Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
As soon as you arrive in Chengdu, you’ll notice the presence of giant pandas everywhere—in a variety of forms and styles. Though these black-and-white creatures are an endangered species with relatively low numbers, their image is strongly felt throughout the city. If you want to have a close encounter with real giant pandas, the best place to visit is this large-scale research base. It is a specialized panda breeding institution dedicated to conservation and reintroducing pandas into the wild. The base underwent a major expansion and reopened to the public in January 2022, growing from 69 hectares to 238 hectares. More than 50 giant pandas and red pandas live here, and visitors can observe them in a biomimetic park setting.
It’s recommended to visit in the morning, as feeding time is when the animals are most active.