The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a must-visit destination in Chengdu. It serves as a conservation and research center dedicated to giant pandas. The entire park is designed with bamboo forests and natural woodland, providing pandas with a habitat that closely resembles their natural environment. Giant pandas are a species native to China and are mainly found in the mountainous regions of Sichuan, the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi, and parts of Gansu. There are currently more than 1,800 wild giant pandas, and they are classified as a vulnerable species. So far, the Chengdu Panda Base has successfully bred more than 200 giant pandas.
Contents
◦ Chengdu Travel Guide
🎫 Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Ticket
🙏 Leshan Giant Buddha & Huanglongxi Old Town Full-Day Tour
🙏 1-Day Tour of Mount Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha
◦ Visiting Hours
The park opens at 7:30 a.m., and arriving early gives visitors the best chance to see the pandas. Because of the hot summer weather, pandas—who are sensitive to heat—are usually only active outdoors during the cooler hours of the morning and evening. Therefore, the morning is the ideal time to observe them. From around 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., the pandas typically return indoors for their midday rest and usually come back outside again in the late afternoon. For the best experience, it is recommended to visit in the morning.
◦ Famous Panda “Huahua”
Many visitors come specifically to see the internet-famous panda Huahua, who has gone viral on social media multiple times. If you want to see her, be prepared to wait in line for at least 1.5 to 2 hours. To visit Huahua, it is recommended to enter through the South Gate. After entering, simply follow the crowd. When you reach the Golden Panda statue, take the road on the right. Turn left at Swan Lake, and you will see signs for Villa No. 5 and Villa No. 6. Continue following the crowd, and once you see the long queue, you will know you have arrived at Villa No. 6, where Huahua lives.
Personally, I think most giant pandas look quite similar, so if you are not particularly interested in the celebrity panda Huahua, there is no need to spend extra time waiting in line. There are still many other giant pandas and red pandas to see throughout the park.
◦ Highlights of the Visit
The main attractions of the park are the giant pandas and red pandas. Although both animals eat bamboo, giant pandas belong to the bear family, while red pandas belong to the red panda family, so their appearances are quite different. There are pandas to see throughout the park, and if you would like to see baby pandas, there are four main areas to visit: the Sun Nursery House, Moon Nursery House, Star Nursery House, and the Red Panda Nursery House.
◦ Recommended Route
The South Gate is the main entrance, and most visitors enter the park from there. I recommend entering through the South Gate and exiting through the West Gate, as this is the most convenient route. Since the park is quite large, visitors with limited time or energy may want to purchase a shuttle bus ticket to travel between different areas more easily.
The shuttle bus route from south to west includes the following stops: South Gate Terminal → Panda Villas → Sun Nursery House → Panda Hall → Panda Tower → Star Nursery House → Panda Valley → West Gate Terminal
However, if you are planning to spend only half a day here, walking is completely manageable because the attractions are not too far apart. I explored the park on foot and spent about four hours visiting eight different attractions while entering through the South Gate and leaving through the West Gate. I even had time to sit down for a drink and take breaks along the way, and I did not feel too tired.
01｜South Gate Shuttle Bus Terminal
Since the park is very large, visitors with limited time or energy are recommended to purchase a shuttle bus ticket to travel between different areas more conveniently. However, one thing to note is that tickets must be purchased by scanning a QR code. If you are not using a mainland Chinese phone number—for example, if you are using a Taiwanese eSIM or SIM card—the page may keep loading and prevent you from completing the purchase successfully.
02｜Sun Nursery House
The first place I visited was the Sun Nursery House. Luckily, I got to see Jin Rui and Miao Miao, two pandas affectionately nicknamed “Golden Sweethearts” by online fans. The two were leaning against each other and appeared to have a very close bond.
03 | Red Panda Nursery House
The Red Panda Nursery House is located not far from the Sun Nursery House and is one of the places I highly recommend visiting. Unlike giant pandas, red pandas look completely different. They are mainly found in the Himalayan and Hengduan mountain ranges across China, India, Nepal, and Myanmar. The global wild red panda population is estimated to be fewer than 10,000, making them an endangered species. During my visit, I saw three red pandas. One of them was scratching itself on a tree platform at a very close distance—it was incredibly adorable!
04 | Giant Panda Moon Nursery House
I was extremely lucky during my visit. Not only did I get to see two young pandas play-fighting, but the very charismatic panda Yazai also walked right past us. Its round, fluffy backside was surprisingly cute and oddly therapeutic to watch!
05 | Panda Star Kitchen
Inside is a simple restaurant and café, making it the first place in the park where visitors can comfortably sit down, enjoy a meal, and take a break. The various Huahua-themed popsicles are especially eye-catching.
06 | Panda Hall
Panda Hall is another popular spot for viewing giant pandas. The area has plenty of trees and bamboo, creating a pleasant environment for the pandas. Here, I saw a giant panda happily enjoying a bamboo feast, chewing on bamboo as if it were eating a chicken drumstick.
07 | Panda Pedestrian Area
This area features a medium-sized shopping complex with several restaurants, but I think the “Panda Post Office” is the highlight that should not be missed. If you enjoy collecting stamps or sending postcards, you can find many panda-themed items here, all with quite stylish and creative designs.
08 | Panda Tower
Take the elevator directly to the observation deck on the 7th floor, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and the surrounding cityscape. The sheer size of the park is truly impressive.
09 | Panda Valley
This area feels much closer to nature. However, since I entered the park at 8:00 a.m., by the time I arrived here it was already close to noon, and most of the pandas had gone back indoors to rest. There are also indoor exhibition areas here. I saw a giant panda lying beside a small pool, and it looked absolutely adorable.
10 | West Gate Terminal
After exiting through the West Gate, you will find a bus stop nearby. From here, you can travel to attractions such as the Sanxingdui Museum, Kuanzhai Alleys, and Chunxi Road. The bus fare is only 8 RMB, which is about one-third the cost of taking a ride through DiDi, making it a very budget-friendly option.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Opening Hours November – February: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. March – October: 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — South Gate Important Notes When entering the park, staff will check the identification document used during ticket purchase. Visitors should use either a Taiwan Compatriot Permit or a passport when purchasing tickets, and be sure to bring the same document on the day of the visit.
🎫 Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Ticket