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One-Day Panda Keeper Experience at Dujiangyan

China is the native home of the giant panda and offers unique volunteer opportunities not found elsewhere in the world. By taking part in hands-on care activities, you will develop a deeper appreciation of the challenges facing pandas and a stronger awareness of global wildlife conservation. This experience also fosters respect for the dedication and effort behind animal protection efforts.

Located just a short drive from Chengdu, Dujiangyan Panda Base provides an unforgettable day of close interaction with these beloved animals. You'll have the chance to prepare meals for the pandas and watch them enjoy their food up close. Throughout the day, knowledgeable guides—familiar with each panda's personality and story—will share fascinating insights into their lives and care.

Tour Highlights

Get up close to observe a panda's feeding time, where you can watch its mealtime behavior just steps away.

Experience preparing bamboo for pandas and learn through hands-on practice.

Craft specially shaped cakes for the pandas.

Be awarded a personalized certificate in recognition of your exceptional contribution to panda care.

Itinerary Overview

This suggested itinerary is fully flexible. We will gladly customize it to your interests, schedule, and real-time conditions, with your guide making adjustments as needed.

Your guide will contact you at your hotel by phone or message one day in advance to finalize the pickup time. You will be collected from your hotel at approximately 7:15 AM.

Upon arrival at the panda base, please complete the registration and you will be issued a volunteer uniform. Your guide will then introduce you to the professional panda keepers. While the keepers can communicate in basic English, your guide will remain with you throughout to assist with translation and provide support.

A core duty for volunteers is assisting in preparing the pandas' three daily bamboo meals. Your tasks include breaking down bamboo stalks and washing bamboo shoots under the keeper's guidance. Following this, you will help maintain a clean viewing environment by washing the glass of the panda enclosures.

Take a stroll through the panda base with your expert guide. More than just guides, they are passionate ambassadors who live and breathe panda conservation. They know every corner of the base and love to share the pandas' world — some even host popular live streams on social media.

Meet our star residents, including about 10 giant pandas. Look out for celebrities like overseas returnees Tai Shan and Bao Bao from the US. Your tour also includes a visit to our playful quartet of red pandas.

Join the panda care team for an authentic lunch at the staff canteen. This is a perfect opportunity to relax, enjoy a meal, and gain a behind-the-scenes perspective on the daily rhythms of the panda base.

Participate in a structured film screening designed with a threefold objective: to illustrate the working environment of panda keepers, to teach essential panda biology, and to explain the overarching goals of global panda conservation efforts.

Inspired by watching the panda feeding? Now, under keeper guidance, learn to prepare the panda cakes yourself. Using pre-prepared ingredients, craft these key nutritional components and experiment with fun shapes. Then, assist with preparing bamboo by cutting leaves into smaller portions suitable for older pandas.

Having seen the keepers feed pandas their special cakes, aren't you curious to make your own? Now it's your turn! All ingredients will be prepared for you. Get creative and shape these nutritious treats. You'll also carefully cut bamboo leaves into bite-sized pieces specially for our older pandas.

Upon completion of the volunteer program, you will be formally presented with a certificate to honor your contribution. Following a final goodbye to the pandas, your guide and driver will provide transportation back to your Chengdu hotel, with an expected arrival around 4:00 PM.