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The Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu

By , About.com Guide

The Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu

Giant Pandas in Chengdu

Photo: Megan Inman & Lincoln Schroth
More Images (2)

Overview:

Sadly, 80% of the Giant Panda’s habitat was destroyed in only 40 years due to humans clear-cutting their forest habitat between 1950-1990. Now, researchers believe there are only about 1,000 animals left in the wild. Furthermore, according to Chinese research, 85% of China’s wild Giant Pandas are resident in Sichuan province.

Breeding Center Mission:

However you feel about seeing animals in captivity, especially in a country not known for their excellent treatment of animals, the people at the Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base are making it their mission to increase the world’s panda population and further people’s understanding of this amazing creature.

Panda Habits:

Pandas like to live alone in their mountainous homes in Sichuan province. Read more about Panda Habits.

Location of the Base:

Address: Futou Shan, Northern Suberb, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610051

The center is located about 7 miles (11km) north of downtown Chengdu.

History of the Base:

Established in 1987 and opened to the public in 1995, the base aims to increase the population of giant pandas and eventually release some of the animals back into the wild.

Features:

  • Around 20 giant pandas reside at the base
  • Open grounds for pandas to roam freely
  • Nursery where babies are cared for
  • Museum covering pandas’ environment and conservation efforts as well as separate butterfly and vertebrate museums
  • Other endangered species such as the red panda and the black-necked crane are bred there

Getting There:

Taxi is your best bet and there is a taxi stand outside the entrance for you to go to your next destination. Public buses do run there but you’ll have to change several times. Organized tours including transportation can be arranged through your hotel.

Essentials:

  • Opening Hours: daily, 8am-6pm

  • Recommended Time for Visit: 2-4 hours

  • Stroller Friendly? Yes (mostly), there are some steps and bumpy rocks to negotiate.

Tips:

Go early during feeding hours (8-10am) for the best chance to see the pandas in action – they sleep the rest of the day.

Guide Comments:

I took my three-year-old on the excuse that he'd love to see the pandas, but I'll be honest, I was the one who wanted to see them! It was very worth the three-hour trip from Shanghai to visit Chengdu and the Breeding Center. You really get an up-close visit with the pandas.

During our visit, a mother bear and baby frolicked on the grass and around their play-gym for at least an hour. The mother clearly wanted to get her cub to drink some milk but he was only interested in tackling her and jumping on her. It was adorable to watch and they weren't the least concerned with the crowd that gathered to enjoy their morning mirth.

In another enclosure (the pandas are in open enclosures with large amounts of green space and huge play structures), an adult panda was very busy munching away on some bamboo. He had a stack behind him and after he meticulously tore away the outer green bark, and ate all the inside pulp, he leaned back with arms over his head to grab another branch. An adult eats up to 40kg (over 80 pounds) of bamboo a day.

Nearby, another adult was trying in vain to dig a hole through the wall of his enclosure to get next door. A lady friend perhaps?

The breeding base was really a delightful experience. The grounds are lovely and there's a large lake with numerous birds including peacocks and swans wandering around. My little boy enjoyed it very much but wondered where the gorillas were...in his world, where there are pandas, there are also gorillas.

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