【Panda】2024Where to See Giant Pandas?

- Highlights: Sichuan is the homeland of giant pandas. The Chengdu Research Base is a world-renowned panda conservation, research, and breeding center. Visitors can see pandas of all ages and learn comprehensive information about them.

- Star Pandas: Hua Hua, He Ye, Qi Yi, Fu Shun, Bei Chuan, Run Yue, Bei Chen, Mei Lan, and more.

- Location: No. 1375 Panda Avenue, Chenghua District, Chengdu

- Recommended Route: Approximately 3 hours

South Gate→ Swan Lake (Rose Garden) → Adult Giant Panda Villas → Juvenile Giant Panda Villas →No. 2 Enclosure for Red Pandas → Sun Giant Panda Nursery House→ No. 2 Giant Panda Villa →Moon Giant Panda Nursery House →No. 1 Giant Panda Villa → Panda Kitchen → Panda Hospital →Panda Scientific Discovery Center →Chengdu Giant Panda Museum→ West Gate

- Tips:

1. South Gate (more concentrated panda spots and close to He Hua) vs West Gate (fewer crowds, more dispersed panda spots). The Shuttle bus is available for visiting all.

2. Wear long sleeves and pants to avoid bites from midges, and bring sunscreen, snacks, and water.

3. Pandas are most active before 9 AM during feeding time. By noon, they usually nap in air-conditioned rooms, so visit early.

4. Civilized Viewing: no loud noises, no feeding and no flashlights.

- Highlights: This base is located in the original habitat of giant pandaswith the reputation of “hometown of pandas” “valuable biological gene pool” and “natural zoo”. It is surrounded by rich ecological resources, near Balang Mountain and Mount Siguniang.

- Star Pandas: Fu Bao, Xiao Qi Ji, Sheng Yi, Yi Yi, Jin Ke, Rui Rui and her two cubs and more.

- Recommended Route: Outer Ring → Inner Ring → Panda Kindergarten No. 2 → Panda Kindergarten No. 1 → Inner Ring (from top to bottom of the map)

- Best Time: 9:00-11:00 AM when pandas are most active. They are fed again around 4:00 PM. Pandas rest at noon and may not come out in hot weather.

- Tips:

1. The base is at an altitude of about 1700 meters, so take special care to avoid altitude sickness. Protect yourself from sunburnt and keep warm. , and warmth.

2. There are small shops but no restaurants, so bring snacks.

3. Drive carefully as there are long tunnels and winding roads on the highway.

- Highlights: Covering 1074 acres, this base is a paradise for panda breeding, research, and education of rare and precious wildlife. The surrounding Bifengxia Scenic Area is a natural oxygen bar with waterfalls and lush greenery.

- Star Pandas: Xiang Xiang (return from Japan), Bei Bei, Yun Duo, Su Shan, Ran Ran, and more.

- Location: Bifeng Town, Yucheng District, Ya'an

- Panda Viewing Route: About 3 hours

Panda Center → Overseas Returned Panda Garden → Leopard Mountain →Panda Nursery →Baixiongping→ Scenic Area Exit

- Tips:

1. Protect against mosquitoes during hikes in summer.

2. The sightseeing bus requires a separate ticket, so bring cash or be ready to scan a QR code for payment.

- Highlights: Located near Mount Qingchengand Jiezi Ancient Town, this base offers a suitable climate and natural environment for pandas. Visitors can closely see pandas of different ages.

- Star Pandas: Bai Yun, Fei Fei, Jin Du Du, Xing Ye, and more.

- Location: Shiqiao Village, Qingchengshan Town, Dujiangyan City

- Viewing Route: Park Entrance → Panpan Garden → Linze Garden → Diequan Garden → Shuangnan Garden, about 2-3 hours.

- Best Time: 9:00-11:00 AM when pandas are active. They are fed again around 2:00-4:00 PM.

- Tips:

1. Wear comfortable shoes for walking.

2. Bring mosquito repellent.

3. Visit Panda Paradise in the morning and Mount Qingcheng or Dujiangyan in the afternoon.

4. Civilized Viewing: no loud noises, no feeding, and no flashlights.

- Highlights: This semi-wild release area is part of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It trains pandas for reintroduction into the wild. Besides pandas, visitors can see other rare animals like golden monkeys and red pandas.

- Star Pandas: Mei Lan, Ao Li Ao, Wu Yi, Yong Yong, Cheng Feng, Zhen Zhen, and more.

- Location: Near Panda Valley, Yutang Town, Dujiangyan City

- Viewing Route: Enter the park, turn left to see "Qi Hang," cross the bridge to see "Mei Lan" at Panda Villa No. 1, then "Ao Li Ao" at Villa No. 2, "Shuang Hao" at Villa No. 3, and the red panda area before returning to the visitor center.

- Best Time: 9:00-11:00 AM when animals are active. Early visitors can see red pandas being fed around 9 AM.

- Tips:

1. Do not feed the red pandas; they are semi-wild.

2. Bring mosquito repellent.

3. Wear comfortable shoes for walking.

- Highlights: Established over a century ago, Beijing Zoo houses rare animals like giant pandas, golden monkeys, Siberian tigers, white-lipped deer, and more.

- Star Pandas: Meng Lan, Meng Meng, Meng Da, Meng Er, Meng Bao, Meng Yu, Bai Tian, Fu Xing, Gu Gu, Dian Dian, and Ya Ya (not on display).

- Location: No. 137 Xizhimenwai Street, Beijing

- Highlights: It is one of the zoos with the most giant pandas in China, housing over 230 species and 4000 animals, including pandas, South China tigers, Asian elephants, rhinos, golden monkeys, and giraffes.

- Star Pandas: Yu Ke, Yu Ai, Mang Zai, Mang Xiao Wu, and more.

- Location: No. 1 Xijiao Village, Yangjiaping, Jiulongpo District, Chongqing

- Note: Currently closed. Check for reopening updates. Meanwhile, visit Qinling Wildlife Park or Foping Panda Base.

- Highlights: Home to the only captive brown panda "Qi Zai," along with other rare animals like golden monkeys, takins, and crested ibises.

- Star Pandas: Qi Zai, A Bao, Jin Xiao Qi, and more.

- Location: Louguan Town, Zhouzhi County, Xi'an

- Highlights: Located in the Baiyun Mountain Scenic area, this zoo has a large panda pavilion and other attractions like a tropical fruit garden, a small animal village, and an Australian kangaroo park.

- Star Pandas: Fei Yun, Jin Hu, and Miao Yin.

- Location: No. 60 Yingchun Road, Xigang District, Dalian

- Highlights: The park features walking, driving, and water exploration areas, showcasing rare animals like pandas, giraffes, flamingos, and more.

- Star Pandas: Xue Bao, Qi Qi, Qian Jin, Jia Jia, and Kang Kang.

- Location: No. 178 Nanliu Highway, Pudong New Area, Shanghai

- Highlights: Home to over 10 pandas, including the world's only surviving panda triplets "Meng Meng, Shuai Shuai, Ku Ku," and other rare animals like koalas and orangutans.

- Location: Dashi Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou

- Highlights: Located in northern Nanjing, this zoo features unique forest landscapes and animals, including pandas, elephants, tigers, and more.

- Star Pandas: Ping Ping, Jiu Jiu, He He, and more.

- Location: No. 168 Heyan Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing

- Highlights: Home to various rare animals, including pandas, tigers, red pandas, alpacas, and more.

- Star Pandas: Ling Yan, Mai Mai.

- Location: Cangfang Village, Luanchuan County, Luoyang

- Highlights: A forest-style zoo near Running Tiger Spring, Six Harmonies Pagoda, and Manlong Guiyu. It features over 20 exhibits, including the panda pavilion.

- Star Pandas: Xiang Guo, Chun Sheng.

- Location: No. 40 Hupao Road, Hangzhou

- Highlights: Home to rare animals like pandas, golden monkeys, Asian elephants, and more. The panda pavilion features misting systems, central air conditioning, rockeries and springs, making visitors feel like in nature.

- Star Pandas: Hua Ao, Ya Ji.

- Location: No. 87 Jiluo Road, Tianqiao District, Jinan

- Highlights: A popular theme park on Hong Kong Island, featuring Asian animal exhibits, tropical rainforest areas, and marine zones.

- Star Pandas: Ying Ying, Le Le.

- Location: No. 180 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong

- Highlights: A comprehensive park with flower gardens, bird-watching areas, peacock gardens, and a swan lake. It is home to a family of four pandas.

- Star Pandas: Kai Kai, Xin Xin, Jian Jian, Kang Kang.

- Location: Seac Pai Van Road, Coloane, Macau

- Highlights: Easily accessible via the MRT Muzha Line, this zoo features a variety of rare animals, including pandas, elephants, tigers, and more.

- Star Pandas: Yuan Yuan, Yuan Zai, Yuan Bao.

- Location: No. 30, Section 2, Xinguang Road, Wenshan District, Taipei

The giant panda, a large bear-like mammal, has been living on Earth for at least 8 million years and is often reputed as a "living fossil" in the animal kingdom. It is a first-class protected wild animal in China.

Physical Characteristics: Giant pandas have a chubby bear-like body, a plump and prosperous appearance, large "black eye patches," and sharp claws akin to scalpels.

Habits: Pandas spend half of their day eating and the other half mostly sleeping. They primarily feed on bamboo, adapting to changes in climate and food distribution.

1. Not a Cat: Despite the name “Xiong Mao” (“Mao” means cat in Chinese) , the giant panda is not a cat. It belongs to the order Carnivora, family Ursidae, subfamily Ailuropodinae, and genus Ailuropoda.

2. Nearsighted: Pandas have excellent sense of smell and hearing but poor vision, with an estimated nearsightedness of -800 diopters .

3. Six Fingers: To grasp bamboo, pandas have evolved a "sixth finger," also known as a "pseudo-thumb."

4. Pigeon-Toed: Pandas walk slowly with a “pigeon-toed” stance to conserve energy, adapting to their low-energy diet.

5. Poop quite often: To obtain necessary nutrients, pandas eat and defecate frequently, up to 40 times a day.

6. Short Mating Season: Female pandas are on heat only once a year, with a peak period lasting just 2-3 days. That is one reason for their low reproduction rate.

7. Sichuan vs. Qinling Pandas: There are two subspecies of giant pandas, the Sichuan pandas and the Qinling pandas, found in the mountainous regions of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. Sichuan pandas have larger heads and pointed mouths, resembling bears, while Qinling pandas have rounder heads and shorter mouths, resembling cats. Despite being close relatives, DNA studies show that Sichuan and Qinling pandas have been genetically isolated for 300,000 years.

8. Brown Pandas: In the Qinling region, wild brown pandas have been spotted 10 times over several decades. "Qizai" is currently the only captive brown panda in the world.

- Be Quiet: Keep your voice down. Since pandas have a keenness of hearing, they’ll be easily startled.

- Do Not Take Photos with Flashlights: Pandas’ eyes are very sensitive to lights. Flashes will harm them, especially to cubs.

- Do Not Feed Pandas: Pandas have a specialized diet managed by their keepers.

- Do Not Cross Barriers: Giant pandas can be fierce. If surrounded by large crowds, they’ll be nervous and may attack people.

- iPanda: www.ipanda.com

Created by CCTV, this site offers panda photos, news, videos, and 24/7 live streaming of pandas. It also has a special section for pandas in South Korea.

- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding: www.panda.org.cn

Videos, music, books, films, magazines, photos, and games about pandas.

- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Foundation: www.pandahome.org

Videos, books, music, games, and information on panda family trees and donations.

- Official Weibo account of the National Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center: https://weibo.com/CCRCGP

Occasional live streams.

- Pandapia: www.pandapia.com

Photos, videos, community activities, and live events.

- Mango TV Panda Live Room: App available

Watch live streams of pandas like Fu Bao from home.