Detailed Travel Guide and Information of Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center (Chengdu Panda Base)

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, also known as Chengdu Panda Base, or Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center, is one of most important official bases for researching evolution, history, breeding, re-wilding training and other studies on Giant Panda. Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center (somewhere referred as Chengdu Panda Base) is one of the (6) best places to see pandas in China. It is located 10km northeast to downtown Chengdu and a must-see tourist place in Chengdu. Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center has a total of over 100 pandas in number, the greatest of all panda bases in China and the biggest facility of captive pandas. One can also see red pandas, baby giant panda cubs as well as golden snub-nose monkeys(estimated available in 2028) in Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center.

Location & How to Get There

Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center is located at No. 1375, Xiongmao Dadao, only 10km northeast to downtown Chengdu. It is the most conveniently-accessible panda place from a major city in China.

• A.Using taxi costs around CNY40 and takes around 30 minutes.
• B.Using Tourist Shuttle Bus costs CNY10 and takes around 45 minutes. You may take the bus from the following locations: Chunxi Road Panda Building, Kuanzhai Alley east square, and sometimes Wuhouci.
• C.using metro line 3 and then bus to South Entrance of panda base costs around CNY8.

Please note there are two entrances of Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center: South Entrance and West Entrance. The south entrance is the usual entrance and the one that has been the only entrance until 2023 when the new part of Chengdu Panda Base is open for tourist by then a west entrance is established. When you are using taxi or bus, please make sure which entrance you are going to because these two entrances are long way away from each other.

Travel Season & Best Time to Visit

There is no low season for Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center, everyday there are big crowds visiting pandas throughout the year from January to December. Busier season is from May to October each year.

A daily number of visitors to Chengdu Panda Base (in 2024):
• By average around 21,000 a day;
• Low season around 12,000 a day;
• Holidays, June, July and August a daily number of visitors reach over 35,000 people;
• A daily limit of number of visitors is 63,000 people when it will be reached during holidays in China by usually 1st week of May, 1st week of Oct, Chinese New Year Holiday and sometimes in July and August during summer school vacation.

Long queues waiting to check in to the park is highly possible. Longest waiting time is between 20 minutes to 1 hour during busy season.

South Entrance is usually busier than West Entrance.

Business Hour : 07:30 - 18:00 from May to October; 08:00 - 17:30 from November to April

Traveling in Summer (June to September)

Pandas don’t like hot weather. They originally come from cooler places at higher altitude with temperature between -10C and 15C. When temperature reaches over 26C all pandas will be put indoors to keep them comfortable. This usually happens during summer time from June to September after 10am each day (if you go visit before 10am you still have chance to see them outdoors though). Please be aware of this when doing your planning.

Cooler/colder seasons are better than hot/summer seasons to see pandas because pandas don’t move much and often kept indoors when temperature is high.

To Avoid the Crowds

Given the growing popularity of pandas among people, the visitors to Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center is only to be more than less as time goes on. There is no low season or quiet seasons anymore of this panda base anytime of the year. However if you still want to see the pandas at a relatively quiet condition you may choose the following windows in a day to do so:

1, early morning by 7:30am and go in as the first visitors especially when you are traveling in summer this is recommended. And please use the west entrance because south entrance will most likely have long queues during summer or holiday seasons.

2, if you come by low season (December to March) afternoon time after 2pm is a good window since most visitors will be leaving panda base already, you may have the most quiet time in the panda base by late afternoon since it’s the quiet time of the day in low seasons. Some pandas do sleep more in the afternoon but not all of them and by 2pm to 3pm will have an afternoon feeding time when pandas will be more active in general.

Pandas’ mating season is from March to April and panda babies are usually born in the months of July, August and September, October. Fresh-born babies are not displayed until usually after 2-3 months but you’ll still get to see babies born the year before.

Highlights of Chengdu Panda Base

Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center is composed of two main parts: South Park and West Park.

South Park is what we call the “Old Panda Base” that is usually accessed by south entrance that most tour groups will go to and is usually crowded and will have long queues while checking in to the park during busy seasons. South Park is smaller and between each panda enclosure it’s shorter walking and there are total around 30-40 pandas in total. To tour the whole South Park will need around 2-3 hours time. The highlights of South Park includes the most famous panda “Hua Hua”, panda cubs by Sunlight and Moonlight Delivery House, Red Pandas.

West Park is what we call the “New Panda Base” of the breeding center that is usually accessed by west entrance that is in general less crowded. West Park is bigger and each panda enclosure is newer and distance between each enclosure is bigger but still walkable. There are total around 40-50 pandas in total in West Park. To tour the whole West park will need around 3-4 hours. The highlights of West Park includes panda cubs in Star Delivery House

Baby Pandas are at the following enclosures: Sunlight Delivery House(most crowded and needs to queue), Moonlight Delivery House(crowded) and Starlight Delivery House.

Red Pandas are at the red panda enclosures by South Park only. In 2026 there maybe red pandas in West Park as well.

How Close Can I get to the Pandas?

By the South Park around 3 meters to 20 meters depending on the crowds/pandas, the chance of you seeing a panda in 3-5 meters distance is in generally quiet conditions with less crowds by No.1,2,3,4,5 enclosures and under the circumstances of pandas are active. The highest chance of seeing this is by late afternoon after 3pm in cold/cool seasons.

By West Park around 0.2 meters to 20 meters depending on the crowds/pandas, the chance of seeing a panda in within 1 meter distance is indoors with a glass in between you and the pandas. The chance of seeing this is high but you need to spend time in there and wait for your chance. You have opportunities of seeing this by all panda enclosures in West Park. If you prefer less crowds, come by afternoon after 2pm despite the seasons.

If you come in busy travel seasons we recommend you to tour the west part of Chengdu panda base to avoid the huge crowds by the south park. If you come by low seasons then no problem.

Entrance Tickets Information

All entrance tickets are sold online either in advance or on site. During busy travel season we strongly recommend you to book tickets ahead of time in advance online to avoid possible booked-out tickets. You will need to have a domestic phone number to finish the booking. If you don’t have a domestic phone number you may only book the tickets on site. (Sichuan Travel Guide offers ticket booking service for those who travel during busy season and wish to secure tickets in advance, please contact us for details).

If you buy tickets on site, the park tickets office takes cash, foreign cards, alipay or wechat.

Ticket Price: CNY55, (visitors above 60 y/o is free of charge, visitors below 6 y/o is free of charge, using passport to check in directly)

Business Hour: 07:30-17:00 from May to October; 08:00-16:30 from November to April

Golf Car Services inside Panda Base

Golf Car Service is available inside the panda base, it costs CNY30 per person.

Golf Car tickets: this is purchased on site. CNY30 per person (babies that don’t take seat no need to buy).

Golf Car Hours: 07:30-17:00 from May to October; 08:00-16:30 from November to April.

We don’t recommend you to use cable car during busy season when you need to queue up for as long as 40 minutes while the walking to the nearest panda enclosure in either South Park or West Park takes less than 10 minutes.

Please also note there is only limited tickets each day of the golf car tickets that during busy season they may be sold out quickly.

Is it worth to take golf car?

For seniors/people have difficulty walking long, it is worth to use golf car to save some walking although please note during busy travel season the waiting to get on golf car is as long as 30-40 minutes in South Park(West Park is fine). The golf car in West Park didn’t save much walking since the stops are still far away to the panda enclosures. By the West Park the inevitable walking is still longer than South Park. We recommend to walk during busy season in either South Park or West Park, and we recommend seniors and people who have difficulty walking come in low/less busy season and visit South Park using golf car.

Golf Car From South Park (to West Park)

Starting from South Entrance Terminal - Sunlight Delivery House Stop - Panda Meeting Hall Stop - Panda Tower Stop - Panda Starlight Delivery House Stop - Panda Stream Valley - West Entrance Terminal

Golf Car From West Park (to South Park)

West Entrance Terminal - Panda Stream Valley - Panda Starlight Delivery House Stop - Panda Tower Stop - No. 1 Panda Enclosure - Sunlight Delivery House Stop - Starting from South Entrance Terminal

Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center Tourist Map

Suggested Visitor Routes

1, South Park Route (Except Panda “Hua Hua”)

This is the most classic way of visiting Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center, it normally takes 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours depending on the season. It is usually crowded especially during busy season and may have queues at multiple locations including by south entrance while checking in (20min to 40 min), by Sunlight Delivery House(30 min to 1 hour), by Moonlight Delivery House (20 min - 40 min). You may see total around 20-25 pandas total using this route as well as red pandas.

Route: South Entrance - No. 7 Panda Enclosure - No. 1 Red Panda Enclosure - Red Panda Delivery House - No. 2 Panda Enclosure - Moonlight Delivery House - Sunlight Delivery House - No.3 Panda Enclosure - South Entrance/Exit. (This route is recommended by the Panda Base)

2, South Park “Hua Hua” only

Panda “Hua Hua” is the most popular and most-loved panda in China. Many travelers/visitors come to Chengdu just to see her. Hua Hua is kept in the South Park by No.6 Panda Enclosure at the moment. There is long queue to see Hua Hua everyday. Normally this route takes around 2.5 hours to 3 hours total. You may need to queue for Hua Hua for total 45 min to 90 min total. Each visitor is allowed to watch Hua Hua for 3 minutes (you may not have clear/close view of Hua Hua if she is playing deep in the bushes). If you are not a Hua Hua fan, we don’t recommend you to spend the time doing this queuing.

Route: South Entrance - No.6 Panda Enclosure - Sunlight Delivery House - No.4 Panda Enclosure - No.5 Panda Enclosure - South Entrance/Exit

3, West Park Route

This is the most recommended route of visiting to avoid crowds and to have better chance of taking photos and see as many pandas as possible. It is much quieter than the South Park. It usually takes 3-4 hours total. In West Park the walking distance is (5-6 minutes) longer in between panda enclosures than South Park. You may see 30-40 pandas total using this route. In the future(2026-2027) you may also see red pandas and golden snub nose monkeys.

Route: West Entrance - Lanyue Enclosures - Jiangyue Enclosures - Mingyue Enclosures - Xinghan Enclosures - Starlight Delivery House - Yingri Enclosures - Yunri Enclosures - Shengri Enclosures - Xuri Enclosures - (Rest by Panda Street) - West Entrance/Exit

4, South Park + West Park

This route takes 5-6 hours time. Please plan your timing by the panda enclosures: feeding time is by 10:00-11:00 in the morning and 14:00-15:00 in the afternoon when pandas will likely be the most active in a day, by these time you should be definitely by the panda enclosures. This route is a long one and you need to plan a big half day’s time in the panda base. You may start by West Entrance and ends by South Entrance/exit. You may see as many as 50-60 pandas in total.

Route: West Entrance - Lanyue Enclosures - Jiangyue Enclosures - Mingyue Enclosures - Xinghan Enclosures - Starlight Delivery House - Yingri Enclosures - Yunri Enclosures - Shengri Enclosures - Xuri Enclosures - (into South Park)Moonlight Delivery House - No.2 Panda Enclosure - Sunlight Delivery House - No.5 Panda Enclosure - No.4 Panda Enclosure - South Entrance/Exit

5, South Park (Including Hua Hua) + West Park

This route takes 6-7 hours. You will need a whole day’s time. You may see as many as 60-70 pandas in total using this route. Please plan your timing by the panda enclosures: feeding time is by 10:00-11:00 in the morning and 14:00-15:00 in the afternoon when pandas will likely be the most active in a day, by these time you should be definitely by the panda enclosures. This route has some walking to do you may consider to use golf car to save some walking.

Route: South Entrance - No. 6 Panda Enclosure (Hua Hua) (queuing for 45min to 90 min, watch Hua Hua 3 min) - Sunlight Delivery House - Moonlight Deliver House - Shengri Enclosures - Yunri Enclosures - Yingri Enclosures - Starlight Delivery House - Xinghan Enclosures - Jiangyue Enclosures - Langyue Enclosures - West Entrance/Exit.

Tourist Services by Chengdu Panda Breeding Center

Food and Drinks are available inside panda base. You may find limited food/drinks by near Swan Lake, No. 7 Panda Enclosure, Sunlight Deliver House in South Park. You may find lots of food/drink options by Panda Street and “Panoroma Restaurant” by Xuri and Yunri Panda Enclosures in West Park. In “Panorama Restaurant” you may watch pandas through glass from inside the restaurants/cafe while drinking coffee/dining. There are several coffee places in West Park.

Wheelchair is available. The whole park of Chengdu Panda Breeding Center is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair is free to use one may rent one from both entrances. Please note some parts of the wheelchair way in West Park is steep and requires strong pushers.

Guiding Service bis not available (2025). By South Entrance during busy season there may be guiding service available but this service is not provided by the official panda park.

Luggage Storage service is available by both West Entrance and South Entrance. Large size luggage accepted.

Panda Volunteer Work is not available by Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center. The panda hugging project is not available by Chengdu Panda Breeding Center. Donation project is available please contact the official Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center over phone call.

Comparing to other panda bases in China, this Chengdu Panda Base of Breeding has the most pandas in number but is also the busiest/most crowded one of all and the one that is most easily accessible one with only 10km drive from a major city in China that has an international airport. Chengdu Panda Breeding Center is also the most traveler-friendly panda base in China.