Get up close and personal with China’s beloved national animal on this 5-day unforgettable experience at the Bifengxia Panda Base in Ya'an. Enjoy the rare opportunity to work with professional park rangers in taking care of pandas, such as feeding the animals and cleaning their enclosures. You'll be provided with all the necessary training and instruction, and you’ll stay in a comfortable guesthouse at the base, with three meals per day included. You'll also learn about the history and culture of this region on a Chengdu sightseeing tour. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is sure to be the highlight of your trip to China!
Highlights
- 5-day Chengdu and Bifengxia Panda Base experience
- Take a guided tour of Chengdu's main sites including the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, Wuhou Temple and Jinli Old Street
- Receive professional training on how to care for adorable pandas at the Bifengxia Panda Base in Ya'an
- Enjoy the rare opportunity to feed pandas and help clean their enclosures
- Take home a certificate of recognition to commemmorate your volunteer work at the panda center
- Explore the base to see other animals during your free time
- Round-trip transport, comfortable overnight accommodation and all meals included
Special Offer
To celebrate the launch of our new tour, book now and travel before December 31, 2013, and save up to 12% on the recommended retail rate
Useful Information
Fresh Bamboo for Pandas
If you're an animal-lover, this is an absolute must-do! The Bifengxia Panda Base is a giant panda breeding facility in Ya'an in the Sichuan province. You'll spend two of your five days here enjoying rare volunteer work that lets you get up close to pandas and help the park rangers with their daily tasks.
This experience will leave you with unforgettable memories and a unique perspective on giant pandas, China's national animal. Additionally, you'll spend a day discovering the important historical and cultural facets of Chengdu's must-see attractions such as the Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Wuhou Temple and Jinli Old Street.
This experience will leave you with unforgettable memories and a unique perspective on giant pandas, China's national animal. Additionally, you'll spend a day discovering the important historical and cultural facets of Chengdu's must-see attractions such as the Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Wuhou Temple and Jinli Old Street.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu (D)
When you arrive in Chengdu, you'll be picked up by your friendly driver and taken to your accommodation for check-in. You will have the rest of the day to relax at your hotel or explore Chengdu at your own leisure.
Overnight: Tibet Hotel (rated 4 stars on TripAdvisor) or similar in Chengdu
Day 2: Chengdu -- Ya'an (B, L, D)
After breakfast, embark on a sightseeing tour of Chengdu's top attractions with your expert, friendly guide. You'll first be driven to the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, where one of the greatest Chinese poets from the Tang Dynasty once resided. After admiring the large, beautiful garden and the traditional Chinese-style architecture of the pavilion, explore the cottage's museum, where you'll learn all about Du Fu's life, his works and the influence he had on other prominent Chinese poets.
Then, proceed to Wuhou Temple, a cultural and historical relic dating back to the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280 AD). Follow your guide on a tour of the grounds and see the intricate architectural stylings of its front and interior gates, the Hall for Emperor Liu Bei, the Hall for Zhuge Liang and the Huiling Mausoleum.
Enjoy lunch and then finish your city tour with a guided stroll down Jinli Ancient Street (also known as Jinli Old Street), a popular historical attraction where you'll find narrow lanes, old residences, quaint local shops and inns with elegant architectural styles reminiscent of Qing Dynasty-era Sichuan.
Afterward, you'll be driven approximately three hours to Ya'an, where you'll check in to your comfortable guesthouse at the Bifengxia Panda Base. A local host will show you around the guesthouse, featuring a private bathroom, before giving you free time to explore on your own and get familiar with the facility. You’ll then receive a brief orientation of your activities for the next two days and you'll be given a pair of overalls to you'll wear while working with pandas -- they're yours to keep as a wonderful memento!
Overnight: Private guesthouse at the Bifengxia Panda Base in Ya'an
Days 3-4: Bifengxia Panda Base in Ya'an (B, L, D)
Over the next two days, you'll get up close and personal with adorable pandas! After breakfast at the guesthouse, you'll be taken to the panda enclosure, where you'll get the rare opportunity to assist park rangers with daily activities and learn about the center's important conservation efforts first-hand.
Participate in typical tasks throughout the day such as feeding the pandas; you'll be amazed by how much food these endangered creatures consume – a whopping 45 lbs (20 kg) per day! You'll also help contribute to the safety and well-being of the animals by cleaning the panda enclosures. When the pandas are resting, you will have 3 hours of free time for lunch and to explore the center on your own.
Participate in typical tasks throughout the day such as feeding the pandas; you'll be amazed by how much food these endangered creatures consume – a whopping 45 lbs (20 kg) per day! You'll also help contribute to the safety and well-being of the animals by cleaning the panda enclosures. When the pandas are resting, you will have 3 hours of free time for lunch and to explore the center on your own.
Overnight: Private guesthouse at the Bifengxia Panda Base in Ya'an
Day 5: Ya'an -- Chengdu (B, L)
Before leaving the base, you’ll have one last opportunity to spend time with the pandas. Say goodbye to your furry friends and take some photos, after which you'll be awarded with your certificate of recognition for your volunteer work at the base. Enjoy a goodbye lunch before being driven back to your Chengdu accommodation or the Chengdu train station.
Please note: All guests must undergo a health exam before arrival at the base; see Additional Info for more details.
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