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Panda Volunteer Program: Conservation at Dujiangyan Base
4.9
102 Ratings
Dujiangyan
Immerse yourself in panda conservation at Dujiangyan Wolong Panda Base. Experience a full day program including panda food making, enclosures cleaning, and a documentary video. Optional volunteer program available.
Immerse yourself in panda conservation at Dujiangyan Wolong Panda Base. Experience a full day program including panda food making, enclosures cleaning, and a documentary video. Optional volunteer program available.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Dujiangyan Panda Base - 07:20 Pickup at your Chengdu hotel 07:20-08:50 Head to Panda Base 09:00 Change into volunteer outfit 09:30 Visiting the museum or the panda base/Smashing the bamboo 10:00-10:30 Preparing bamboo for panda, and watch the keeper to feed panda 11:00-12:00 Visiting the pandas 12:20-13:00 Lunch hour for volunteers 13:00-13:30…
- Dujiangyan Panda Base - 07:20 Pickup at your Chengdu hotel 07:20-08:50 Head to Panda Base 09:00 Change into volunteer outfit 09:30 Visiting the museum or the panda base/Smashing the bamboo 10:00-10:30 Preparing bamboo for panda, and watch the keeper to feed panda 11:00-12:00 Visiting the pandas 12:20-13:00 Lunch hour for volunteers 13:00-13:30 Making panda snacks 13:30-14:30 Viewing panda documentary 14:30-14:40 Return volunteer outfit 17:00 Arrival in Chengdu hotel where this tour is concluded *The itinerary is subject to change.
What's Included
- Bottled water included
- English-speaking tour guide provided
- Convenient transportation
- Lunch provided
- Bottled water included
- English-speaking tour guide provided
- Convenient transportation
- Lunch provided
What's Not Included
- Dinner
- Personal expense
- Gratuities
- Dinner
- Personal expense
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Dujianyan Panda Base is one of the few places in China that offers a panda volunteer program. The full-day program includes making panda food and features a documentary about releasing pandas into the wild. You will be accompanied by a professional panda expert who will introduce you to topics such as panda discovery, the history of pandas in China,…
Dujianyan Panda Base is one of the few places in China that offers a panda volunteer program. The full-day program includes making panda food and features a documentary about releasing pandas into the wild. You will be accompanied by a professional panda expert who will introduce you to topics such as panda discovery, the history of pandas in China, their classification, and conservation efforts. Dujiangyan Panda Base is committed to studying disease control and rescuing wild pandas, and your participation will help in the conservation of these endangered animals.
*Starting from April 25, 2024, panda volunteers will not be allowed to enter the panda enclosure, and the activities of cleaning the panda enclosures and collecting panda poop will be canceled.
*Any activities missed due to lateness will not be rescheduled, and guests will be responsible for the consequences.
- The panda base is non-specified. We will select a base with a small number of people on the day.(Dujiangyan/Yaan/Wolong)
- Group tour size 1-15 people.
- No physical contact like touching or holding pandas.
- Panda volunteering requirements: 8-70, healthy, no infectious diseases.
- During the holidays, we conduct the activity either at Wolong Panda Base or Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base.
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel.
- No perfume, no cologne, no nail polish, be healthy (don’t get cold).
- wear shoes (no slippers or Crocs)
- Sunscreen and sunglasses will be useful
Location
Dujiangyan Panda Base
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(102 Ratings)
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Venture28321954812
Oct 2, 2025
Volunteer for a day at Panda centre - The tour allows you to gain a sense of what its like to be a panda centre volunteer for a day. It will be the closest most will ever get to a Panda. My guide Keira was also great and handled all the translations and admin. It may be a tad expensive if you're going solo like I did.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
12brittanir
Sep 11, 2025
We got to see the pandas get fed by the keepers really close, smash bamboo and make panda cakes and got to make fans. - It was an amazing experience! My tour guide, Heather, was amazing. She was very knowledgeable and she got to know us personally. She helped us with things to do in Chengdu and was amazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bahamas_sunsets
Aug 30, 2025
Unforgettable visit to Panda Base - We visited the Dujiangyan panda base with our two 20-something kids, something we have all spoken about as being a 'must-do'. We were not disappointed.
Wells was our guide and met us promptly at the WA Chengdu where we were staying (also an amazing hotel!). The drive to panda base was 90 mins and Wells undated us on what we would do for the 1/2 day as well as background on the pandas.
Once we arrived and formalities completed, off we went to see the pandas. The access is better than the general public, allowing you to get closer to the pandas (but no touching). To be so close was incredibly special.
Aside from watching the pandas, the day included bamboo and 'cake' preparation as well as watching a couple of informative videos. Lunch was in the canteen, with basic chinese food which we loved.
Wells stayed with us the whole time and was great. His spoken english was excellent and we went at a steady pace. We were grateful for his easy manner, cheery disposition andd helpfulness.
Overall, we thoroughly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Experience299089
Jul 6, 2025
Panda Base and Other Cultural Activities - My 21 year daughter and I had a wonderful time on this trip visiting the pandas and got a lot of great photos and videos of the many pandas we saw. Our tour guide (Bella) did a great job not only at the animal preserve but in showing us some other cultural activities (2008 earthquake memorial, lunch, giant panda selfie, Harry Potter bookstore).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Josueyael_g
Dec 16, 2024
Amazing Chengdu experience with Bella - We have had an experience beyond our expectations. The visit to the panda centre was a lot of fun, and although we were unable to feed them due to decisions beyond the control of the tour organisers, we had a great time seeing the pandas up close and learning about them. After the tour, our wonderful tour guide Bella took us to learn a bit more about Chengdu, as we visited the People's Park, had tea, walked around one of the most popular areas in the city centre and she recommended a spectacular Hot Pot restaurant. If it's your first time in Chengdu, or if you want to do an activity that involves pandas, I wouldn't think twice about booking this tour, it was very good.
Review provided by Viator
Sabrinams4049ho
Oct 22, 2024
A Personalized Panda Experience: Guided by Sarah's Kindness and Knowledge - We had a wonderful day at the panda research base with our guide, Sarah. She taught us many interesting things about pandas. Taking part in the food preparation was a fun and enriching experience. Sarah guided us kindly with her knowledge about pandas and Sichuanese culture and she took the time to take plenty of photos for us. We highly recommend this activity with Sarah to anyone wanting to learn more about pandas while having a good time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joanna_k
Oct 1, 2024
great - I recently went on a trip that was absolutely fantastic. We had a wonderful time in panda base. Our guide was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, making the experience even more enjoyable. Every moment was filled with excitement and joy, and I can’t wait to go on another adventure like this!
Review provided by Viator
Polly_anna_sg
Jul 22, 2024
Can't get enough of pandas at Wolong Panda Base - I brought my daughter to Chengdu to mainly see and experience pandas and the culture. So when I was looking around for panda base tours, there were so many popped up but once I started sending email to some of them, I knew My Panda Tours would be my best option. Catherine was the main reason I signed up for this tour, even though it's really expensive :)). Her prompt, honest and detailed reply for every questions I asked which gave me the necessary confident and reassurance.
Initially I wanted to go to Dujiangyan due to shorter distance from Chengdu city, but since the volunteer program only accepts 200 pax a day and I signed up too late, so they changed my tour destination to Wolong instead, without extra costs. Catherine also explained very well the difference between the two panda bases. I felt really comfortable to go ahead with the Wolong option. I also shared with Catherine that I wanted a Chinese speaking guide and she arranged June for us and June was amazing! My daughter and I really liked her. She told us many great, funny stories about pandas, and she was being very patient with us too as we stopped to watch every single panda there.
Also Catherine helped to arrange a female driver (forgot her name) for us as well, this really made me feel safe as the tour was only for my daughter and myself, I was worried about the long drive and the comfortness.
The only wish I had was to be able to get closer to the pandas and even take close up pictures with them through the volunteer program. However the panda base has stopped allowing volunteers to feed the pandas or be in their enclosure anymore since early this year. What a bummer! But this was already communicated through The Panda Tours website and clarified with Catherine too, so I didn't expect it. But at least we got to see the keeper there feeding a panda behind the enclosure. (They didn't allow to take any pictures though.)
Overall, I give a 5-star to The Panda Tours for the great experience we had! Thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Purplebun
Apr 8, 2024
Highly recommended - Panda Base Volunteer Experience - Panda Base Volunteer Experience -
It was very assuring to have Mr Alvin Liu coordinate the Volunteer Experience at 2 Panda Bases. He has proven to be very prompt, experienced and helpful. Assigned Driver cum Guide Ms Nie is equally proficient with her knowledge of Pandas. She updated regularly on the sequence of programme (as per adjusted by Panda Base owing to weather, situation, etc). Perfect experience and highly recommended. A Certificate & some freebies are given by the Panda Base to mark the memories.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brigittes235
Sep 2, 2024
Misleading - The description is very misleading, you don't do any volunteering, you spend about 10 minutes watching the keeper feeding the pandas in an area where you are not allowed to take any pictures. They show you an hour documentary on pandas and you get a T-shirt... you don't clean their enclosures. The day costs us a lot of money, we would have been better of to just visit the Panda base in Chengdu by ourselves. The only good thing about the day was our guide Andi, who was lovely.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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