The first time I went to Chengdu, I had only recently heard the name of the city. I knew nothing about it, apart from the fact that my friend Dan (who had just arrived from Australia to visit me) wanted to go on some culinary expedition there.
Alicia, an acquaintance of my who was local to Chengdu and who planned to be there at the time, had a more interesting to me. “Why don’t we go visit the pandas?” she proposed (over singe-your-mouth hot pot, no less). “Real pandas. They’re from there, you know.”
Although I had never previously thought I might see pandas in Chengdu, doing so now seems almost compulsory every time I visit the city. Here’s how to follow in my footsteps…er, paw prints.
Why Chengdu is China’s Panda City
Seeing pandas in Chengdu isn’t a popular activity simply because of a marketing campaign. Rather, pandas’ native habitat is in the bamboo forests of Sichuan province—the outskirts of modern Chengdu city. Or at least it was: They haven’t been able to survive on their own in nature for many decades. I’ll explain more about that in a few paragraphs, however.
It is because of the fact that southwestern China is the native home of pandas that panda research and breeding bases were established here. However, it’s also true that authorities both in Chengdu and in China more broadly have effectively messaged this around the world. Not every tourist who visits Chengdu will go to see the pandas; still, you can’t walk down a single street in the city without seeing panda paraphernalia.
5 Things to Know About Seeing Pandas in Chengdu
Chengdu hosts more than one panda base
If you consult any official Chengdu tourism materials, they will direct you to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, whose name is usually shortened to Chengdu Panda Base. This is the only public-facing establishment in the city that is internationally accredited.
But they’re not all the same
The first time I went to see pandas in China, I initially planned to visit Dujiangyan Panda Base, a secondary research center in the Chengdu vicinity. Alicia was adamant that we didn’t go there, though at the time she didn’t clearly explain her reasoning to this end.
Yes, you can hold a panda
One reason many foreigners (especially those without friends like Alicia) go to Dujiangyan, instead of the official Chengdu Panda Base? While the latter strictly limits interactions between visitors and animals, tourists who choose the base in Dujiangyan may be able to hold a panda or even hug one.
No, you shouldn’t
Although Alicia didn’t explain in the first time I saw pandas in Chengdu, I later learned the truth. Being held or being forced to endure non-essential interactions with humans (basically, anyone besides their caretakers) can cause the pandas immense stress, and have major health consequences.
The reality of modern pandas is heartbreaking
Which is compounded by the fact that evolutionarily, pandas are on the fast track to extinction. This is due to a combination of factors, including scarcity of their preferred species of bamboo, human encroachment on their habitat and the fact that they’ve been around for literally millions of years already.
Things to Do in Chengdu (Besides Seeing the Pandas)
Chengdu is one of my favorite cities in China. And, if we’re being honest, might be my favorite city in the country, period. Here are some other things I love to do in Chengdu:
- Explore historical spots like Jin Li Street and Wenshu Monastery
- Eat local culinary specials like huo guo (hot pot) and spicy dan-dan mian
- Take day trips to scenic Mt. Emei and the dramatic Leshan Grand Buddha
- Dig deeper into Western China, be that in Chongqing or even Tibet
Other FAQ About Seeing Pandas in Chengdu
Why is Chengdu known for pandas?
In the past, the mountains around Chengdu were lush with bamboo forests, where pandas were able to thrive. While both the encroachment of modern civilization and the creatures’ own evolution have meant that pandas can no longer survive outside of captivity, local panda bases have sprung up to car for the pandas, and to raise awareness of their plight.
Can you still hold a panda in Chengdu?
You can absolutely still hold a panda in Chengdu, specifically at the “unofficial” Dujiangyan Panda Base. However, experts say that humans should avoid contact with pandas, since it can stress and traumatize the animals, who are already in a fragile state.
Is it worth seeing the pandas in Chengdu?
Seeing the pandas in Chengdu can be a very emotional experience; it can also be very touristic if you go on a holiday or weekend. If you’ve never seen pandas and it’s your first time to Chengdu, I would highly recommend going to the Chengdu Panda Base.
The Bottom Line
Want to see pandas in Chengdu? This is at once a simple task, and one riddled with forks in the road. Do you go the official Chengdu Panda Base, or one of the others with shadier funding and mission statements, but the option to hold or even hug a panda? Do you visit Chengdu à la carte, or in conjunction with nearby cities like Chongqing, and other destinations like the Leshan Great Buddha and Mt. Emei? No matter what form your trip takes, of course, southwestern China is nothing short of unforgettable. This is especially true if you hire me as your Travel Coach.
