The Giant Pandas, Chengdu

By: Unknown on 23.17

The giant pandas are not only a Chinese national treasure but are also beloved by people the world over. They are found only in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. In total there are fewer than 1000, of which 80% are distributed within the territory of Sichuan province. Therefore, when visitors from home and abroad come to Chengdu, Sichuan Province one of their main objectives will be to see the giant pandas for themselves.

Located just 6 miles (10 km) away from downtown Chengdu, the Panda Breeding Research Center has been created and imitated the pandas' natural habitat in order that they might have the best possible environment for rearing and breeding. It cares also for other rare and endangered wild animals with an area of 560 mus (92 acres), 96% of which is verdure. Giant pandas, lesser pandas, black-necked cranes, white storks as well as over 20 species of rare animals are fed and bred there throughout the year. Verdant bamboo, bright flowers, fresh air, a natural hill scene and a beautiful artificial view are merged ingeniously at the base.

The necessary facilities for giant pandas have been completed and include a fodder room, sleeping quarters and a medical station. Additionally there is a Giant Panda Museum together with research laboratories and a training center.

A great number of plants and as many as ten thousand clumps of bamboos and bushes have been cultivated to provide for the giant pandas' diet and habitat. The center is planned to be expanded by another 3000 mus (500 acres) of land on which to simulate a natural environment order to prepare the giant pandas bred for release into the wild.

The Giant Panda Museum was opened in 1993 to further scientific education and to improve public awareness of the protection of both wild creatures and their environment. This is the world's only thematic museum for rare and endangered animal species. The three main exhibitions are in the Giant Panda Hall, the Butterfly Hall and the Vertebrate Hall. The exhibits include all kinds of precious pictures, more than 800 materials and show more than 2140 different samples gathered in Sichuan. These include examples of animals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects as well as fossils and models. The resources held in store at the museum include up to ten thousand samples as well as a library of thousands of books and documents. This excellent and comprehensive museum provides a wonderful venue for all who are interested in seeing something of the propagation and protection of the region's natural bio-diversity.

Admission Fee:	CNY 58
Opening Hours:	07:30 to 18:00 (tickets sales closed at 17:00)
Best Time to Visit:	09:00-10:00 in the morning for it is active breakfast time
How to Get There:	Take taxi from the city proper and it costs CNY30 or so. Take bus 60 from Xinnanmen Tourism Coach Station and get off  at Longqing Road Shulong Road. Then walk along the Panda Avenue  for about several minutes to the panda center. Take bus 1, 32, 49, 53, 63, 64, 69, 70, 71, 83, 156 to Zhaojuesi Bus Stop.   Then change to Bus 198 to Panda center. Chengdu Bus / Subway Search

Car Rental: Full-day car rental service from downtown to the Panda Base is offered by TravelChinaGuide, with experienced chauffeur. 

Special Notice:

At present, holding a panda to take photos is not allowed due to the earlier canine distemper accident happened in Xian.  The restart time depends on when the epidemic ends.

Hereunder is earlier information on holding pandas to take photos for your reference: CNY 2,000 is needed for holding a 8-to-10-month-old panda and taking photos with him / her for one or two minutes. Visitors need to make a reservation by sending an email to pandabase@panda.org.cn or calling at 86-28-83505513. Once the reservation is confirmed, you can have a close contact with the panda on the appointed date. In addition, CNY 2000 should be paid in cash.   

Bifeng Gorge of China Panda Conservation and Research Center is in north Ya'an, 93 miles (150 km) southwest of Chengdu.

Dujiangyan Panda Base about 34 miles (56 km) northwest of Chengdu, is also an ideal choice to see the cute animals. 

Wolong National Nature Reserve remains closed due to the influence of the Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008.

source : http://www.travelchinaguide.com/