Dujiangyan Panda Valley

General Introduction

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Dujiangyan Field Research Center for Giant Pandas, also known as Panda Valley, covers an area of 2004 mu, roughly equivalent to 134 hectares. In the town of Yutang in Dujiangyan city sits Panda Valley. Nearby is the two thousand-year old Dujiangyan Irrigation Project and the Qingcheng Mountains, a shrine of Chinese Taoism. The valley enjoys advantageous natural conditions with trees and bamboos giving shade to softly flowing streams, singing birds and fragrant flowers. Over 700 varieties of animals and plantations thrive here, making it an ideal location to research and conduct reintroduction training for giant pandas.

It was on January 17th, 1953, that the first wild giant panda was found and rescued. The panda was taken to the Futoushan Breeding Farm at the Chengdu zoo, the predecessor to the Chengdu Panda Valley, thus paving the way for current day ex-situ conservation efforts in China. After 6 decades of hard work, the captive giant panda population in Chengdu grew from 6 to 136 by 2014, reaching a stable and self-sustaining level. In 2012, the Chengdu Municipal Government approved the establishment of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Dujiangyan Field Research Center for Giant Pandas, with the ultimate goal of successfully reintroducing captive animals into the wild. Panda Valley launched under the supervision of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in 2012.Panda Valley ushered in a new era of reintroduction training for giant pandas un its role as a bridge for captive pandas returning too nature to revitalize wild populations, Both a research platform and a demonstrative base for science education and conservation, Panda Valley provided a place for reintroduction training experts and scholars to gather from around the globe for collaborative breeding research. At Panda Valley, visitors and researchers alike have learned about the living conditions of giant pandas returned to nature, the progress if reintroduction research and trends for future development.

Still in the first phase of development, Panda Valley boasts three enclosures for giant panda wild training and one for semi-wild training. More than 10 giant pandas have undergone adaptive training for reintroduction into the wild at the facility. Future plans for Panda Valley include designs for a giant panda habitat covering an area of 5 square km. The space is set to incorporate a giant panda breeding and husbandry area, a semi-wild training area, a wild training transitory experimental area, a reintroduction experimental area companion animal area, a multi-functional conservation education center and an experience village for juvenile ecology education. The Panda Valley will allow visitors to observe the panda training program up close.

How to get there

Panda Valley is located in the town of Yutang, DujiangyanCity, Sichuan Province, in the front mountain of the Qionglai Mountains. It is 50 kilometers west from Chengdu and 5 kilometers away from the downtown Dujiangyan.

-By driving one can use Chengduguan Expressway, G213 or the tourist highway between Chengdu and Qingchengshan. Chengguan Expressway connects Duwen Expressway. Take the Dujiangyan West Exit and turn left and keep driving for another 2km you shall arrive.

-By Fast Train from Chengdu North Railway Staiton to Dujiangyan takes just over 50 minutes to reach Dujiangyan and transfer to hire local taxi to arrive at Panda Valley.

-By Bus from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Terminal all the way to Dujiangyan and use local taxi here.

Dujiangyan Panda Valley Tourist Guide

Natural Environment

Panda Valley lies at the edge if the natural distribution area of giant pandas in Chengdu from 740 to 1161 meters above sea level. The annual rainfall in the area ranges between 1200 and 1800 mm. The Valley is a narrow strip if land where streams intersect, providing plenty of quality water. The area is home to a variety of edible bamboo for the giant pandas that lived in the area long ago. The current vegetation in the valley is secondary natural forest and forest on former farmland, which maintains a good ecological environment. 515 kinds of plants, over40 special of mammals, 131 kinds of birds, 17 species of reptiles, and a wide variety of insects populate the region. The panda Valley’s excellent natural environment and rich biodiversity makes it an ideal place for reintroduction training of giant pandas as well as a public education resource for young and old alike. Visitors can explore and experience the mysteries of nature.

Dujiangyan Panda Valley Map

By the Gate

Visitors buy the ticket here. It has a tourist service center, an emergency center and a public restroom. The visitor service center offers a baggage check, baby strollers, wheelchairs and sewing kits for free.

Giant Panda Enclosures

No.1, No.2 and No.3 enclosures are the areas for transitory breeding and training of captive giant pandas before their reintroduction. Each panda enclosure has a surrounding outdoor eco-playground and an indoor playground, where visitors can watch the pandas.

Panda Workstation

This is the place for experts and scholars of wildlife reintroduction. Experts gather here from all over the world to conduct research and training programs in preparation for giant pandas reintroduction. Here they explore how captive giant panda individuals bred under ex-situ protection can return to the wild using scientific methods.

Giant Panda Education Area

It serves as an educational experience base for young people of all countries to get close to nature and to giant pandas. It enables children to explore the mysteries of wildlife in nature and to learn science knowledge about giant panda reintroduction.