Visiting Dujiangyan Yaan Wolong Panda Base Optional Volunteering

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Chengdu, China

9 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Take part in a rare hands-on experience at one of China’s leading panda rehabilitation centers, Dujiangyan, Ya'an, or Wolong Panda Base. From Chengdu, journey to one of the centers, and under the guidance of staff, assist with daily care tasks such as preparing panda food and cutting bamboo, offering a unique behind-the-scenes look at conservation work. If you prefer, you can also spend your time exploring the base instead.

Unique opportunity: Few travelers are lucky enough to assist with panda care
Benefit from the intimate atmosphere of small-group tour with a capped number of travelers
Round-trip transfers from Chengdu ensure a seamless experience
Book ahead to secure your visit—volunteer spots are limited

What's Included

Bottled water
Lunch

Local Sichuan style buffet lunch
English speaking tour guide
Transportation

Dinner
Personal expense
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We pick up any hotels within the 3rd ring of Chengdu city. You will be collected an additional fee RMB100 for the hotel located outside the 3rd ring road. You will be collected an additional fee RMB200 for Shuangliu airport pickup or drop-off. You will be collected an additional fee RMB300 for Tianfu airport pickup or drop-off.

Operating hours
.7:20 am

Itinerary

Start your day with pickup from your Chengdu hotel, then travel to your chosen site: Dujiangyan Panda Base, Wolong Panda Base, or Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base.

On arrival, meet the center staff, change into a volunteer uniform, and take part in an orientation that introduces the facility’s history and its work in panda research, disease prevention, and rescue of wild pandas.

Spend the day assisting with approved daily tasks such as preparing panda food and cutting bamboo. Along the way, learn about panda biology, behavior, and conservation efforts, and gain insight into what is being done to protect this endangered species.

At midday, enjoy a Chinese buffet lunch and continue learning about pandas and the center’s work.

For safety and conservation reasons, holding or touching the pandas is not permitted.

Dujiangyan Panda Base

6 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
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: 6-70, 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
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Sebastian_Q

This was our favourite activity in China. Our volunteering trip to the Panda research center was exciting and educational. The pandas were fun to watch, and thanks to our knowledgable guide we learnt a lot about pandas and China in general. Well done, would come back any day!

Reviews

4.9

based on 109 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Highlight of our holiday in China

Sebastian_Q, Apr 2026

Keira made our day special

Viktor_Z, Dec 2025

This panda volunteering experience was truly unforgettable and easily one of the highlights of our trip. From start to finish, everything was exceptionally well organized, meaningful, and deeply rewarding. Being so close to the pandas and learning about their care, conservation, and daily routines was both humbling and incredibly inspiring. A very special mention goes to our guide, Keira. She was absolutely fantastic - warm, cheerful, and genuinely passionate about what she does. From the very first moment, she made us feel comfortable, welcomed, and excited for the day ahead. Her positive energy was contagious, her explanations were clear and engaging, and she was always attentive to everyone in the group. It truly felt like we were spending the day with a friend rather than just being guided through an activity. Keira’s kindness, enthusiasm, and professionalism made a huge difference to the overall experience. We genuinely enjoyed her company and could not have asked for a better guide. Thanks to her, the day felt not only educational, but also joyful and personal. Highly, highly recommended - especially if you’re lucky enough to have Keira as your guide. This is an experience we’ll remember for a very long time. 🐼💚

Love pandas

Rodrigo_P, Dec 2025

This has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Been able to be so close of this majestic and gentle animal, in a small group and through the inner part of the park was amazing. And we had the best guide with us, Kira accompanied us every step of the way, giving us every detail and story of this beautiful place. I definitely recommend you to take this experience.

Amazing Chengdu experience with Bella

JosueYael_G, Dec 2024

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.

great

JOANNA_K, Oct 2024

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!

Excellent Panda adventure

RobbiLee_B, Sep 2019

Had an awesome volunteer experience with the Giant Pandas from breaking bamboos, creating Panda cakes, sweeping the cages, and ultimately feeding and engaging with the Pandas. Amazing experience that I highly recommend.

Volunteer panda day trip

Aidan_C, Mar 2019

Great day out .for people wanting to do more with the pandas and away from the busy local parks. A touch expensive but it’s a one off trip. The guide was amazing her English was superb, her general knowledge about China was great. This trip is for individuals, couples or families.

Amazing experience as Panda Keeper

K_S, Dec 2018

Picked up from hotel by guide Andy and spent a great day with him at the Wolong Panda Research Base as "volunteer" Panda keepers. Was able to clean the Panda enclosures, prepare their Panda Bread and feed them by hand up close. Lots of opportunities to observe them in the preserve as well. Included a delicious lunch with the other Panda keepers. A most memorable experience that we will never forget. The tour organized by Alvin through MyPanda Tours is highly recommended. Well-organized, planned and executed.

Visit to the Panda Base at Dujiangyan

davidyannette, Aug 2018

Visiting the Panda Base at Dujiangyan was the highlight of our 2 week visit to China. Seeing this beautiful animals so close its a fascinating experience. By volunteering for a day you become a part of a global effort to to save this endangered species. But most important is a proof that if humanity wants, it can be done!

We had an amazing day with Alvin...

Amy F, May 2018

We had an amazing day with Alvin. From the moment he picked us up, he was incredibly friendly and knowledgable. During the day, when we had down time he took us to see all the other pandas and talked us through some specifics about them. He works with them so regularly that they recognize him and he knows their personalities. It was really fun to volunteer and get right next to the pandas! It was such a fun day and the pandas are just so wonderful! Thank you so much Alvin! We love you!

Make sure Alvin is your guide! He is...

Amanda D, May 2018

Make sure Alvin is your guide! He is the founder of My Panda Tour and really gets what people want. He understood that we don't get to see pandas every day and went out of his way to make sure we spent as much time around them as possible. He also focused on the stories of each panda and built emotional connections between them and the other people I volunteered with. Run, do not walk, to sign up for this tour.

I was traveling alone when I signed...

Jenny T, May 2018

I was traveling alone when I signed up this trip and I was a bit of worried before the trip! Yet it turned out to be a fantastic trip. Thanks to Alvin, he was one of the best private tour guides with passion and detail oriented! Very knowledgeable on Pandas! Alvin 服務很棒、既熱心又有服務熱忱，解說也很詳盡喔！

This is a great way to see the...

Lee E, Apr 2018

This is a great way to see the Pandas and how they live behind the scenes. I would skip the panda holding, but the panda feeding is pretty amazing. This comes with a driver, and in my case an amazing guide. Thanks Alex Xia!

This was a really great experience...

K Nagarkar, Dec 2017

This was a really great experience. It's almost a day long but not at all strenuous and you get to do quite a few things - clean the panda enclosures, feed them, help prepare food for them including smashing bamboos, interact with the staff at the base who are really friendly, and watch a video on the panda conservation along with good food. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and learned a lot about these beautiful and cute animals. I would definitely recommend this to everyone. My day started with Alvin picking me up at the hotel. I had planned this trip alone and was joined by one more of his guest. He is an amazing guide to have, very knowledgeable and personable, extremely passionate about pandas and a great host and storyteller. He made our 1.5-hour ride to the base feel like 15 min. He also took us to the best Wonton place in town. Thank you and a loud shout to Alvin and the entire staff at Dujiangyan Panda Base on their efforts for this noble cause

This day was everything I had hoped...

Clare P, Mar 2017

This day was everything I had hoped for and more. My guide Alvin was so friendly and knowledgable about pandas. He was great company for the day. All the staff were very welcoming and supportive. I carried out all my panda keeper duties with careful and thorough explanation from the panda keepers. I learnt a great detail but also had a lot of fun. The setting is breathtaking and the centre not commercial at all. I got to spend a lot of time just observing different pandas and was able to take lots of photos. The day went far too quickly. My highlight was being able to meet a panda by making the suggested donation. Even though it is expensive it is brilliantly orchestrated and worth the money totally. The entire day was a complete success and went far too quickly. I highly recommend it and I would love to return. Thank you.