Wolong Panda Base

Wolong Panda Base is one of the CCRCGP (China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Pandas) panda bases in China. It is one of the 5 panda bases in/near the city of Chengdu. Wolong Panda Base is the only panda base that is located in an actual panda reserve that its environment and climate are the closest to the natural habitat of pandas that live in the wild nature. Wolong Panda Base is open to the public all year round. It has a total number of 50 to 60 pandas.

There are 2 Wolong Panda Bases. The one that is open and new (open in 2016) is the one by Shenshuping while the other one is Hetaoping Base. Therefore Wolong Panda Base is sometimes misunderstood as the original panda base by Hetaoping, the first ever panda conservation base in China, that was damaged by 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake and now is closed to the public and is mainly used as a research center.

What the Wolong officials say about Wolong Panda Base

• 1, Wolong Panda Base is a conservation center to protect, breed pandas. Wolong Panda Base is the place for artificial insemination of pandas as well a re-wilding project place due to its close climate to actual panda living conditions.
• 2, Same climate and environment of actual panda habitat provides perfect conditions for pandas to live and to conduct scientific education to the public to improve awareness on wildlife protection in general.
• 3, This also improves local tourism. The founding of panda bases have turned local hunters/farmers into rangers and wildlife workers and guides. Local people benefit from the development of panda tourism.

Panda Bao Li in Wolong Panda Base, 2024

How to Get to Wolong Panda Base (Shenshuping)?

Wolong Panda Base is located 95km northwest to the city of Chengdu in Gengda Town of Wenchuan County in the traditional borderland with historical Tibet and Qiang. By driving it takes 2 hours to get to Wolong Panda Base. The methods of getting to Wolong Panda Base are listed below:

• 1, by hiring a car. It is the most convenient way of traveling to Wolong Panda Base but it costs much more than the other ways of travel. Sichuan Travel Guide offer private transfer to Wolong Panda Base please contact us if you are interested.
• 2, by tourist bus. There are tourist buses available during busy seasons (March to November) from Chengdu to Wolong Panda Base. Travelers can get on the bus by two locations in the city of Chengdu. One is by Mirui plaza the other is by Xinnamen Bus Station. Bus ticket costs CNY30 per person. Bus departs by 7am each morning. One needs to purchase bus ticket one day before and needs to have a domestic phone number to receive booking info. Note when it returns back to Chengdu it may not drop passenger by the same location of where it’s started. Returning time from Wolong Panda Base back to Chengdu for both buses are by 3pm each day.
• 3, by train. There is a sightseeing train under construction at the moment to Wolong from Chengdu/Dujiangyan and is estimated to open in the next 2 or 3 years.

Best Time to Visit/Travel Season

The good season to travel to Wolong Panda Base is all year round. Although if you want to avoid crowds please avoid the following seasons/time: second half of June, July, first half of August, 1st week of May, 1st week of October. Because Wolong has a cool climate that even in prime summer time its temperature is still largely below 30C or 25C. Although you will still see much less people in winter/early spring time than summer/autumn seasons. In winter time sometimes the total number of visitors won’t even reach 100, which is perfect to see the pandas for people who don’t like crowds. It can be really quiet while traveling in winter season on non-weekend days.

A daily limit of visitors to Wolong Panda Base is 12000 and it is never reached its limit so far (2025). Within a day the best time to see active pandas (feeding time) is by 9:30am to 10:30am and 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

Highlights/ Not to Be Missed in Wolong Panda Base

• 1, Total 50+ pandas: The “famous” pandas that are currently living in Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base include Fu Bao, Su Lin Zai, Bing Zai, Bing Bao, Xian Xian Zai.
• 2, Baby pandas: there are baby pandas (5-10 depending on the year) visitors can see.
• 3, Panda Volunteer Work available by Wolong Panda Base.
• 4, Pleasant Mountain Environment, (cool in summer and may see snow in winter).

Panda Cubs in Wolong Panda Base, 2024

Ticket Information

Entrance Ticket: CNY90 per person

Golf Car: CNY20 per person

Ticket is bought either on site or online (requires domestic China phone number). Golf car ticket is bought on site. Using golf car saves around 5 minutes walking in low season. Golf car may be mandatory if traveling during super busy seasons (saves 20 minutes walk during busy seasons).

Business Hour: 09:00 - 17:00 all year round

Planning Ideas/Suggestions

Visit: one will need at least 7-8 hours time to visit Wolong Panda Base from Chengdu. If you plan to visit the pandas by Wolong Panda Base you may also consider to visit in Dujiangyan, or Qingcheng since these places may also be your interest and they are on the way to Wolong from Chengdu. Travelers who are planning a western Sichuan tour to places such as Siguniang, Danba and also want to see pandas, then can choose Wolong as it’s on the way to Siguniang or Danba.

All pandas kept here by Wolong can choose to stay either indoors or play outdoors: the inside and outside parts of each panda enclosure are connected. Unlike Chengdu Panda Base, Wolong Panda Base doesn’t have indoor part of displaying pandas so if all pandas stay inside then it's not easy/ even not possible to see. But this only happens during very hot seasons in July.

The usual feeding time will see active pandas eating/playing outside. They are 9:00am to 11:30am, 02:30pm to 05:00pm.

Volunteer Work: Wolong is one of the places to do panda volunteer work to make contribution to pandas and experience panda keeper work. Please plan one full day’s time for volunteer work by Wolong Panda Base since the drive is long from Chengdu(around 2h). Please avoid doing panda volunteer work in the following seasons: June, July and August, 1st Week of October because there won’t be any spots available unless you are a group of over 100 people.

Panda Cubs in Wolong Panda Base, 2024

Panda Base Amenities/Services

Wolong Panda Base is built on a mountain side that is not flat. It has wheelchair access but very steep. There is convenience store selling water inside but limited. Luggage storage is available by the ticket center. Guide service is available by Wolong Panda Base but only mandarin-speaking guides are available at the moment.

Map of Wolong Panda Base

Overlook of Wolong Panda Base