Bifengxia Panda Reserve
Bifengxia Panda Reserve
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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Nearest large town is Ya'an about 16km away.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
158 reviews
Excellent
92
Very good
44
Average
13
Poor
6
Terrible
3
Gideon_Lam
Singapore, Singapore229 contributions
Dec 2019
Spend the Christmas Week volunteering at the panda centre. The staff there really took good care of the pandas. We do mainly panda husbandry which involves cleaning the night den, play area, smashing bamboos and peeling bamboo shoots for the juveniles. My favourite activity is making the panda cake and feeding it to the pandas. It was a wonderful experience.
One thing that requires improvement is the need to instruct in English, especially for international volunteers. They tend to use mandarin and some of us were quite clueless on what was going on. Thankfully, there were Chinese friends who can speak English so they helped us translate the instruction passed down by the staff.
Use of wifi there is limited and thus you need to use baidu or we-chat to make things more convenient.
You will receive a certificate at the end of the volunteer experience.
One thing that requires improvement is the need to instruct in English, especially for international volunteers. They tend to use mandarin and some of us were quite clueless on what was going on. Thankfully, there were Chinese friends who can speak English so they helped us translate the instruction passed down by the staff.
Use of wifi there is limited and thus you need to use baidu or we-chat to make things more convenient.
You will receive a certificate at the end of the volunteer experience.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JudyOswestryUK
Oswestry, UK330 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Having been disappointed earlier in the week by our third visit to Chengdu’s panda reserve, we visited here on a wet Saturday. We guess the place has undergone major changes recently as our experience didn’t match previous reviews or descriptions in travel guides. No long walks or elevator rides. We had a 5 minute walk from parking to ticket office. From there you can either enter the safari park which we missed but I think like a zoo. We headed straight for the Panda reserve , there is a bus that takes you to the main entrance. They were very reluctant to allow our grandchild’s buggy, we were very pleased we insisted. I guess they may have refused if it had been busier. Once at the panda enclosures which are nicely spaced out in different areas, with good viewings of the outdoor spaces. We were lucky as the food had recently been put out so the pandas were active and eating, quickly fell asleep when finished. The meandering paths and roads take you down the gorge area. Once at the kindergarten area there is a electric tourist bus you can pay an extra 20RMB for an easy ride back up to main gate. Entry was 100RMB adults , over 60’s 30RMB, as usual , foreigners require passport .
Written December 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
agiabeibei
Asia55 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
We made a trip out to Chengdu just for the panda, so we wanted to get as close to them as we could get. We visited both panda bases at Chengdu and Bifengxia, and did one-day volunteer work at Bifengxia. I paid RMB1,500 to photo with a young panda at Bifengxia and another RMB2,000 at Chengdu. I’d assume most of viewers here would like to know what type of work are involved with the volunteer work, whether it is worth it to make the trip out to Bifengxia, and what the major differences are between the two bases. So my review will focus on addressing these questions:
What we did as volunteers: We stayed overnight in Ya’an (Ibis which turned out to be awful with fleas) and arrived at the panda base office 8:40am. Dressed into the work clothes and gloves and were assigned to keepers at the former breeding center. The keepers we were assigned to were two very nice gentlemen. They let us spend some time photo the pandas before starting the work. We cleaned their enclosures, taking out the left over bamboos and sweeping/mopping the area. It was real labor but not as bad as I expected. Their enclosures and poo did not smell, so the cleaning was manageable. One of the outdoor enclosures was positioned a bit high and I thought it was dangerous especially after the rain the night before. Our keeper was nice enough to do most of the cleaning there. Work lasted for about 50min or so. We were then released to wander around on our own for the rest of the day and were to return at 11:30am, 2pm and 3:30pm to feed the panda. The feeding sessions turned out to be the highlight of our trip. It was a great experience being able to be that close to a panda, feed him, and touch him. Bifengxia is the place to go if you want a close encounter with the pandas.
Is it worth it to make a trip out to Bifengxia? Unless you want to do volunteer work to feed the pandas, otherwise I would suggest Chengdu panda reserve is sufficient. For us, panda were the only reason why we made the trip out there, so we wanted to make the most out of it and do volunteer work. But if you just want to see lots of pandas and photo with a young one, then Chengdu base is a good place for it. No need to spend a 2.5-3hr drive to Bifengxia.
Major differences: Bifengxia environment is more like in the wild less crowded while Chengdu is more like a well organized panda zoo with a bigger crowd. Not considering the volunteer experience, we liked Chengdu base more as it was a lot more organized. At each enclosure at Chengdu base, there was a sign that tells you the names of the panda, their date of birth, and a brief description of their personalities. There was none of this at Bifengxia. On the other hand, one plus for Bifengxia is that they have very tall trees and we saw a couple of young pandas climbed high up sleeping on the trees. That is a scene you don’t get to see at the zoos or at Chengdu base as trees there were rather short. In terms of photo experience, Chengdu base has a lot more to offer. For the RMB1,500 we paid at Bifengxia, all we had was about 10-15 seconds (note: seconds, not minutes) to photo with the young panda. I am not exaggerating here. It was literally that quick. After much thoughts, I paid another RMB2,000 for another photo session at Chengdu base that lasted longer at about 2-3min. In addition, I received a nice glass framed photo taken by the staff (very nice photography), a souvenir shirt, DVD, a certificate for donation, along with a couple other souvenir items. Not to mention an approximate 20min of panda education session was also part of the package. Compared to Bifengxia, I definitely received more bang for my buck. In a nutshell, go to Bifengxia only if you want to do volunteer work for the pandas. Otherwise, stay in Chengdu. When we were at Chengdu panda reserve, we asked them about volunteer work there and were told volunteer work is only offered to people with experience nowadays. Not sure what that means.
We used Angel Kok, who was recommended by a previous reviewer, for all the logistics during our visit which included Chengdu airport pick-up/drop off, transportation to and from Bifengxia, registration for volunteer work at Bifengxia, along with a couple other things. Angel was great, very responsive and patient in answering all my questions (and I asked a lot of them!) I also contacted a couple other tour guides listed on Chengdu tripadvisor page, but by far Angel gave the most timely and detailed replies and best rates. True one could just use public transportation to save some money, but we were willing to spend a bit more to save hassle and headaches. With pre-arranged car service, we felt very much at ease knowing a driver was available to take us to every destination. We had a lot more flexibilities too. On our way to Bifengxia, our driver also took us to Huanglongxi Ancient Town. Mr. Lo was our driver, a very safe and punctual driver. Everyone in our group was very happy with the service and had a great time in Sichuan. We really thank Angel and Mr. Lo for helping us making the trip memorable. I highly recommend Angel. Her email is xccar@hotmail.com.
Visited in October, 2013.
What we did as volunteers: We stayed overnight in Ya’an (Ibis which turned out to be awful with fleas) and arrived at the panda base office 8:40am. Dressed into the work clothes and gloves and were assigned to keepers at the former breeding center. The keepers we were assigned to were two very nice gentlemen. They let us spend some time photo the pandas before starting the work. We cleaned their enclosures, taking out the left over bamboos and sweeping/mopping the area. It was real labor but not as bad as I expected. Their enclosures and poo did not smell, so the cleaning was manageable. One of the outdoor enclosures was positioned a bit high and I thought it was dangerous especially after the rain the night before. Our keeper was nice enough to do most of the cleaning there. Work lasted for about 50min or so. We were then released to wander around on our own for the rest of the day and were to return at 11:30am, 2pm and 3:30pm to feed the panda. The feeding sessions turned out to be the highlight of our trip. It was a great experience being able to be that close to a panda, feed him, and touch him. Bifengxia is the place to go if you want a close encounter with the pandas.
Is it worth it to make a trip out to Bifengxia? Unless you want to do volunteer work to feed the pandas, otherwise I would suggest Chengdu panda reserve is sufficient. For us, panda were the only reason why we made the trip out there, so we wanted to make the most out of it and do volunteer work. But if you just want to see lots of pandas and photo with a young one, then Chengdu base is a good place for it. No need to spend a 2.5-3hr drive to Bifengxia.
Major differences: Bifengxia environment is more like in the wild less crowded while Chengdu is more like a well organized panda zoo with a bigger crowd. Not considering the volunteer experience, we liked Chengdu base more as it was a lot more organized. At each enclosure at Chengdu base, there was a sign that tells you the names of the panda, their date of birth, and a brief description of their personalities. There was none of this at Bifengxia. On the other hand, one plus for Bifengxia is that they have very tall trees and we saw a couple of young pandas climbed high up sleeping on the trees. That is a scene you don’t get to see at the zoos or at Chengdu base as trees there were rather short. In terms of photo experience, Chengdu base has a lot more to offer. For the RMB1,500 we paid at Bifengxia, all we had was about 10-15 seconds (note: seconds, not minutes) to photo with the young panda. I am not exaggerating here. It was literally that quick. After much thoughts, I paid another RMB2,000 for another photo session at Chengdu base that lasted longer at about 2-3min. In addition, I received a nice glass framed photo taken by the staff (very nice photography), a souvenir shirt, DVD, a certificate for donation, along with a couple other souvenir items. Not to mention an approximate 20min of panda education session was also part of the package. Compared to Bifengxia, I definitely received more bang for my buck. In a nutshell, go to Bifengxia only if you want to do volunteer work for the pandas. Otherwise, stay in Chengdu. When we were at Chengdu panda reserve, we asked them about volunteer work there and were told volunteer work is only offered to people with experience nowadays. Not sure what that means.
We used Angel Kok, who was recommended by a previous reviewer, for all the logistics during our visit which included Chengdu airport pick-up/drop off, transportation to and from Bifengxia, registration for volunteer work at Bifengxia, along with a couple other things. Angel was great, very responsive and patient in answering all my questions (and I asked a lot of them!) I also contacted a couple other tour guides listed on Chengdu tripadvisor page, but by far Angel gave the most timely and detailed replies and best rates. True one could just use public transportation to save some money, but we were willing to spend a bit more to save hassle and headaches. With pre-arranged car service, we felt very much at ease knowing a driver was available to take us to every destination. We had a lot more flexibilities too. On our way to Bifengxia, our driver also took us to Huanglongxi Ancient Town. Mr. Lo was our driver, a very safe and punctual driver. Everyone in our group was very happy with the service and had a great time in Sichuan. We really thank Angel and Mr. Lo for helping us making the trip memorable. I highly recommend Angel. Her email is xccar@hotmail.com.
Visited in October, 2013.
Written October 19, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Georgie_LLAP
Adelaide, Australia29 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
I volunteered in the Bifengxia panda sanctuary for 2 weeks in August 2015. The staff are very kind and welcoming, some can speak English which is great. The grounds of the park are kept very clean but it was disappointing to see how much the visitors litter, some of it ends up in the panda enclosures which we clean up.
The morning jobs are cleaning up panda poop (some have kgs to clean up!), taking out old bamboo, adding new bamboo, cleaning and scrubbing the indoor enclosures, sweeping and picking up visitor rubbish. This certainly works up a sweat in Summer but it's amazing that you are getting so close to the pandas! Due to the panda being considered a dangerous animal you are never in the enclosure at the same time they are. Feeding is done 3 times a day, with panda bread, carrots and apples and you get to feed them through the bars. I was able to look after several pandas during my stay, Wen Yu, Biang, LuLu, Le Sheng and Wu Gang who was my absolute favourite. The pandas all have their own personalities and you get to observe their particular behaviours which is fascinating. Once you have completed your duties you are free to wander around the park, I was lucky that there had been some new cubs born so I was able to see them through the glass in their baby house. The number one annoyance of not only myself but other volunteers is having Chinese tourists run up and jam cameras in your face the entire time, taking sneaky snaps of you when you're walking behind them and when you are trying to clean the enclosures. They were even opening the doors to try and take pictures of the pandas eating and banging on the glass when we were trying to feed the pandas. Some of the pandas for example Wu Gang, was negatively effected by this, he would turn his back to the tourists when we has eating if they got too loud.
I would recommend this project to anyone who has a great love or interest for the Giant Panda, I do not know how long this will be available in the future as an opportunity so jump at it if you can, you get so close to the pandas and form a bond with some of them as I did with Wu Gang who would sit and watch me clean his indoor pen on occasions :) I will never forget the gorgeous pandas and the amazing people I met from all over the world that I volunteered with, truly one of the best opportunities of my lifetime :D
The morning jobs are cleaning up panda poop (some have kgs to clean up!), taking out old bamboo, adding new bamboo, cleaning and scrubbing the indoor enclosures, sweeping and picking up visitor rubbish. This certainly works up a sweat in Summer but it's amazing that you are getting so close to the pandas! Due to the panda being considered a dangerous animal you are never in the enclosure at the same time they are. Feeding is done 3 times a day, with panda bread, carrots and apples and you get to feed them through the bars. I was able to look after several pandas during my stay, Wen Yu, Biang, LuLu, Le Sheng and Wu Gang who was my absolute favourite. The pandas all have their own personalities and you get to observe their particular behaviours which is fascinating. Once you have completed your duties you are free to wander around the park, I was lucky that there had been some new cubs born so I was able to see them through the glass in their baby house. The number one annoyance of not only myself but other volunteers is having Chinese tourists run up and jam cameras in your face the entire time, taking sneaky snaps of you when you're walking behind them and when you are trying to clean the enclosures. They were even opening the doors to try and take pictures of the pandas eating and banging on the glass when we were trying to feed the pandas. Some of the pandas for example Wu Gang, was negatively effected by this, he would turn his back to the tourists when we has eating if they got too loud.
I would recommend this project to anyone who has a great love or interest for the Giant Panda, I do not know how long this will be available in the future as an opportunity so jump at it if you can, you get so close to the pandas and form a bond with some of them as I did with Wu Gang who would sit and watch me clean his indoor pen on occasions :) I will never forget the gorgeous pandas and the amazing people I met from all over the world that I volunteered with, truly one of the best opportunities of my lifetime :D
Written August 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BlancaV
Newark, DE87 contributions
Let me begin by saying that I was torn between Bifengia and Chengdu Panda centre's prior to arriving in Chengdu and I was going to let fate guide me once there.
After checking in to our hotel I asked the front desk staff in regards to both and while there a woman was checking in with her 2 kids and overheard my question and politely asked me if she could suggest something to me, ofcourse I said. She broke down her whole experience at both centre and HIGHLY recommended Bifengxia for 3 reasons:
- The panda experience is much better
- The cost to play with the Panda's is less expensive than at Chengdu
- The views are amazing
She also recommended me a great interpreter and driver, she was a heaven sent and I wish I could thank her again.
The ride from Chengdu was long (2 hrs) but very beautiful but once we got closer to Bifengxia the view from the road was great, the gorge had some clouds slowly falling, creepin down the side (see pics). Bifengxia centre itself had an amazing view the morning we were there.
I was expecting a bit more Panda's actually I was thinking the place would have pandas galore, but I was wrong, don't get me wrong I was very happy with the # but I guess I was getting a little a head of myself. The Panda enclosures were very roomy and we got there right at opening time to see all the Panda's eating and playing, it was awesome.
We also wanted to hold the Panda's and have our picture taken but we were told we could also play with them, hmm... Play vs. Picture? PLAY!!!!
It is one of the best and most amazing things I have ever done in my life (writing this is bringing a tear to my eye - yes! that amazing). We made the arrangements and were taken to the Panda enclosure that is located away from the public. We were given scrubs to cover our entire body, gloves, and booties to go over our shoes.
Then we were taken to the Panda's and we loved each second we spent with them, we were told we had 5 minutes to play and we took advantage of all the min.
There were about 5-6 Panda's as well as there keepers there to make sure everything goes smoothly (I guess). When we walked in the Panda's were sitting or eating or rolling or climbing. We rubbed there belly's and I kind of hugged one, it was amazing just amazing. I highly recommend it and when I have kids I am bringing them here.
The money goes back to the centre and is considered as a donation and we received certificates, which I am happy to contribute to such a wonderful place.
While at the ticket office my bf saw a video of Tigers, he wanted to also see them but we heard that we can feed them, say what? My BF jumped at this chance, I was a bit tired but was told I had to do it and I am glad I did. We were placed in a bus that was caged up and drives thru a lion, bear, and tiger enclosure.
**I am fully aware that many organizations or business exploit animals but I feel this centre had a very good intention AKA don't give me crap about my Panda exprience.
After checking in to our hotel I asked the front desk staff in regards to both and while there a woman was checking in with her 2 kids and overheard my question and politely asked me if she could suggest something to me, ofcourse I said. She broke down her whole experience at both centre and HIGHLY recommended Bifengxia for 3 reasons:
- The panda experience is much better
- The cost to play with the Panda's is less expensive than at Chengdu
- The views are amazing
She also recommended me a great interpreter and driver, she was a heaven sent and I wish I could thank her again.
The ride from Chengdu was long (2 hrs) but very beautiful but once we got closer to Bifengxia the view from the road was great, the gorge had some clouds slowly falling, creepin down the side (see pics). Bifengxia centre itself had an amazing view the morning we were there.
I was expecting a bit more Panda's actually I was thinking the place would have pandas galore, but I was wrong, don't get me wrong I was very happy with the # but I guess I was getting a little a head of myself. The Panda enclosures were very roomy and we got there right at opening time to see all the Panda's eating and playing, it was awesome.
We also wanted to hold the Panda's and have our picture taken but we were told we could also play with them, hmm... Play vs. Picture? PLAY!!!!
It is one of the best and most amazing things I have ever done in my life (writing this is bringing a tear to my eye - yes! that amazing). We made the arrangements and were taken to the Panda enclosure that is located away from the public. We were given scrubs to cover our entire body, gloves, and booties to go over our shoes.
Then we were taken to the Panda's and we loved each second we spent with them, we were told we had 5 minutes to play and we took advantage of all the min.
There were about 5-6 Panda's as well as there keepers there to make sure everything goes smoothly (I guess). When we walked in the Panda's were sitting or eating or rolling or climbing. We rubbed there belly's and I kind of hugged one, it was amazing just amazing. I highly recommend it and when I have kids I am bringing them here.
The money goes back to the centre and is considered as a donation and we received certificates, which I am happy to contribute to such a wonderful place.
While at the ticket office my bf saw a video of Tigers, he wanted to also see them but we heard that we can feed them, say what? My BF jumped at this chance, I was a bit tired but was told I had to do it and I am glad I did. We were placed in a bus that was caged up and drives thru a lion, bear, and tiger enclosure.
**I am fully aware that many organizations or business exploit animals but I feel this centre had a very good intention AKA don't give me crap about my Panda exprience.
Written December 3, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kormensandiego
Manila, Philippines754 contributions
Nov 2013 • Family
This was definitely one of the most unforgettable experience we had. I brought my 5 teenage nieces and nephew to Sichuan to see the pandas. Well, not just to see them, but to be up close and personal with them. That is why we chose to go to the Panda Reserve in Bifengxia and did a volunteer program rather than just visit the Chengdu Research Centre where you can only look from afar just like any other zoo. We did go to the Chengdu Research Centre too, it was also great, but a different experience.
No words can describe the feeling you get when you are up close and personal with them. Although you are not allowed to touch/hug them for safety purposes, the pandas are there within inches of you as you feed them their food (panda bread, carrots and apples) through their mouths. They would then hold the food while chewing and continue feeding themselves on their own. They actually look very adorable and almost like real people. And I would hear a lot of "awwws" from my nieces and nephew ;-) It's easy to forget that they are carnivores. Even within that short interaction, we get to talk to them, observe their behaviors and personalities too. Yes, pandas do have personalities too, haha! Like one panda was clever to balance a loose piece of panda bread on his wrist while chewing the rest. We would also break bamboos and put them in their enclosures for them to munch on afterwards. Feeding is four times a day, and the rest of the time you can go around the reserve or just simply observe them from the viewing area. We would normally go visit each other pandas as we were broken into 2 groups. I noticed pandas are much more active here too so you'll see them walking around, playing aside from just eating and sleeping. Cleaning is once a day in the morning, and we would sweep out the remaining bamboos and clean out the panda poop from the inner and outer enclosure. It was not hard work at all unless maybe you've never cleaned anything in your life ;-) It's a great experience for the city kids or teenagers ;-) Not to worry as uniforms/overalls and gloves will be lent to you as part of the volunteer program so you will not get dirty.
In the two days we were there, we've seen quite a lot of interesting things, like how the pandas sit and get ready to be fed, some even stretch their arms out to the bar which tells you their ready. how they hold the food and eat by themselves, how they get edgy when the food isn't ready yet, how they get lazy, etc. One of the pandas actually did a rolly polly move just before we left, as he rolled around his enclosure like a ball. I'm glad my niece video'd it, as it was one of the pandas in their group. And the best was at the panda kindergarten where they actually played on their swing. The first day we were there, we were wondering if they actually know how to play with the swing and see saw that were in the enclosure as all we've seen them do all day is eat and sleep up on the trees. At the end of the 2nd day, we were lucky to see them playing with their swing. They sit on it like real kids, one even got stuck up on the swing and was doing gymnastics for about 5 minutes figuring out a way to get down. Truly a great experience! I never imagined I would enjoy it this much, as my nieces were the panda fanatics here and I was just the one bringing them there ;-)
Some of us also took the opportunity to take photos holding a baby panda, this was really expensive and just for one minute per person. If you're in a group, they would let you take a photo of the group with the panda at the end. Even if I feel it's too expensive for such a short time, I also understand the complexities. When the panda finished his bamboo stick, he was actually getting edgy and trying to reach for more, and he could easily hurt the person sitting beside him with his sharp claws. So everything has to be timed properly and extra caution taken. Also, the pandas actually weigh really heavy, the staff was panting when he had to carry the 1-yr old panda from the kindergarten to the photo area. Well, the money goes to the panda reserve anyway and we could see that they put it to good use. This year, a live cam has been installed in the kindergarten so you could actually see them from around the world.
I normally like traveling independently, and if we were a smaller group, doing it independently would be okay. But we chose to take a tour program rather than go independently because I do not want to be worried about travel arrangements while tagging along my nephews and nieces, although they were already pretty much independent. Of course, this came with a premium, but we were not disappointed as everything went on smoothly, our tour guide was already a regular at the Panda Reserve and was very familiar with all the processes and timings inside, even know the names of the pandas ;-) She also accompanied us all the time even inside the restricted areas and she served as our translator esp when the mentor and us have difficulty understanding each other. The panda volunteer opportunity is in itself a really unforgettable experience but the smooth arrangement and coordination of the tour agency and tour guide, made it extremely pleasant, giving us all the time to focus entirely on enjoying the experience.
The panda reserve staff/mentors were quite nice, contrary to some reviews I've read here. Although some couldn't speak English really well, they would make an effort. And since we knew a tiny bit of Mandarin, we also made an effort. I think it's important to establish that relationship with your mentor to make the most out of your experience. They were also young folks who are enthusiastic and maybe sometimes they are just shy to talk much because of the language barrier and use gestures more, and thus may appear to be rude or be misunderstood by some foreign visitors.
We get to meet and interact with other volunteers there too. We met a charming Australian couple who went there on their own, the husband was spending his 50th birthday there, a gift from his wife ;-) So sweet! And we shared experiences too during our break times. It was really nice.
For those not familiar with the places to see pandas in Sichuan, there are a couple of them. We did get confused too. Chengdu Panda Research Centre is just 30 minutes outside Chengdu city and it's where most people go to see the pandas. It's a zoo setting and you can't really go near a panda. These days though, it's worth going to see the 14 new baby pandas born this year. They are quite tiny compared to the 1 yr olds which already look like regular sized pandas. The Bifengxia Panda Reserve on the other hand is in Yaan City, 2-2.5 hours from Chengdu City. Most volunteer programs are done here. The place is a lot bigger and the panda enclosures are more natural. You can get up close with them, and feed them, if you're part of the volunteer program. You can also just go to visit. Usually visitors that choose to go here, are visiting the scenic Bifengxia Gorge then just pass by here because it is too far from the Chengdu to go for just that. Sometimes, you see the name Woolong, it's actually where the original and biggest panda reserve was and is up north of Sichuan province prior to the big earthquake. Like in our volunteer IDs, it still says Woolong but we were actually in Bifengxia, where all the pandas were transferred to after the 2008 earthquake. Woolong though is currently being renovated and there is a new one which is not yet open to public, so soon there will be 3 panda reserves in Sichuan on top of the panda research centre/zoo in Chengdu City.
Tips:
- At the Chengdu Research Centre, if there is a line at the baby pandas, go to the next enclosure first, then come back. The crowd is usually sporadic. So when a tour group leaves, go back and enjoy the time with the pandas. The security is less strict on moving you along from the nursery window and you have plenty of time to observe the babies. We even saw one of the staff carrying the panda up from the crib, and trying to make baby panda pee.
- At Bifengxia, take advantage of your break times and visit the panda Kindergarten, it's a hilly walk away, but it's worth it. There are also baby pandas (less than 1 yr old) near the kindergarten, and curtains open several times a day (more than in Chengdu research centre) for people to view them. There were 3 when we were there. One of the baby pandas was trying to crawl to the other side of the room already while the other was trying to crawl out of the basket for which he was unsuccessful :(
- If you have an extra day or two in Yaan, do go visit the scenic gorges and nearby areas. I would have loved to explore the region more if not for limited time we have there. The drive from Chengdu was really nice. I love the scenery.
- end October to November is a perfect time to visit, cooler but less rains, cooler makes pandas more active, less rains makes it easier for visitors to enjoy the pandas.
No words can describe the feeling you get when you are up close and personal with them. Although you are not allowed to touch/hug them for safety purposes, the pandas are there within inches of you as you feed them their food (panda bread, carrots and apples) through their mouths. They would then hold the food while chewing and continue feeding themselves on their own. They actually look very adorable and almost like real people. And I would hear a lot of "awwws" from my nieces and nephew ;-) It's easy to forget that they are carnivores. Even within that short interaction, we get to talk to them, observe their behaviors and personalities too. Yes, pandas do have personalities too, haha! Like one panda was clever to balance a loose piece of panda bread on his wrist while chewing the rest. We would also break bamboos and put them in their enclosures for them to munch on afterwards. Feeding is four times a day, and the rest of the time you can go around the reserve or just simply observe them from the viewing area. We would normally go visit each other pandas as we were broken into 2 groups. I noticed pandas are much more active here too so you'll see them walking around, playing aside from just eating and sleeping. Cleaning is once a day in the morning, and we would sweep out the remaining bamboos and clean out the panda poop from the inner and outer enclosure. It was not hard work at all unless maybe you've never cleaned anything in your life ;-) It's a great experience for the city kids or teenagers ;-) Not to worry as uniforms/overalls and gloves will be lent to you as part of the volunteer program so you will not get dirty.
In the two days we were there, we've seen quite a lot of interesting things, like how the pandas sit and get ready to be fed, some even stretch their arms out to the bar which tells you their ready. how they hold the food and eat by themselves, how they get edgy when the food isn't ready yet, how they get lazy, etc. One of the pandas actually did a rolly polly move just before we left, as he rolled around his enclosure like a ball. I'm glad my niece video'd it, as it was one of the pandas in their group. And the best was at the panda kindergarten where they actually played on their swing. The first day we were there, we were wondering if they actually know how to play with the swing and see saw that were in the enclosure as all we've seen them do all day is eat and sleep up on the trees. At the end of the 2nd day, we were lucky to see them playing with their swing. They sit on it like real kids, one even got stuck up on the swing and was doing gymnastics for about 5 minutes figuring out a way to get down. Truly a great experience! I never imagined I would enjoy it this much, as my nieces were the panda fanatics here and I was just the one bringing them there ;-)
Some of us also took the opportunity to take photos holding a baby panda, this was really expensive and just for one minute per person. If you're in a group, they would let you take a photo of the group with the panda at the end. Even if I feel it's too expensive for such a short time, I also understand the complexities. When the panda finished his bamboo stick, he was actually getting edgy and trying to reach for more, and he could easily hurt the person sitting beside him with his sharp claws. So everything has to be timed properly and extra caution taken. Also, the pandas actually weigh really heavy, the staff was panting when he had to carry the 1-yr old panda from the kindergarten to the photo area. Well, the money goes to the panda reserve anyway and we could see that they put it to good use. This year, a live cam has been installed in the kindergarten so you could actually see them from around the world.
I normally like traveling independently, and if we were a smaller group, doing it independently would be okay. But we chose to take a tour program rather than go independently because I do not want to be worried about travel arrangements while tagging along my nephews and nieces, although they were already pretty much independent. Of course, this came with a premium, but we were not disappointed as everything went on smoothly, our tour guide was already a regular at the Panda Reserve and was very familiar with all the processes and timings inside, even know the names of the pandas ;-) She also accompanied us all the time even inside the restricted areas and she served as our translator esp when the mentor and us have difficulty understanding each other. The panda volunteer opportunity is in itself a really unforgettable experience but the smooth arrangement and coordination of the tour agency and tour guide, made it extremely pleasant, giving us all the time to focus entirely on enjoying the experience.
The panda reserve staff/mentors were quite nice, contrary to some reviews I've read here. Although some couldn't speak English really well, they would make an effort. And since we knew a tiny bit of Mandarin, we also made an effort. I think it's important to establish that relationship with your mentor to make the most out of your experience. They were also young folks who are enthusiastic and maybe sometimes they are just shy to talk much because of the language barrier and use gestures more, and thus may appear to be rude or be misunderstood by some foreign visitors.
We get to meet and interact with other volunteers there too. We met a charming Australian couple who went there on their own, the husband was spending his 50th birthday there, a gift from his wife ;-) So sweet! And we shared experiences too during our break times. It was really nice.
For those not familiar with the places to see pandas in Sichuan, there are a couple of them. We did get confused too. Chengdu Panda Research Centre is just 30 minutes outside Chengdu city and it's where most people go to see the pandas. It's a zoo setting and you can't really go near a panda. These days though, it's worth going to see the 14 new baby pandas born this year. They are quite tiny compared to the 1 yr olds which already look like regular sized pandas. The Bifengxia Panda Reserve on the other hand is in Yaan City, 2-2.5 hours from Chengdu City. Most volunteer programs are done here. The place is a lot bigger and the panda enclosures are more natural. You can get up close with them, and feed them, if you're part of the volunteer program. You can also just go to visit. Usually visitors that choose to go here, are visiting the scenic Bifengxia Gorge then just pass by here because it is too far from the Chengdu to go for just that. Sometimes, you see the name Woolong, it's actually where the original and biggest panda reserve was and is up north of Sichuan province prior to the big earthquake. Like in our volunteer IDs, it still says Woolong but we were actually in Bifengxia, where all the pandas were transferred to after the 2008 earthquake. Woolong though is currently being renovated and there is a new one which is not yet open to public, so soon there will be 3 panda reserves in Sichuan on top of the panda research centre/zoo in Chengdu City.
Tips:
- At the Chengdu Research Centre, if there is a line at the baby pandas, go to the next enclosure first, then come back. The crowd is usually sporadic. So when a tour group leaves, go back and enjoy the time with the pandas. The security is less strict on moving you along from the nursery window and you have plenty of time to observe the babies. We even saw one of the staff carrying the panda up from the crib, and trying to make baby panda pee.
- At Bifengxia, take advantage of your break times and visit the panda Kindergarten, it's a hilly walk away, but it's worth it. There are also baby pandas (less than 1 yr old) near the kindergarten, and curtains open several times a day (more than in Chengdu research centre) for people to view them. There were 3 when we were there. One of the baby pandas was trying to crawl to the other side of the room already while the other was trying to crawl out of the basket for which he was unsuccessful :(
- If you have an extra day or two in Yaan, do go visit the scenic gorges and nearby areas. I would have loved to explore the region more if not for limited time we have there. The drive from Chengdu was really nice. I love the scenery.
- end October to November is a perfect time to visit, cooler but less rains, cooler makes pandas more active, less rains makes it easier for visitors to enjoy the pandas.
Written December 13, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MelvinSeow
Singapore, Singapore12 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
Get up close and personal. Volunteer for about 3 days is good enough. Some people do it for 2-3 weeks but it really is not necessary. And if you stay too long, it doesn't pay to stay at ya an city and you have to rough it out in the rustic accommodations next to the reserve. Not everyone can take it believe me. It's best advise to stay at Ya An city and then go up every morning for your volunteering work. I stay at ibis hotel is is probably one of the most reviewed accommodations there. No regrets and best value for money. At the reserve, the only tough part is the 1st morning session where you need to clean basically the cage and the outside enclosure as well. All the shoots, poos and what knots all cleared, swept clean and replace with new bamboos etc. It is a little on the tough side but only last about 45 min. After that you only have 3 more feeding sessions. You basically cut food(special bread, carrots, apples and shoots) and feed the pandas. That's the only chance to get really up close and personal with these amazing creatures. As visitors only to the reserve, you don't get such privileges. But as volunteers, because you need to feed them, you get really close. Literally, it's just a cage separating you and the panda. Now although you need to sign a document stating you will not touch the pandas, most zoo keepers do allow you to do so. But don't be too ambitious to them, you need to try talk to them and warm up to them before slowly making your moves to touch the pandas. Having said them, I know of some volunteers where the zoo keeper is really strict and keeps an eye on you all the time. Some even will scold you if you attempt to touch them. But generally they are mostly ok as long as you don't stretch you arms inside the cage to stroke them as it is seen as more dangerous and disrespectful. The best time to touch them is when you are feeding them (particularly when they open the mouth). So best to work in a team rather than 1 panda to 1 volunteers. Depends on how your zoo keeper arrange you all. The pandas really can't be bothered when they are eating. The pandas are simply amazing to watch. You will never regret this experience.
As for photo taking, the cheapest price is 1000RMB for a 20sec photo/video shoot for the young pandas. This depends on what panda they can get. In my instance, initially we were informed its 1000rmb for a particularl panda, but on the second day when we return, it was 2000RMB as the previous panda is transported somewhere else and now they only have a younger panda and it cost twice the price now! They also have a 5000RMB package where you play with the pandas but no photos. So it really doesn't make any sense. You sometimes received different information on the pricing from different sources. We were initially told you only need to pay 500RMB and they also have a 3min package for 1000RMB and 2000RMB depending on the age of the panda but the information were all outdated sources! Hence we were really taken aback after realizing the change. So just use them as a guide. My pricing info is probably the latest you can get and you can be prepared what to pay there if you really want the photos. Very very expensive if you ask me. Not worth it as you days of interaction with the pandas is sufficient to touch multiple photos and videos with them up close. Good enough really if you ask me. Hope my information doesn't help you enough. Cheers.
As for photo taking, the cheapest price is 1000RMB for a 20sec photo/video shoot for the young pandas. This depends on what panda they can get. In my instance, initially we were informed its 1000rmb for a particularl panda, but on the second day when we return, it was 2000RMB as the previous panda is transported somewhere else and now they only have a younger panda and it cost twice the price now! They also have a 5000RMB package where you play with the pandas but no photos. So it really doesn't make any sense. You sometimes received different information on the pricing from different sources. We were initially told you only need to pay 500RMB and they also have a 3min package for 1000RMB and 2000RMB depending on the age of the panda but the information were all outdated sources! Hence we were really taken aback after realizing the change. So just use them as a guide. My pricing info is probably the latest you can get and you can be prepared what to pay there if you really want the photos. Very very expensive if you ask me. Not worth it as you days of interaction with the pandas is sufficient to touch multiple photos and videos with them up close. Good enough really if you ask me. Hope my information doesn't help you enough. Cheers.
Written June 23, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CharL1977
Copenhagen, Denmark15 contributions
Jun 2013
I just came back after spending one week at the panda base in Bifengxia and had the most exellent week ever with the pandas and such helpful staf.
I arranged everything myself. Wrote an email to the volenteer office(pandavolenteers@gmail.com) and took the bus nr.5 from Chengdu to Ya'an. Fom there you can take the bus directly to the main ticket office, where they called the manager of my hotel, who picked me up and took me to the hotel.
The next day i started the volenteer work, which is cleaning the pandas cages and souroundings, and feeding them 4 times a day by hand.
You get alot of sparetime to enjoy the area and study the pandas and taking pictures. The work is the same everyday but to study the pandas behavior and being so close to them is just amazing.the work hours is from 8.50-16.30 and if you go there from 8 in the morning you have the park and the pandas for yourself and they are very active at this time-just amazing!
Thank you to all the staf members (Joseph, Janny, Anthony, Tom, my keeper and alle the other staf)who made my stay a memorable experience for life.
If you are fascinated by tha Pandas-one week or more is perfect. If you just want to see the pandas then stay for two-three days to have an good experience.
I can highly recomend the Wenfeng villa in hotel, which is located 5 min walk from the panda base entrence- it is the cheapest hotel in the area, (80rmb)very clean, good meals and the owner mr. Zhu is so helpful even though he only speaks chinese. But some of the staf from the panda base live there, and they speak english and are more than willing to help.
The hotel has the best bar in town "panda bar" runs by Tom who also works at the panda base. Great music, games,dancing and beers.
You can take directly contact with Tom by phone or email, and he will help you with all the arrangements with hotel, transport and volenteering at the panda base.
tom email: iloveourpandas@gmail.com
Tlf:13440139163
I arranged everything myself. Wrote an email to the volenteer office(pandavolenteers@gmail.com) and took the bus nr.5 from Chengdu to Ya'an. Fom there you can take the bus directly to the main ticket office, where they called the manager of my hotel, who picked me up and took me to the hotel.
The next day i started the volenteer work, which is cleaning the pandas cages and souroundings, and feeding them 4 times a day by hand.
You get alot of sparetime to enjoy the area and study the pandas and taking pictures. The work is the same everyday but to study the pandas behavior and being so close to them is just amazing.the work hours is from 8.50-16.30 and if you go there from 8 in the morning you have the park and the pandas for yourself and they are very active at this time-just amazing!
Thank you to all the staf members (Joseph, Janny, Anthony, Tom, my keeper and alle the other staf)who made my stay a memorable experience for life.
If you are fascinated by tha Pandas-one week or more is perfect. If you just want to see the pandas then stay for two-three days to have an good experience.
I can highly recomend the Wenfeng villa in hotel, which is located 5 min walk from the panda base entrence- it is the cheapest hotel in the area, (80rmb)very clean, good meals and the owner mr. Zhu is so helpful even though he only speaks chinese. But some of the staf from the panda base live there, and they speak english and are more than willing to help.
The hotel has the best bar in town "panda bar" runs by Tom who also works at the panda base. Great music, games,dancing and beers.
You can take directly contact with Tom by phone or email, and he will help you with all the arrangements with hotel, transport and volenteering at the panda base.
tom email: iloveourpandas@gmail.com
Tlf:13440139163
Written June 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob B
North Berwick, UK28 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
My wife and I are panda crazy. We have encouraged our kids (now grown up) to be panda crazy too. It was therefore a crucial element of our trip to China to be able to go the Bifengxia Panda Reserve. We were very apprehensive when we heard about the earthquake in Sichuan a few weeks ago. The loss and suffering of the local people made our concerns about possibly missing out on the panda reserve seem pretty feeble. Nonetheless we were keen to go there. We arrived at the Shangri-la hotel in Chengdu last night with no clue as to how we were going to manage it. Everyone had told us that it was impossible to travel to Ya'an because of the earthquake recovery programme. Luckily the concierge at our hotel was able to introduce us to a guide who was prepared to make the effort. His name is Jack ( jackx1314@gmail.com - cell: +8628852885 ). He is an exceptional young man. He drove us in his own car for 2 1/2 hours to Bifengxia but when we arrived the guard tried to turn us away. Although the reserve was theoretically open for the first time after the earthquake, the guard would not allow anyone to enter. Jack disappeared off for 20 minutes and came back with a fax which he had managed to receive and when he presented it to the guard we were allowed to enter. We entered at 11.30 and stayed until 3.45pm. Until 2pm we were the only people in the reserve. There were 30-40 pandas and we saw most of them. We have the most amazing pictures, like a special issue of National Geographic. It was an astonishing day and all down to our friend Jack. There is no question that we would not have been able to get there if it had not been for Jack. His knowledge, experience and tenacity delivered it for us. Get in touch with him if you are planning to go, he is a delightful young man. Once again, email: jackx1314@gmail.com
Written May 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham G
Bourne End, UK32 contributions
We spend 4 days here in July, doing volunteer work with pandas and loved it. It gave us a chance to get up close to the cute creatures and for an extra donation (which stays in the reserve and not in someone's pocket!) you can get close to the young panda. We managed to play with, feed and bathe some of them. I don't recommend you stay in the accommodation there: we never had any hot water and it is very basic but the local restaurants were excellent and very cheap. Quality of food was outstanding. We were disappointed with the zoo area here though. Some of the animals looked very sad and in some cases ill, there were even dogs in small enclosures! Stick with the pandas and enjoy the experience!! We used Discover China Tours to organise it and they did a great job.
Written August 21, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does anyone know if you can hold pandas at Bifengxia Reserve?
Written September 13, 2018
Hi, how can I volunteer? :)
Written February 15, 2018
Misha_czecha
Ostrava, Czech Republic
Hi,
We are 5 and we would like to discover Mengdingshan with a Tea plantations. Do you know any public transport there? We are thinking about spend morning in Bifengxia Panda base and in the afternoon Mengding. I would like to know if it´s possible, because I am not able to find how to get to Mengdingshan on our own to see plantations and get know more about tea.
Thank you very much ahead.
Misa
Written July 21, 2017
I have adopted a Panda. I am keen to come and visit your reserve Feb 2017- is this possible and how do I arrange it please ?
Written October 2, 2016
How to volunteer at Bifengxia? I am here in Chengdu and ready to start tomorrow
Written August 9, 2015
You'll want to find a "guide". At a minimum, they will make the call and get you a reservation and drive you from your hotel to Bifengxia. You might also want them to arrange a hotel near Bifengxia. A true "guide" would also stay with you throughout the day but many of them won't do that.
Written August 9, 2015
Vaut il mieux aller a Bifengxia Panda base ou le centre de recherche sur les panda? Merci
Written February 26, 2015
Bonjour,
Vous n'aviez pas eu de réponse, quel centre avez vous fait finalement ?
Written April 17, 2016
Hello,
I wanted to know if it is better to go to Bifengxia Panda base or to panda the reasearch center?
We have one day and really don't know wich one to pick.
We will be there next August with my husbnd and 3 kids
Thank you for your answers!
Written February 26, 2015
Happiestbaby
Portland, Oregon
8 contributions
Hi Sablefin06,
So many pandas to see and so little time. I am assuming that you are beginning in Chengdu. Given that you only have a day, I would visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. You will maximize your time and will probably have a better and less costly experience (58 RMB).
The Bifengxia Panda Base is also a good experience and the price of entry (118 RMB) includes a hike through Bifeng Gorge, but I think this deserves more than a day.
Let me know if you have any more questions-
Written July 16, 2015
娘とふたりパンダ好きで昨年もJALのパンダツアーで南紀白浜の某ホテルにお邪魔しました。♨といい接客態度といいとてもよかったのですが一つだけ…お部屋が煙草のひどい臭いがして気分が悪くなりました。どこも素晴らしいホテルばかりとお見受けしますが、さすがに田舎なのだなぁ~と妙な感心をいたしました。禁煙ルームを備えたホテルはないのでしょうか？なければ是非作っていただきたいです。
来年２月に再びアドベンチャーワールドへこの度誕生した双子の赤ちゃんに会いにまいりますが、コガノイベイさんに宿泊の予定です。なんとか煙草臭さの無い綺麗なお部屋に泊まりたいです。
Written December 26, 2014
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