China Giant Panda Tours – Meet the Pandas Up Close or Take Part in a Volunteer Program!
Few experiences are as heartwarming as seeing China’s giant pandas up close. Spend hours watching these adorable creatures play and interact, or take your journey a step further by volunteering alongside panda keepers to help care for them. Our China Culture Tour team offers flexible itineraries to experience panda conservation in Chengdu and beyond — including one- or two-day volunteer programs at the Bifengxia Panda Base, Wolong Panda Base, or Dujiangyan Panda Research Center. For those seeking adventure, we also arrange wild panda discovery tours and photography trips through the pristine mountain forests. Will you be the next Panda Volunteer to make a difference?
Since 2018, all giant panda bases have canceled panda-hugging experiences, as frequent contact with visitors can cause significant stress to the pandas - especially the cubs - and increase the risk of disease transmission.
What Can You Do in the Panda Volunteer Program?
Although you can no longer hug a panda, you can still take part in meaningful close-up experience programs, often called the “Panda Volunteer Program” or “Keeper Experience Program.” These usually include:
- Cleaning the panda enclosures under the guidance of a keeper
- Preparing food for the pandas (such as making panda cakes or carrying bamboo)
- Observing pandas’ daily behaviors and the keepers’ work at close range
- Watching the pandas during feeding or routine health checks
- Receiving certificates or souvenirs related to the program
These programs are designed to help participants learn about giant panda conservation, rather than simply providing entertainment or interactive activities.
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China Giant Panda Tours – Tailor-Made to Your Request
Embark on a tailor-made China Giant Panda Tour designed to deliver an unforgettable experience. Stay in top-rated hotels, savor fine local cuisine, and enjoy the comfort of private transportation while being guided by knowledgeable panda experts. Each itinerary is thoughtfully customized to your interests, allowing you to witness the gentle giants up close—whether at world-renowned panda bases or in their breathtaking natural habitat.
Cultural Immersions: Adding Flavor to Your China Panada Journey
A journey to China is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and becoming a giant panda volunteer makes it even more unforgettable. Beyond your panda encounter, enhance your trip with immersive cultural experiences and exciting outdoor adventures that showcase the spirit of China—making your journey richer, more meaningful, and deeply rewarding.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pandas Tours
The best time to take a panda tour is from March to November, when the weather is pleasant and pandas are most active. Spring and autumn offer comfortable temperatures and great photo conditions. Summer is also popular thanks to lush greenery around the panda bases.
If you want to see tiny panda cubs, plan your visit between August and October, which is the peak season for newborns in panda nurseries.
Panda bases such as Chengdu Research Base, Dujiangyan, Wolong, Bifengxia and Foping are open year-round, so you can enjoy a panda tour in any season.
If you’re short on time, choose Chengdu Base; for a hands-on volunteer experience close to the city, go to Dujiangyan; if you prefer pandas in natural mountain surroundings and don’t mind a longer drive, head to Wolong; and if you want to enjoy pandas along with beautiful canyon scenery, Bifengxia and Foping is the best choice.
If you have enough time, you can visit 4 panda bases in Chengdu, among which Bifengxia, Dujiangyan and Wolong Panda Bases offer panda keeper program. You could get close contact with pandas by taking the panda keeper program.
- 1) It is not allowed to make loud noises.
- 2) Flashing lights when taking pictures of pandas, especially baby pandas, is not allowed.
- 3) Any feeding by visitors is prohibited.
- 4) Keep a safe distance. Do not climb over the fence.
- 5) Smoking is prohibited as the panda base is a smoke-free environment. Open-fire is not allowed in the base.
Typical One-Day Volunteer Schedule
1-Morning (8:30 AM – 12:00 PM)
Orientation & Safety Briefing
- – Learn about panda behavior, conservation, and safety rules.
- – Sign a waiver and receive volunteer materials (often including a uniform).
Keeper Assistance – Food Preparation
- – Help wash and cut fresh bamboo (pandas eat 12–38 kg daily!).
- – Prepare “panda cakes” (specially formulated biscuits made of grains, vitamins, and fiber).
- – Weigh and organize fruits (apples, carrots) for feeding.
Enclosure Cleaning
- – Assist keepers in cleaning indoor/outdoor panda enclosures.
- – Remove old bamboo, waste, and replace bedding.
- – Note: Direct contact with pandas is NOT allowed for safety reasons.
2. Midday (12:00 PM – 1:30 PM)
- – Lunch break (often included in the program fee).
- – Sometimes includes a behind-the-scenes documentary or Q&A session with staff.
3. Afternoon (1:30 PM – 4:00 PM)
Feeding & Observation
- – Observe pandas during feeding time (often from a designated area).
- – Learn to recognize individual pandas and their behaviors.
Educational Activities
- – Participate in making “environmental enrichment” toys (e.g., puzzle feeders, ice treats).
- – Attend a talk on panda reintroduction efforts or conservation challenges.
Certificate & Souvenirs
- – Receive a volunteer certificate and sometimes a souvenir (e.g., T-shirt, photo book).
- – Group photo opportunity (often in front of a panda statue or enclosure).
Unfortunately, no — hugging, holding, or taking photos while physically touching a giant panda is no longer allowed at any panda base in China.
Since 2018, all panda bases permanently cancelled panda-hugging and panda-holding photo programs because close human contact puts pandas (especially cubs) at high risk of stress and disease transmission.
- 1. Get very close to pandas while cleaning enclosures or preparing their food
- 2. Take photos of pandas from a close but safe distance
- 3. Join volunteer programs to feed pandas under staff supervision
- 4. Learn about panda conservation, behavior, and care from keepers
GREAT FAMILY CHINA TOUR
JULY 2024 We wanted to thank Grace at China Culture tour for organizing a great tour of China. We enjoyed our Beijing - Xian-Chengdu -Guilin -Yangshuo - Shanghai trip. Our local guides Bruce in Beijing, Susan in Xian, Jane in Chengdu, Mike in Guilin and Mary in Shanghai took care of us…read more details »
Teng Han L from SINGAPORE
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