Brad Leh - U.K

We were advised to get to the pandas as early as possible as feeding was at 8.30 which was the best time to see the pandas as they are most active.

We got up at 6.00 the earliest we have been up in 3 weeks to get the early bus, unfortunately we did not make it in time as there was a lot of traffic getting to the bus station, After sitting on bus 902 for 90 minutes, in more rush hour traffic, we arrived at the panda center, I was very excited. I have never seen a panda before, we were deciding how much we would be prepared to spend on holding a panda if the opportunity had arisen, fortunately it didn't, I was informed they can charge up to Y1000 for a minute of holding.

The place more than exceeded our expectations, sure it had some zoo like areas for feeding and washing etc, but all of the pandas we saw were out in big areas of vegetation, forest and mad made wooden play areas which they played on in every area, putting on shows for all the admiring tourists, they seemed truly happy.

We were both amazed at the sight of the pandas, it is crazy to see them. They were different housing complex and grounds for the different ages, adult, giant, sub-adult, kinder garden, nursery and the red pandas. The red pandas looked like raccoon’s, they were all very sleepy as they tend to eat and sleep all day. All of the pandas grounds were huge so you never felt sorry for them, they had get play areas and rain forest surroundings. The houses they are kept in overnight are standard, as sad as it is to have then kept in overnight but the thought of them going extinct is of far graver concern.

The pandas love to put on a show, each seperate enclosure had its own character. The nursery was full of incubation units, ranging from weeks old to a few months. They are so cute to see, being fed and rolling around in there units. they are born bold and blind, and very much dependent on there mother for a good few months, the hair grows after a few weeks but is all white, they only get their black parts after month or more.

It is to be believed there are 60 pandas in this center, and they hope it to keep in growing. They aim to have triple the amount of hectares in years to come to 300.

We watched a film about the breeding center and the nature of pandas. Watching this film makes you understand why they are helping the pandas breed, basically they don't like to mate, they have to be coaxed into it, or artificially inseminated. As they breed so little in the wild, they don't have great maternal skills, often kicking and throwing the new born after delivery, at this point the staff intervene and take the new cub away to safety.

Over all this has probably been the best thing we have done in china so far, we really enjoyed it!!!

Introduction

Located 15km (8miles) away from downtown Chengdu, the Chengdu 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. The Center cares also for other rare and endangered wild animals. 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.

 

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.

 

Itinerary

Gather up in our hostel at 7:20am, we'll arrrive the panda breeding centre on mini van by 8:30am to be in time for panda feeding. For the next 2.5 hours we'll visit the panda playground, lesser panda playground, and panda museum. At the panda playground you can have the opportunity to hold a baby panda or an adult panda for a price. Our tour guide can facilitate this for you. After 10:30am most pandas retreat to sleep more. At this point we'll leave the park by meeting up with everyone at the front gate where our drivers are waiting and he bring us back by 11:30am. Before leaving the park, we'll make one last stop at the panda souvenir store.

 

Trip Cost

100 CNY / Person

including entrance fee (58 CNY), English tour guide, round-trip transport.

 

Hug A Panda Bear

Adult panda - 500 CNY / Baby panda - 1000 CNY

Most of your money goes to World Wildlife Fundation for the studying, protection and preservation of endangered animal species. While the panda breeding center keeps a small portion to maintain its operation.

 

Panda Volunteer

This program allows you to get even closer with the pandas. You'll become a panda daddy/mom, taking care of panda's breakfast, and supper by preparing their beloved bamboo and apples and feed pandas with it. Panda's intake of bamboo needs to be measured before and after feeding. After meal, there is panda poo-poo needs to be cleared away, your assisstant will explain some of the vitals signs involved with a panda's health by observing panda's poo. In good weather you are also invited to give panda a shower, they enjoy this very much. After a day's work, you'll be awarded a certificate for having the ability to take care of pandas.