Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding: An Explosion of Adorableness

Do you think a Panda is cute? I believe you do. Now, what about a group of them?

Giant Panda is an indigenous species from China, and they inhabit in the Sichuan province, the western part of China. Their distinctive looks and gentle behavior have always won over the zoo viewers heart, and they are also served as a national symbol and ambassador. A pair of Giant Panda was presented as a gift (now as a “loan”) to countries as a friendly and diplomatic gesture.

Unfortunately, giant pandas are now endangered due to excessive deforestation and farming. The country has done a lot of work to preserve and protect the continuation of such unique and precious animal; and Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province, and the largest city in western China is the center about the conservation and breeding of Giant pandas. More, visitors have easy access to giant pandas by visiting Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The base is merely 15-20 minute away from the Chengdu city center.

The research base is a clean, tranquil green space with facilities connected by bamboo trails. The entire area has a different exhibition about various aspects of the giant pandas and of course, it has space to showcase the creature itself ~

It is just an explosion of adorableness. Walking between the bamboo walls (which is the main diet for the pandas), we saw the giant pandas in different shapes and sizes, and this is precisely the highlight of the base. Since the China government ultimately controls the exportation of the giant panda, there is usually just a pair of pandas that can be seen in the zoo in any other location. Here, visitors could not only see a couple, but a group of them is hanging around and interact with each other within the same space. To the visitors, they could also see pandas at a different stage of their lives – the baby ones, the young ones, also the grown ones.

Personally, I love the young ones (2-3 years old) the most because they are energetic, they are curious, and they like to show off to the eager zoo-viewers. Their cutest moment would probably be when they are sitting on their giant bottom and chewing bamboo leaves. What’s funny is, the panda is freakishly adorable, but they can maul you if you cross them. (Just like me) 😛

Website: http://www.panda.org.cn/english/

Ticketing: RMB 40

How did I get there: The easiest and safest way is to take a taxi, request them to go on the meter – and usually it’s between RMB 50-70 to get around the city center What’s more about Sichuan? As the heart of western China – a few keywords also popped into my mind.