China Giant Panda Volunteer Tours
Few things are as delightful as observing the wonders of the Giant Panda first hand. Visitors can spend hours watching the playful cubs, or, they can volunteer and provide hands on help to the pandas’ keepers. China Culture Tour team offers flexible tours to enjoy the Panda journey. You can be a volunteer for Giant Panda in Bifengxia Panda Base or Dujiang Weir Giant Panda Research Centre for one day or days. Moreover, we offer adventure tours to discover the wild pandas and photograph in the primitive forests. Bifengxia Panda Base(about three hours driving from Chengdu downtown) is searching for Panda Volunteers to help the pandas! Will you be the one?
Best places to see pandas in china
Where to see the pandas in China?
There are several places you can see pandas in China: Beijing Zoo, Chongqing Zoo, Guilin Seven Star Park and Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The best place to see pandas is Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Where to be a panda volunteer?
You can choose Bifengxia Panda Base or Dujiang Weir Giant Panda Research Centre.
Dujiangyan Base of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
Dujiangyan Base of China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) is a professional organization committed to the rescue and disease control researches of giant pandas nationwide. The base is located in Shiqiao Village, Qingchengshan City of Dujiangyan Prefecture, about 18 km or 1 hour’s drive from Dujiangyan city area. It was built with the help of the Hong Kong SAR Government, taking up an area of 760 mu (hectares) next to Mt Qingcheng, China’s sacred Taoist mountain. The base is built in typical folk house style of West Sichuan, with lush bamboo forests, manicured lawn and winding paths, offering a refreshing environment. The whole base is divided into 6 function areas: rescue and quarantine area, disease control and research area, rehabilitation and training area, public reception and education area, natural vegetation area, and office and logistics area.
It is worth mentioning that Dujiangyan Base possesses suitable climate and natural environment for giant pandas – it was designed and built on national green standards, with favorable location next to giant panda world heritage habitat, providing abundant supply of edible bamboo for giant pandas. At present, the first batch of 10 giant pandas rescued from wilderness has come to stay at the base, and hopefully it will have a capacity for the rescue and rehabilitation of 40 giant pandas. Wolong Research Base indicates that Wolong has a captive population of 170 giant pandas distributed in over 20 cities nationwide and across the world. Dujiangyan Base is the first research base in China focusing on the rescue and disease control research for one single species – giant pandas.
Ya'an Bifengxia Research Base of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
Ya’an Bifengxia Research Base of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) is located in Bifengxia Scenic Area north of Ya’an City. It is 18 km from Ya’an city area, 150 km (3 hours’ drive) from Chengdu City. With an area of 1074 mu (72 hectares), it now has 22 giant pandas in captivity. Bifengxia Research Base is a big comprehensive giant panda park with functions of feeding, breeding, research, rescue and public education.
The base is equipped with over 20 laboratories and venues including giant panda breeding ground, kindergarten, hospital, and research institute, and grows abundant edible bamboos. The free-range area is 10 times larger than the base with mountains, forests, bamboos and water. Over 100 members of staff work for about 70 giant pandas around the base.
Panda Keeper Volunteer Program
1. Dujiangyan Base offers carefully designed activities for volunteer panda keepers, such as watching films about giant panda, knowledge popularization, panda feeding, making panda food, and fun quiz.
2. Volunteer panda keepers can take sightseeing cart free of charge to visit around the base (except during noon break 12:00-14:00).
3. Have lunch at staff canteen with 'panda people'.
Panda Keeper Volunteer Activities
|
Name |
Activities |
Duration |
Age Requirement |
Honorary Keeper |
Clean fresh bamboo, clean panda’s feces, learn about giant pandas and how to perform panda behavior research, clean panda’s enclosures, etc. |
2 hours |
12-65 |
Panda Knowledge |
Learn about stories of rescuing giant pandas in wilderness. |
30 minutes |
6 or older |
Panda Feeder |
Make food and serve fruits to giant pandas |
30 minutes |
12-65 |
Panda Movie |
Watch documentary films about giant pandas |
45 minutes |
6 or older |
Cook |
Prepare food (panda biscuits) for giant panda |
45 minutes |
12-65 |
Panda Class |
Panda experts will share about some knowledge about giant panda |
45 minutes |
12 or older |
Benevolent Planting |
Plant benevolent bamboo and trees and name your plant |
30 minutes |
12-65 |
Fun Quiz |
Questions and answers about giant pandas after one day’s panda keeper work |
30 minutes |
65 or older |
Panda Keeper Volunteer Schedule
08:30-11:30: Morning activities include cleaning panda enclosures, carrying and weighing bamboo, and make panda biscuits under guidance.
11:30: Take a break and have lunch at staff canteen
13:00-14:00: Watch documentary films about giant pandas
14:00-16:30: Continue with cleaning work
Following a short training/orientation, panda volunteer service might include but not be limited to:
1. Cleaning panda areas and enclosures
2. Cleaning general areas of the Panda Centers
3. Preparing food for the pandas such as carrots, apples, panda bread and their nutritional biscuits
4. Carrying lots of bamboo
5. Sometimes you might be able to help collect behavioral data
You will also have plenty of time to watch and photograph the pandas. Remember if you are hurt or injured, neither the Panda Center nor Pandas International is responsible/liable. We suggest you consider travel insurance.
What our clients say about their Panda Tours
"We very much enjoyed our tour organized through China Culture Tours. The trip was on par with a previous small group tour I took but I really liked the flexibility we had with this trip. Read More
"I am SO sorry that I have not responded sooner! As soon as we got back from China, we had a wedding, another wedding, a conference, a trip out of town and then school started immediately. The beginning of school is always super hectic, so we haven't had any free time... Read More
"To conclude, you personally deserve our special thanks: you have been most helpful and proactive throughout the planning of our tour and during the tour itself. It is a pity that we could not meet in person at some point but I should certainly consider China Culture Tour for future visits to China and recommend your services to friends... Read More
"The three ladies in each city are excellent tour guides. You have a great team. It would be my pleasure to give you my raving recommendation and of course our special tour guides. Please give them my best regards. I will miss them and feel like they became part of the family... Read More
"For the tips for future travelers, Chengdu was an excellent place to visit - everything on the 2-day itinerary was really great and the Sichuan food must be experienced. We were not very active given the baby but were very pleased with the itineraries... Read More
Giant Pandas Volunteer Tours in China
Giant panda tour itinerary A: Beijing(3-5 nights), Xian(1-2 nights), Chengdu/Bingfengxia Panda Base or Dujiang Weir Giant Panda Research Centre - Panda Volunteer(2-3 nights), and Shanghai(1-3 nights).
Giant panda tour itinerary B: Beijing(3-5 nights), Chengdu/Bingfengxia Panda Base or Dujiang Weir Giant Panda Research Centre - Panda Volunteer(2-3 nights), Guilin/Yangshuo(3-5 nights) and Shanghai(1-3 nights)
Giant panda tour itinerary C: Shanghai(1-3 nights), Chengdu/Bingfengxia Panda Base or Dujiang Weir Giant Panda Research Centre - Panda Volunteer(2-3 nights), Guilin/Yangshuo(3-5 nights) and Hong Kong(1-3 nights).
In order to volunteer, you should be in generally good health, so we advise you to bring a statement from your Doctor stating that you are in good health. Remember to wear sturdy shoes.
Note: Children under the age of 10 are generally not allowed to volunteer.
Kind Reminders
1. Pay attention to signs and notes within the park and protect public facilities.
2. No litter after entering the park.
3. Follow base staff’s guidance and arrangement, and feel free to report to your guide if you have any problems.
4. No smoking or fire within the park.
5. Protect plants within the park and do not step on lawns
Playing with water, climbing trees or over fences is forbidden in the park.
6. Do not make loud noise at giant panda rehabilitation training area.
7. Do not feed the panda without permission.
8. Wearing a pair of comfortable walking shoes is recommended for the program.
9. Wear hat and sun cream to protect yourself from sunburn if you stay outdoors for a long time.
10. The base offers heatstroke preventives and mosquito repellent for your use if needed.
11. Bring your own drinking water.
12. Dujiangyan Base is equipped with infirmary. Report to your guide immediately if you feel any discomfort.
Tailor-make Your Giant Panda Tour to China
