Panda Volunteer Experience 3-Day Tour

Tour Overview

Fulfill your dream of getting up close with China’s beloved giant pandas on this unique 3-day volunteer experience in Chengdu and Dujiangyan. This is not just a tour—it’s an opportunity to actively participate in panda conservation efforts, working alongside professional keepers to care for these gentle giants. Prepare panda food, clean enclosures, and observe pandas at closer range than anywhere else in the world. Combined with a visit to the ancient Dujiangyan Irrigation System, this tour offers an unforgettable blend of wildlife conservation and cultural heritage.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Chengdu - Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Welcome to Chengdu, the panda capital of the world! Upon arrival at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, your guide will transfer you to your hotel. After a brief rest, embark on an afternoon visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

This world-renowned facility is home to over 200 giant pandas and is dedicated to panda conservation, breeding, and research. Arrive in the late afternoon when temperatures cool and pandas become more active. Observe adult pandas lounging in their habitats, watch playful juveniles tumbling in the nursery, and learn about the center’s successful breeding programs that have helped increase the global panda population.

Your guide will provide insights into panda biology, behavior, and the challenges facing wild panda populations. This visit serves as perfect preparation for tomorrow’s hands-on volunteer experience.

Evening enjoy an authentic Sichuan hotpot dinner, experiencing the famous numbing-spicy flavors that define Chengdu’s culinary scene.

Meals: Dinner (Sichuan hotpot) Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Chengdu

Day 2: Dujiangyan Panda Volunteer Program - Full Day Experience

Today is the highlight of your journey—a full day as a panda volunteer at the Dujiangyan Panda Base, part of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. This exclusive program offers the closest panda encounter available anywhere in the world.

Morning activities begin with orientation and safety briefing from professional panda keepers. Don your volunteer uniform and gloves, then begin your duties:

• Food Preparation: Learn about panda nutrition and help prepare bamboo, bamboo shoots, and special panda cakes
• Enclosure Cleaning: Work alongside keepers to clean panda living areas, understanding the importance of hygiene in panda care
• Feeding Observation: Watch pandas enjoy the food you prepared from close range
• Panda Behavior Study: Learn to observe and record panda behaviors as part of ongoing research

Enjoy lunch at the base cafeteria with other volunteers and staff, sharing experiences and learning more about panda conservation efforts.

Afternoon continue with additional volunteer activities and enjoy exclusive photo opportunities with pandas (from safe distance). Receive your official Panda Volunteer Certificate, a meaningful souvenir of your contribution to panda conservation.

Meals: Breakfast (hotel), Lunch (panda base), Dinner (local restaurant) Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Chengdu

Day 3: Dujiangyan Irrigation System - Departure

Morning visit the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of humanity’s greatest engineering achievements. Built over 2,250 years ago during the Qin Dynasty, this remarkable system still functions today, irrigating over 5,300 square kilometers of farmland and protecting the Chengdu Plain from flooding.

Walk across the famous Anlan Suspension Bridge, originally built during the Song Dynasty, swaying gently above the rushing Min River. Explore the Fish Mouth Levee, Flying Sand Weir, and Bottle-Neck Channel—the three key components that work together to control water flow without the use of dams. Visit the Erwang Temple dedicated to Li Bing and his son, the engineers who designed this ingenious system.

The combination of ancient engineering wisdom and natural beauty makes Dujiangyan a perfect conclusion to your Chengdu experience.

Afternoon transfer to Chengdu Airport for your departure flight, taking home unforgettable memories and your panda volunteer certificate.

Meals: Breakfast (hotel), Lunch (Dujiangyan local cuisine)

Travel Tips

• The panda volunteer program requires advance booking (at least 2 weeks recommended)
• Volunteers must be in good health; the program involves physical activity
• Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes for the volunteer program
• The base provides volunteer uniforms, gloves, and necessary equipment
• Photography is allowed but flash photography near pandas is prohibited
• Pandas are most active in the morning; the early start is worth it
• Bring hand sanitizer and be prepared to wash hands frequently
• The volunteer program operates rain or shine; bring appropriate weather gear
• Spring and autumn offer the best weather; summer can be hot and humid
• Respect all safety guidelines—pandas are wild animals despite their gentle appearance
• The volunteer certificate makes a wonderful keepsake of your conservation contribution