Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
成都大熊猫繁育研究基地
The world's largest breeding base for giant pandas, where more than 200 pandas tumble and play among the bamboo. It is the top choice for seeing Gun Gun.
The Panda Base lies on Futou Mountain in the north of Chenghua District. Established in 1987 and later expanded to about 240 hectares, it is home to more than 200 giant pandas, along with red pandas, black-necked cranes, and peacocks. The park has an old section (west gate) and an expanded section (south and east gates), which includes newer areas such as Adventure Valley and Infinity Hill. Free shuttle buses connect the sections. Highlights include the Moon and Sun Nurseries, where cubs are cared for (from July to November you may see newborn pink cubs), adult panda enclosures, the juvenile panda enclosure (the liveliest, where you can watch the “kindergarten” fight over bamboo shoots), the red panda area (where you can get close), and the Giant Panda Museum. Pandas are most active from 07:30 to 10:30, when they eat bamboo and play. They mostly nap around midday, and in summer they retreat into air-conditioned buildings after 10:00, so go early. Admission is RMB 55. You must book online via the official mini-program “Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding” with real-name registration. Daily entries are capped at 60,000, and holiday tickets sell out fast. You can enter through the south or west gate. Sightseeing buses cost RMB 10 per person. The park is very large, and a walk around it takes about 3 to 4 hours, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water. Getting there: take Metro Line 3 to Panda Avenue Station and transfer to the park shuttle bus (about 10 minutes), or take bus D025. From Chunxi Road, a taxi takes about 40 minutes. During peak season there is a direct “scenic area express.” Feeding pandas is forbidden. Stay quiet and do not use flash photography. To see pandas in semi-wild release conditions, visit the Panda Valley in Dujiangyan.
Opening hours
07:30–18:00 (last entry 17:00)
Nearby sights
- Chengdu Botanical Garden
- Chengdu Zoo
- Zhaojue Temple
- Chengdu Natural History Museum
- Eastern Suburb Memory
- Jianshe Road Food Street
- Guihu Lake Park, Xindu
- Tianfu Panda Tower (Sichuan TV Tower)