Located just 10km (6 miles) away from downtown Chengdu, the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center has been created, imitating the pandas' natural habitat in order that these rare animals might have the best possible environment for breeding and rearing their young. The Center also cares for other rare and endangered wild animals. The Research Center covers an area of 92 acres, 96% of which is covered with vegetation native to its natural habitat. Giant pandas, lesser (red) pandas, black-necked cranes, white storks as well as over 20 species of rare animals are fed and bred there throughout the year. Verdant bamboo, bright flowers, fresh air, a natural hill scene and a beautiful artificial view are merged ingeniously at the Center.

 

The giant pandas are not only a Chinese national treasure but are also beloved by people the world over. They are found in the wild only in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. In total no more than 1000 remain in the wild, of which 80% are distributed within the territory of Sichuan province.

 

The Giant Panda Museum at the Research Center is a unique museum set up for the Giant Panda. It collects and shows the results of research on the Giant Panda. The Museum displays almost 300 rare, and scientific pictures, full and accurate charts, literature and other information about the Giant Panda at various times and in various places around the world. It also includes fossils, dissected anatomical remains, diet specimens, etc. The Museum also has many large enclosures exceeding an area of 300 square meters. These enclosures accurately represent the panda's natural environments in Qinling, Liangshan, Xiangling, Minshan, and on Qionglai Mountain. The Museum introduces and details the Giant Panda's evolutionary history, its ancient and current distribution, its general situation, and the current state of knowledge and research being done by humans. This lets visitors understand the Giant Panda, and also shows the efforts being made by the Chinese government to protect and save the beloved creature. Although the panda is endangered, the Research Center is proof that the Chinese community and the world are fighting to protect this rare creature and its habitat.

 

It is recommended that the best time to visit is in the morning, between 8:30 and 10am, during feeding time. Outside these hours it's likely the bears will be indulging in their favorite pastime, sleeping!