Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is China's leading captive-breeding centre for giant pandas, founded in 1987 with six pandas rescued from the wild. It lies about 10 kilometres north of central Chengdu in a park-like landscape of bamboo groves and large enclosures. The institution is not a zoo but a scientific facility aimed at securing the giant panda population through breeding and research. Red pandas and several endangered bird species are also kept here. The grounds cover about 100 hectares; pandas are most active in the morning, so visitors should arrive early before the animals settle into a long day of bamboo-eating and sleeping. A small panda museum explains biology and conservation work. The base is an obligatory stop on any Chengdu itinerary and especially rewarding for families with children and animal lovers.