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Chengdu Panda Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Chengdu Panda Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, commonly known as Chengdu Panda Base, is located on Futou Mountain, in the northern suburbs of Chengdu city, about 10 km (6 miles) from downtown Chengdu. Founded in 1987, the based is a non-profit research and breeding facility for wildlife research, captive breeding of the giant panda and other rare animals, education on panda conservation, and educational tourism. Today the base is the biggest facility of its kind in the world.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Chengdu Panda Base started with 6 giant pandas that were rescued from the wild. By 2008, it had 124 panda births, and the captive panda population has grown to 83. In 2012 its captive population increased to 108. The genetic diversity of the population is sustained by the exchange of preserved genetic material with other facilities. The base has not taken any giant panda from the wild for more than 20 years, signaling a consistent commitment to conserving the population of the endangered species.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Chengdu Panda Base covers an area of 106 hectares. Giant pandas, red pandas, golden monkeys and other wild and/or endangered species live and breed here. The pandas in the base are basically on display for tourists but views are much closer than is possible at most Western zoos. A small museum and a cinema screening related documentaries is also available. A restaurant and souvenir-stalls top off the tourist installations.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

The best time to visit Chengdu Panda Base is in the morning (early, once it opens at 07:30AM is best), when pandas are most active and crowds are light. Pandas sleep during the hottest time of the day. Feeding time is around 08:00 - 09:30 (depending on the time of year). It is recommended to arrive as early as you can to avoid the hordes of school and tour groups that arrive every morning and more importantly because pandas are fed between 08:00 and 10:00 and most are starting a 6-hour nap between 10:00 to 11:00. The base opens at 07:30am but expect people to be waiting starting around 07:15am. According to the breeders the best time of year to visit is winter as the pandas are more active with the cooler weather. Taking an eco-bus (RMB 10, the station is near the entrance) to visit the panda gardens is highliy recommended if you don't want to walk about 40 minutes. Holding a panda to take photos costed RMB 1800 - 2000 for 15 seconds in the past few years.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Important Notes: 

All activities relating to close contact with giant pandas have been suspended. Visitors could no longer join in the volunteer program or hold a panda to take photos. The restart time remains unknown.