Bifengxia Panda Base - The Fine Panda Base with Gorgeous Natural Scenery

As the biggest panda base in the world, Bifengxia Panda Reserve,opened in 2003, is situated in Bifeng Gorge, Ya’an, Sichuan. Bifeng Gorge has two zones: scenery zone and wild animal zone. Bifeng Panda Reserve is in the scenery zone. For this Panda Reserve is surrounded by beautiful scenery, Pandas there are really have a wild and comfortable life. And this place is also a summer resort for it is in a valley at the altitude of about 1100-1200 meters. It is not only a good place to see Pandas but also a nice place to avoid summer heat.

Bifengxia Panda Base is in the Bifengxia Ecological Scenic Spot

Bifengxia Panda Base has more than 20 laboratories and palces, such as the Giant Panda Breeding Center, Panda Nursery, Panda hospital, Giant Panda Research institutes, etc. The panda base is divided into three regions, namely the Returnees Panda Area, the Panda Nursery for baby pandas and Baixiongping Area for adult pandas. Tourists can take the eco-bus to each area, and the bus ticket price is RMB15 per person.

Where is Bifengxia Panda Base

Bifengxia Panda Base is situated in a beautiful gorge in Ya’an City. It has beautiful scenery laced with waterfalls and vast greenery and forest areas. It is 144km from Chengdu. It was opened in 2004 and later after the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake few pandas were shifted to Bifengxia Panda Base from Wolong Nature Reserve. The earthquake affected and damaged the Wolong Nature Reserve and left many giant pandas stranded. Over the years many old, young, and new born giant pandas from zoos all around the world have been moved to Bifengxia Panda Base. With more than 80 pandas in captivity, Bifengxia is a comprehensive facility with research facilities, tourism, and giant panda breeding facilities.

Bifengxia Panda Base is situated in a beautiful gorge in Ya’an City.

What to See in Bifengxia Panda Base

Bifengxia used to have panda interaction activities and the panda volunteer program but they were stopped in 2015 and no official announcement has been announced as of when the activities will resume. Visitors can see panda kindergartens where pandas are fed, tended, and taken care of. Bifengxia has a vast area for pandas habitation and hence the pandas here are scattered all over the Leopard Mountain, new leopard mountain, Bi Tang, Bai Xiong Ping, and in a lot of constructed indoor areas. In fact Bifengxia is the largest outpost of Wolong and the largest eco park for pandas in the world.

Bifengxia has a vast area for pandas habitation.

Opening Time

Peak Seasons: 8:00 – 16:00

Off Seasons: 8:30 – 15:30

Please Note: the panda base will be closed during 11:30 to 13:00 for pandas’ lunch time and snapping time.

Entrance Fee

Scenery zone: 118RMB (Including Bifeng Panda Reserve)

Wild animal zone: 180RMB

Bifengxia does not only have pandas, they have a safari tour were you can see many other animals. You can enjoy other activities like visiting the Bifengxia zoo, going on a safari where you can see a lot of other endangered animals, leisure activities, entertainment, and lot more sightseeing. The Bifengxia Mountain Park is the best scenery of the gorge. It is the connected to the panda base, you can trek in this area. It’s a small 3-5hr trek. In the Bifengxia Wildlife Park you can see the animals via a safari or by walk.

You can see the animals via a safari or by walk.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Bifangxia Panda Base is from July to October, especially the summer time. In summer, the temperature is relatively low, and you’d better take a thin coat.

In summer, you’d better take a thin coat.

How to Get There

Bifengxia Panda Reserve is located in Sichuan, Ya’an, which is about 1.5 hours’ drive away from Chengdu and 16km away from Ya’an downtown. It is convenient to take a bus from Chengdu and get down in Ya’an Tourism Bus Station and then get to Bifengxia Panda Base.

Get to Bifengxia from Xinnanmen Bus Station

The travel takes about 2 hours and buses are available at 30-minuute intervals from Xinnanmen Bus Station. From Ya’an Tourism Centre, you have to take a mini bus to the gorge which takes about 25-45 minutes.

Get to Bifengxia from Shiyangchang Bus Station

Shiyangchang Bus Station, located at the south of Chengdu, offers more frequent buses to Ya’an. Every 10 to 20 minutes there is a bus from Shiyangchang Bus Station to Ya’an Tourism Bus Station. It also takes about 2 hours.

Bifengxia Panda Reserve Accommodation

Visitors can choose to live in Ya’an downtown where there are lots of business hotels whose prices range from 100 to 300 RMB. And visitors can also choose to live in the mountain where there are some local home stays whose prices are cheaper than downtown hotels.

Ya'an hotel

There is Bifeng Gorge cliff villa in the ecological park. The villas have a great view of the cliff and beautiful scenery looming out the windows. Each villa has a different style to it and you can also see waterfalls, exotic flowers, and just infinite charm of nature.

There is Bifeng Gorge Hotel which has guest rooms ranging from ordinary deluxe rooms to luxury rooms. There is also an on-site restaurant with a wide variety of food items and cuisines. The view around the hotel is surrounded with big green trees, and lots of chirping birds. In addition to being able to wake up to the sounds of nature, you can also do your business as there are conference rooms and other facilities in the hotel. The hotel is on the right side of the ticket hall and the villa is on the left side of the ticket hall.

Each villa has a different style.

Bifeng gorge is a beautiful scenic area with lots of rare birds and trees. Getting to see pandas in such close proximity in such a beautiful setting is a package like no other. Visit this eco-park to immerse yourself in a nature rich experience.

Volunteer at Bifengxia Panda Reserve

If you are interested in volunteer service, you can choose to be a volunteer to work for pandas so that you can spend more time with pandas. You can clean the pandas’ enclosure, sweep out their excrement, make their nutritious cakes under the instruction of the professional keepers and feed pandas. Besides, volunteers can also choose by themselves to enjoy the holding panda program and to take pictures with them. However, it will charge extra money which will be donated to panda protection fund. It must be a very meaningful and unforgettable experience in your life.

You can choose to be a volunteer to work for pandas.

Note

Currently, Panda Holding Program and Panda Volunteer Program are not available at Bifengxia Panda Reserve due to pandas' healthy issues. If you want to have such experience, you’d better go to Dujianyan Panda Base which is the only Panda Base that offers Panda Volunteer Program and Panda Holding Program at present time in Sichuan.