Chengdu Giant Panda Base
A living treasure, China's giant pandas are loved by people from around the globe. Found only in China's Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu Provinces, there are less than 1,000 giant pandas left with 80% located in Sichuan Province, making Sichuan a very popular destination for tourists.
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, commonly known as Chengdu Giant Panda Base, is located in the northern suburb of Chengdu on Futou Hill, 10 km from downtown Chengdu, and can be reached by the Panda Road. The research base's goal is to further knowledge and public awareness of the giant panda and other endangered wild animal species.
Visitors to the base can see the giant panda up close, where they live in enclosures designed to recreate the environment they would naturally live in. Visitors can also have their picture taken with a giant panda cub. Besides the giant panda, visitors can see lesser pandas, black-necked cranes, white storks, and over 20 other endangered species which are bred at the research base.The research base occupies an area of 92 acres and has state of the art research laboratories and living quarters for the giant pandas. The base has a giant panda museum, which has exhibits on the giant panda and other rare and endangered animal and bird species.
The Chengdu Giant Panda Base is an example of a scientific institute engaged in ex situ research towards in situ conservation for giant pandas. The giant panda population, serve as a hedge against extinction of the species, are nature's gift to Chengdu, Sichuan, even China. Zoos, scientific research centers, breeding centers, or semi-protected areas work together to maintain a self-sustaining ex situ population of the given species.
This base was established in 1987 and started a research with 6 six wild giant pandas. The base not only to provide technical support for scientific research on wild pandas, but also to increase the wild population through improved management and ultimately reintroduction of individuals into areas from which the in situ populations have declined. By 2008, the number of pandas bred in the area was up to 83. The research has achived a outstanding achievements.Few people do not know about the Giant Panda. Their symbolic black and white fur-colour distinguishes them well from any other animals. Giant Panda has an endangered population (about one thousand left in the wild) among well-known animal species in the world. The rare animal is endemic to China. The base area is an outdoor breeding evironment for pandas of all ages. There many types of bamboo, trees, and flowers thrive and the human-made structures have been designed to blend well with the natural scenery. Besides species of giant pandas, several endangered species of birds like black-necked cranes, white cranes also make their home and reproduce well at the base.
The giant panda, a symbol of world biodiversity conservation, peace and friendship, is beloved by many people around the world. Giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base live in large naturalistic habitats, which help the visitor to understand how these animals live in the wild . It is an excellent recreational area and a highlight of any visit to Chengdu.
Travel Tips
The base is 10 km (30minutes) to Chengdu downtown. First take city bus (No. 1, 45, 63, 69, 70, 71 and 80) to Qinglongchang Bus Station, then change minibus from Qinglongchang to Longtansi.
In the base, you can purchase all kinds of the panda souvenirs and mail the handicrafts back home. You can adopt the giant panda or make the donation to the research programs. Here if you make the certain donation to the panda, you can have your picture taken with the panda.
