Chasing Star Pandas: A Guide to Popular Panda Spots in China

Base： Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding，Chengdu

Base Highlights: Sichuan is the homeland of giant pandas, and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a world-renowned Giant Panda Relocation Protection Base, Research and Breeding Base. Here, you can see pandas of all ages and learn comprehensive knowledge about them. Visit the Sun Delivery Room for Pandas, the Moon Delivery Room for Pandas, the Red Panda No. 2 Playground, and the Giant Panda Museum. The panda "Huahua" here has won countless fans with her adorable appearance, earning the nickname "Panda World's Actresses."

Tips for Seeing “Huahua”: Enter through the South Gate! Huahua is in Villa No. 6; she starts her day at 7:30 (subject to change based on her habits), so arrive early to queue. If the temperature exceeds 26 degrees, Huahua will retreat, so watch for park announcements. Note: Huahua rests on Mondays!

Other Pandas at the Base: Huahua's sister “He Ye", "Teletubby" Qi Yi, "Headstand", Fushun, who became famous by falling, "Base Flower" Beichuan, "Cai Er Gou" Runyue, "Sweet Bun" Beichen, and the handsome overseas returnee Meilan...

Base: Wolong China Giant Panda Garden Shenshuping Base of Ccrcgp, Chengdu

Base Highlights: Known as the "Hometown of Pandas," this is the original habitat of giant pandas, praised as a "Precious Biological Gene Pool" and "Natural Zoo." The area is rich in ecological resources, near the peak of Panda Kingdom Balang Mountain, and close to the Siguniang Mountain. The panda "Fubao," the first Chinese panda born in Korea, is known for her playful antics and is nicknamed "Fu Piggy" and "Fu Princess." She currently resides in the Panda Kindergarten No. 2 at Shenshuping Base.

Tips for Seeing Fubao: She is active in the morning, around 9:00-11:00, engaging in various activities like eating, climbing, and patrolling. Avoid her midday rest time; she also comes out around 2:30 PM. Viewing time is limited to 5 minutes per person. While queuing, you can also see her neighbors "Yanghua," "Yibao," and "Taishan."

Other Pandas at the Base: Besides Fubao, who returned from Korea, there are Xiaoqiji (mother Meixiang) from the USA, Shengyi and Yiyi from Malaysia, and "Intense Beauty" Jinke, Rui Rui, and her cubs...

Base: Bifengxia Panda Reserve, Ya'an

Base Highlights: Covering 1,074 acres, Bifengxia Panda Reserve is a paradise for giant pandas, integrating breeding, research, rescue, and education. Besides meeting the China's national treasure, the Bifengxia Scenic Area offers cascading waterfalls and a natural oxygen bar. The panda "Xiangxiang," born at Ueno Zoo in Japan, returned to China in February 2023. As a top star in Japan, she has a documentary titled "Homecoming! Panda Princess Xiangxiang."

Tips for Seeing Xiangxiang: She is active from 9:00-11:00 AM, avoid her midday rest, and she comes out around 2 PM for her main meal. Xiangxiang loves rainy days!

Other Pandas at the Base: Besides “Xiangxiang”, there are “Beibei”, “Yunduo”, “Susan”, and “Ranran”.

Base: Panda Valley, Chengdu

Base Highlights: Panda Valley is a semi-natural transition area for wild training, helping pandas adapt to the wild. Besides pandas, there are rare animals like golden monkeys and red pandas. The panda "Meilan" loves twisting and dancing in trees and enjoys eating pumpkins, earning the nickname "Pumpkin Princess."

Tips for Seeing Meilan: The valley is open from 7:30-18:00; head straight to Villa No. 1 to see Meilan. Her father “Yongyong” and brother Oreo are next door. Visit early, as most pandas sleep after 11 AM.

Other Pandas at the Base: Besides Meilan, there are Oreo, Wuyi, Yongyong, Chengfeng, and Zhenzhen.

Base: Beijing Zoo, Beijing

Zoo Highlights: The Beijing Zoo has a history of over a century, dating back to the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign. Beijing Zoo houses precious animals like giant pandas, golden monkeys, Northeastern Tiger, White-lipped Deer, Elk, Dwarf Horse, and Dandelion Crane. There are also representative animals from all over the world such as chimpanzees from Africa, kangaroos from Australia, leopards, Mexican manatees, European bison, and other animals. The panda "Menglan," nicknamed "Momo," inherited excellent genes from her parents, with a fluffy face and smiling lips. Known for her escape skills and unique poses. His Chinese fans also nickname him 'The Third Prince of Xizhimen', where the zoo is located in Beijing, as he is the third son of Meilan.

Tips for Seeing Menglan: The zoo opens at 7:30, and the panda house at 8:00. Menglan is active from 8:00-10:00. The queue to see her is between the Olympic and Asian Games Panda Houses, with groups entering every 5 minutes. Be quick to see Menglan!

Other Pandas at the Zoo: Besides Menglan, there are Mengmeng, Mengda, Menger, Mengbao, Mengyu, Baitian, Fuxing (Pangdahai), Gugu (Gudaye), Diandian, and Yaya (not on display).

Base: Qinling Four Rare Animals Science Park, Xi'an

Park Highlights: This is the open area of the Qinling Panda Research Center, home to rare animals like pandas, crested ibis, golden monkeys, and takins. It houses the world's only captive brown panda "Qizai."

Viewing Tips: It is recommended to go in the morning. The animals are more energetic in the morning and the activity time may be shorter in the afternoon.Meanwhile, visit Qinling Wildlife Park or Foping Panda Base to see pandas.

Other Pandas at the Park: Besides Qizai, there's Abao (with ears bitten by Qizai) and Jin Xiaoqi (a cute eater).

Base: Chongqing Zoo, Chongqing

Zoo Highlights: Chongqing Zoo has one of the largest panda populations in China, with over 230 species and 4,000 animals, including giant pandas, South China tigers, Asian elephants, rhinoceroses, golden monkeys, giraffes, cranes, and black swans are very popular.

Viewing Tips: East Gate 2 is closest to the panda house; go straight and turn right. The panda house has upper and lower sections, with “YuKeYuAi”, “Mung Xiaowu” and his mother in the lower section, and “Four Happiness Meatballs” playing mahjong in the upper section. The zoo is open from 8:00-17:00; visit when pandas are active in the morning.

Other Pandas at the Zoo: Besides YuKeYuAi (adorable dragon-phoenix twins) and Four Happiness Meatballs (one panda, one stool, a mahjong table), there's Mung Xiaowu (a lively mother-son duo).

Base: Dalian Forest Zoo, Dalian

Zoo Highlights: Located in the scenic Baiyun Mountain area, the zoo has captive and free-range sections, including a tropical Fruit Zone, Small Animal Village, Australian Kangaroo Park, Panda Pavilion, Crane Exhibit, and Ling Chang Garden. The Panda Pavilion is located in the wild and free-range area on the south side of the zoo and contains 3-star pandas in a large arena, a premium treatment not available to any other animals. "Feiyun" has a hamster-like face and an angelic smile but is known for her playful antics.

Viewing Tips: The zoo is open from 9:00-16:00. Enter through the South Gate, and the panda house is about 200 meters straight ahead. Feiyun loves to sleep after eating, so visits early.

Other Pandas at the Zoo: "Dalian Three Treasures" Feiyun, Jintu, and Miaoyin.

Base: Shanghai Zoo, Shanghai

Zoo Highlights: Shanghai Zoo has walking, driving, and "Water Exploration" areas, featuring over 200 rare animals. You can encounter giant pandas, giraffes, and flamingos, and feel the call of wild animals such as the northeastern tiger, African lion, and cheetah from a distance. "Xuebao" is famous for her cute hands-on-hip pose and strong hind legs, often walking upright to greet feeders.

Viewing Tips: Feeding programs for elephants, giraffes, kangaroos, and alpacas are available for an extra fee. Do not feed animals outside designated areas.

Other Pandas at the Zoo: Xuebao, Qiqi, Qianjin, Jiajia, and Kangkang.

Base: Chimelong Safari Park, Guangzhou

Zoo Highlights: The park has three themed areas: Cable Car, Travelling Area by Car, and Walking Zones. You can take the cable car to see all the wild animals in the sky, ride on the forest train, listen to the guide's explanation, cross 5 continents, walk in the walking area with the ‘eyelash spirit’ giraffe, and look for the park's treasure, the white tiger. Chimelong's Giant Pandas cool drives his ‘Chimelong Giant Panda No. 1’ special car around China while eating, and in the hot summer months each panda has an ice bed to play on, as well as a carved bamboo version of Moutai, and carved carrots for afternoon tea...

Viewing Tips: Panda Village opens at 9:45, with occasional feeding shows from 2-4 PM. You might catch a panda enjoying a luxurious afternoon tea.

Other Pandas at the Zoo: The Changlong Wild Animal World has a large area of pristine subtropical rainforest, where more than 10 China's national treasures live, including the world's only surviving triplets of giant pandas, ‘Meng Meng, Shuai Shuai (means handsome) and KuKu’.

Base: Taipei Zoo, Taipei

Zoo Highlights: Easily accessible by Muzha Line MRT, the zoo is surrounded by secondary forest hills and features animals like Asian elephants, Malayan tapirs, Malayan crocodiles, reticulated pythons, Bengal tigers, American bison, wombats, African elephants, southern white rhinoceros, and many other treasured animals.

Viewing Tips: The zoo is large, so plan to spend a full day. There are restaurants and convenience stores, and water stations are available. Bring sun protection and mosquito repellent. The panda house feeds at 11:30, a good time to see pandas active.

Zoo Pandas: Yuanyuan, Yuanzai, Yuanbao (In 2006, a public call for names was made., the gifted pandas were named "Tuantuan" and "Yuanyuan." "Tuantuan" passed away, but "Yuanyuan" and her cubs "Yuanzai" and "Yuanbao" continue to thrive).

Base: Ocean Park Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Park Highlights: Ocean Park Hong Kong is one of the world's most popular theme parks, located on the south side of Hong Kong Island, with buildings on Nam Long Shan and Wong Chuk Hang Valley. The park is divided into two areas, Summit Park and Waterfront Park, with Asian Animals, Rainforest, and Ocean Park.

Practical Tips: Popular rides like roller coasters and jumping machines may require queuing, so visit early or late to avoid the midday sun. Use the park's electronic map to check showtimes. Don't miss it when you first enter the park.

Zoo Star Pandas: Yingying, Lele (In 1997, "Anan" and "Jiajia" arrived, followed by "Lele" and "Yingying" a decade later. The elderly "Anan" and "Jiajia" have passed, and a new panda pair is expected soon).

Base: Seac Pai Van Park, Macao

Park Highlights: Seac Pai Van Park is a comprehensive park with mountains and sea. There are incense gardens, bird watching gardens, peacock gardens, swan lakes, etc. It is a comprehensive park, and there is also a family of 4 cute pandas living here.

Viewing Tips: The park is free. Visit in the morning when panda cubs are active. The panda house has indoor and outdoor areas, providing ample space for pandas to roam.

Zoo Pandas: Kaikai, Xinxin, Jianjian, Kangkang (In 2015, "Kaikai" and "Xinxin" settled in Macau, and their twin sons "Jianjian" and "Kangkang" enjoy playing and entertaining visitors).

Maintain a Quiet Environment: Keep noise to a minimum as pandas have sensitive hearing and can be easily startled.

Avoid Flash Photography: Especially for panda cubs, as their eyes are sensitive to light, which can harm them.

Do Not Feed Pandas: Their diet is managed by keepers with a specific menu.

Do Not Climb Barriers: Pandas are powerful animals and can become stressed by crowds, potentially leading to defensive behavior.

Panda Channel: www.ipanda.com

Created by CCTV, this site offers panda photos, news, videos, and live streaming, with a mobile app available. It features a special section for pandas with many videos.

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

Includes videos, panda music, books, films, magazines, and games.

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

Offers panda videos, books, music, games, and information on panda family relations and donations.

China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda Official Weibo: https://weibo.com/CCRCGP

Features occasional panda live streams.

Panda Pie: www.pandapia.com

Includes panda images, community, and live events.