Pandas at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Giant Panda Breeding Research Base

Top choice in Chengdu


One of Chengdu’s most popular attractions, this panda park 18km north of the city centre is the easiest way to glimpse Sichuan’s most famous residents. Don't, however, make the mistake of thinking you'll be seeing wild pandas. They are kept in large enclosures and have a dedicated team of scientists and keepers tending to their every need. As well as living, breathing pandas, there are some fascinating panda information centres and museums explaining panda conservation and husbandry.

Home to nearly 120 giant and 76 red pandas, the base focuses on getting these notoriously love-shy creatures to breed and has been remarkably successful at it. March to May is the ‘falling in love period’ (wink wink). If you visit during summer or autumn, you may see tiny newborns in the nursery incubators.

Try to visit in the morning, when the pandas are most active. Feeding takes place around opening time at 8am, although you’ll see them eating in the late afternoon, too. Pandas spend most of their afternoons sleeping, particularly during the height of midsummer, when they sometimes disappear into their (air-conditioned) living quarters, though some of these have public viewing areas.

At the best of times, it can be very busy. At weekends you'll be lucky to spot a panda through the swarms of humans.

From exit A of the Panda Avenue (熊猫大道) station on metro line 3 , a free D025 bus transfer is available from 8.30am to 4pm. A taxi from the city centre costs about ¥50, or hostels run trips here. There are also various dedicated buses from the city centre to the gates of the research base. The Panda Bus is one such company and it charges ¥10 from the Wide and Narrow Alley, the Wenshu Monastery and various other locations.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Chengdu attractions

1. Zhaojue Temple

3.01 MILES

This Tang dynasty Chan Buddhist temple is worth a quick stop, particularly if you're passing through the nearby Zhaojuesì bus station on the way back from…

2. Sichuan Tower

5.72 MILES

On a clear day the views from the outdoor 218m observation platform of the 339m Sichuan Tower are said to stretch all the way to Dujiangyan. On a hazy or…

3. Wenshu Monastery

5.93 MILES

This Tang dynasty monastery is dedicated to Wenshu (Manjushri), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, and is Chengdu’s largest and best-preserved Buddhist temple…

4. Aidao Nunnery

5.98 MILES

The earliest public nunnery in Sichuan, this Ming dynasty (1368–1644) nunnery was completely rebuilt in 2001. The small courtyard and two central halls…

5. Daci Temple

6.47 MILES

Very few things in Chengdu emphasise the stark contrast of modern and traditional China like the squat buildings of Daci Temple surrounded by the towering…

6. Sichuan Science & Technology Museum

6.92 MILES

Families will love the hands-on nature of this huge museum – almost every display is of a touchy-feely nature. Labels and descriptions are light on…

7. Sichuan Art Museum

7.12 MILES

This six-floor museum is understaffed and understuffed, and the regular rotating exhibitions are hit or miss, but the good is good enough to make it worth…

8. Tomb of Wang Jian

7.14 MILES

Built for Wang Jian (847–918), a general who rose to power following the collapse of the Tang dynasty to rule as emperor of the Shu kingdom, this above…