Panda Volunteer Program, Volunteer with Pandas in China

Plan & Do Panda Loving Care Program

Search for where can do Panda Loving Care program all over the world? A certain answer is here - there is no other place but China providing the memorable Panda Loving Care program to make a meaningful difference!

Head to the "Real Hometown of Giant Pandas" - Sichuan Province in China, and Participants can choose among three natural panda bases - Dujiangyan Panda Base, Ya'an Bifengxia Panda Base and Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base where you can take care of the endangered giant pandas and have conservation with them. During the program, Participants will see as many pandas as possible, clean the pandas' enclosures, prepare special panda food, chop bamboo...

For travelers who are interested in loving care with red pandas (the lesser panda or red bear-cat), it is suggested to reach Wolong Hetaoping Panda Base for the one full day red Panda Loving Care program.

Essential Things to Know about China Panda Loving Care Program

All about Panda Loving Care Program

1. Where Can Do Panda Loving Care Program in China? How to Choose It?

Panda Base	Length	Distance from Chengdu	Features
Dujiangyan Panda Base	1 day	62 kilometers (1-1.5 hours)	the closest panda base from Chengdu; over 30 pandas live here.
Bifengxia Panda Base	1 day / 3 days or longer	155 kilometers (2.5-3 hours)	awesome site to do loving care program for 3 days or more; over 40 pandas live here.
Shenshuping Panda Base	1 day	100 kilometers (2 hours)	located in Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries in primitive environment; the largest breeding center for giant pandas; over 30 pandas live here.
Hetaoping Panda Base	1 day	120 kilometers (2.5 hours)	the only base to attend Red Panda Loving Care program.

How to Choose a Panda Base?

For panda lovers who have very limited time in Chengdu, it is recommended to visit Chengdu Panda Base which is located in the northeast of Chengdu suburb with 30 minutes' drive. Travelers can see nearly 120 giant pandas & baby pandas, as well as 76 red pandas. (PS: No Panda Loving Care program is provided in this base.)
To experience the one-day loving care work, you'd better go to Dujiangyan Panda Base which is chosen by 80% - 90% Participants.
If you want to experience something different in a relatively primitive environment, Shenshuping Panda Base or Bifengxia Panda Base is a good choice to do the Panda Loving Care program.

2. Who Can Join a Panda Loving Care Program?

To do the Panda Loving Care program, Participants should be aged between 10 and 70 years old. The numbers of different bases are different and you can have a check before booking. If the booking for one base is full, you'd better head to another base or change your time to do the Panda Loving Care program.

Dujiangyan Panda Base: The center can accept up to 50 Participants at any one time and the age should be between 10 and 70 years old.
Bifengxia Panda Base: The center can accept up to 40 Participants at one time (only 20 Participants once in July and August) and the age should be between 8 and 70.
Shenshuping Panda Base: Shenshuping Panda Base can accept up to 15 Participants at one time and the age should be between 8 and 70.

3. Is Health Examination Form Needed?

Yes, every participants needs a health examination form. To apply this program, you should apply it a week in advance with your Application Form and Health Examination Form (valid medical certificate and signature which could apply it in your country or in China). Interested people could feel free to contact our travel consultant to get more information about the form!

4. You'd Better Book 10 Days in Advance

It is recommended to make a reservation of the Panda Loving Care programs at least 10 days in advance, and even 1 to 2 months earlier for Participants during peak seasons (mainly May to October).

5. What a Panda Loving Care Program Consists of?

The following is the sample Panda Loving Care program at Dujiangyan Panda Base and you can have a general idea about what for a participant to do in a panda base.

Time	Activity
Morning (09:00-09:20)	Learn safety announcement and sign the security agreement; put on the work suit and gloves before go to the work place; the staff will tell the Panda Loving Care matters need attention.
	"Honorable Panda Keeper" experience: carry out the old bamboo, wash the panda house, clean up the panda excrement, carry in the fresh bamboo, observe and record pandas' behaviors, watch panda keepers feeding pandas, learn about the living habits of giant pandas, etc.
	Have lunch with the staff in the restaurant and take a break;
Afternoon (13:00-15:30)	"Panda Cinema": Watch a panda documentary that shows the scientific facts about panda, to understand how humans protect them.
	"Panda Nutritionist" time: prepare food for the panda, make the panda cake, cut fresh bamboo leaves for the elderly giant pandas.
	Answer some scientific questions about panda through your whole days' experience; Plant bamboo to improve the pandas' environment; and then, finish the Panda Loving Care experience and get the Panda Loving Care certificate and souvenirs.

6. What are the Panda Loving Care Fees?

Usually, the program fees range between 700 - 1000 RMB which include the loving care work, uniform, sightseeing, sightseeing vehicle in the base, lunch, certificate and souvenirs, etc.

For Panda Loving Cares who want a worry free package including private car with driver and an experienced tour guide escorted you the whole way, the fee will increase and please feel free to contact our travel consultant for the reasonable quote (PS: before ready to book the Panda Loving Care program packages, the quote will be free.)

7. Is Training Provided?

Conservation efforts should always have a positive effect on the giant pandas, and for this to happen, Participants should have a good knowledge of how to best serve the needs of the "black and white animals" they work with. The panda base at the above four panda bases will first train their participants before do the loving care work. These measures ensure the safety of both the Participants and the animals themselves.

8. Panda Loving Care Program Practical Tips

Dress Code: For you need to do some physical work, like carrying and breaking bamboo, cleaning the panda house, please try to wear comfortable (like sneaker) and do not wear skirt, short pants or slipper.
No Strong Smells: For pandas have keen sense of smell, Participants should avoid using perfume or other odorous articles like mosquito repellent liquid or nail polish, skin care products, makeups, etc. on the loving care workday.
Healthy Bodies: To well protect giant pandas, Participants are required to be healthy, and people who are suffering from illness, like a cold, fever, influenza, and other infectious diseases are not suitable to have physical contact with the giant pandas.
Photo-taking Permission: Please get permission before take photos and videos!
Force Majeure: The Panda Loving Care is to be delayed or inaccessible if there is Force Majeure like earthquakes, epidemic... Also, the inevitable requirement and control of the government, country may influence your Panda Loving Care program.