionally harm any small animals, including butterflies, caterpillars, and others.

9. Do not sit or stand on dangerous places such as railings within the park, and do not attempt to climb over protective barriers, as this can also set a bad example for other visitors. There are many benches provided for visitors to rest in the base, so you can take a break there when you're tired.

10. Please do not litter (including cigarette butts, candy wrappers, food crumbs, etc.). Please dispose of trash in the correct places according to waste classification or take your trash with you. In addition to giant pandas, the base is also home to other wild animals. If they accidentally ingest trash, it could lead to serious consequences.

11. Please do not bring your pets into the park to avoid causing trouble for others.

12. If you see visitors not following these rules within the base, please point it out to them and help them correct their behavior. A good environment requires all of us to work together to maintain it.

In addition, Dujiangyan also features the Panda Valley, which is beloved by tourists. If you are interested, please proceed below 👇