Panda Volunteer Program - Care Giant Panda in Your Way

updated in April, 2023

Latest News: Volunteering Programs can be reserved in Dujiangyan Panda Base, Wolong Panda Base and Ya'an Panda Base now! Let’s together make a real impact in saving endangered Giant Pandas! Please be aware feeding a panda is no longer available in a panda volunteer program. Please be aware of this before signing up.

Do Something Helpful to Protect Giant Panda

Giant Pandas are adorable and beloved by everyone. But this beautiful creatures are endangered and facing a growing challenge for breeding both in the wild and captivity on our planet because the narrowing and destruction of their natural habitats, low birthrate. So pandas eagerly need human to protect and care them, create a more livable home, and help grow their numbers. You may not be a professional panda expert or your careers have nothing to do with panda, but you can also make your own contribution to Giant Panda conservation, which is to join in an exciting and rewarding Panda Volunteer Program with Giant Pandas in China (mostly in Sichuan Province)

Where to Join in a Panda Volunteer Program - Dujiangyan Panda Base and Wolong Panda Base

Currently only the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Pandas (CCRCGP) is authorized to arrange Panda Volunteer Program in the world. This organization has three branch bases - Wolong Panda Base, Bifengxia Panda Base and Dujiangyan Panda Base all of which provide volunteering programs for public. The most famous and busiest Chengdu Panda Base (Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding) doesn’t offer volunteer program, but in this base, you have chance to see a large number of pandas in different ages. Their highlight of course is the large families of lovely and energetic panda cubs.

Volunteer at Dujiangyan Panda Base

Dujiangyan Panda Base is located in Qingchengshan Town, about 50km from Chengdu. The base is the only organization or base in the world which was specially established for rescue and disease control of giant pandas. Covering about 506,667 square meters including 12,542 square meters of building, the Dujiangyan Panda Base consists of six functional zones: rescue and quarantine, disease control and research, rehabilitation, training and feeding, reception and education, natural vegetation and service.

How to get to Dujiangyan Panda Base

- Driving. It only takes about 1 hour to reach the panda base. The road is maintained very well, and directly leads to the gate of panda base. But you still have to depart early in the morning to avoid the traffic jam.

- High Speed Train. There are usually 10 trains departing from Chengdu North Railway Station to Qingchengshan Railway Station from early morning around 7 AM to 9 PM. The train only takes about 40 minutes to get to Qingchengshan. From the railway station, travelers can take public bus or taxi to the panda base, which is only a short driving distance.

Requirements for Panda Volunteer Program

Documents: valid Chinese Visa, a valid passport.

Age Restriction: between 8 and 60

Fee: 700 RMB

Brief Process of Panda Volunteer Program

1. Pay the program fee and then sign a contract with the Base, then you will get a volunteering tag and working suit and gloves.

2. A panda keeper in the base will lead you to take a minibus to one of the panda enclosure in the base.

3. Works in the morning includes: A. Clean the panda houses and gardens, then collect fresh bamboo for pandas, observe the living of Giant Pandas from 09:00 to 10:00; B. Watch how the panda keepers training pandas and feeding panda with cakes, apples, carrot, etc. and between 11:00 to 11:30.

4. Have lunch in the dinning hall with staffs in the base.

5. Watch documentary films about panda preservation.

6. Works in the afternoon includes: A. Prepare special food for giant pandas in the rehabilitation area, personally deliver the prepared food to the panda enclosure, and learn how caregivers provide daily care for the giant pandas in rehabilitation around 13:30; B. Learn to make Wowotou which is panda's favorite cakes around 14:30.

7. Share volunteering experience together, and the get the Panda Volunteer Certificate from the Base. Program ends.

Panda Volunteer Program

How to spend free time in the Panda Base

- Visit adorable pandas from one enclosure to another, watch them eating, playing and sleeping.- Take some leisure walking around.

Volunteer at Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base

Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base is located in Gengda Town, about 102 kilometers from downtown Chengdu. The road condition to the panda base is very well. Usually, it takes about 1 and a half hour to reach the base from Chengdu. For those who want to go to Mount Siguniang, this panda base is a great place to stop and rest along the driving. Compared with Dujiangyan Panda Base, Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base has a wilder and larger habitat for pandas to live in, also a larger amount of pandas. It also has panda cubs, panda adults, also some old pandas.

For solo travelers, you can take buses to Wolong County or buses to Xiaojin, and get off the buses at Gengda Town. Walk about 15 minutes to the panda Base. The entrance for the panda base is 90 RMB. The cost for a Volunteering Program is 700 RMB (the same as Dujiangyan Panda Base).

Things Good to Know Before You Go

1. Reservation has to be made to the Panda Base for some days the Volunteering Program may not be available due to restriction on the number of the visitors; The program is also not open during Chinese Spring Festival.

2. We can make the reservation to the panda base for you, and we are always receiving the latest news from the panda base.

3. The cost for the Volunteering Program is the same whether you are 12 years old or 65 years old.

4. The procedure or the activities of the program may be changed by the panda base.

5. Traveler who is catching a cold or flu is not allowed to do the volunteering program.

6. Putting perfume and wearing nail polish are not allowed.

Important Notes:

1, We do not recommend you to join in the panda volunteer work if you are traveling during July, August, 1st week of Jan, 1st week of May, 1st week of October. During these seasons the panda bases will be fully booked and you will be sharing the work with another 100 people if not more. The experience is very bad.

2, We recommend you to come to do the volunteer not during the above time. And you are also recommended to secure your booking at least one months ahead of time because the booking process takes a long time.