We were lucky, it was a rainy day, perfect for seeing real pandas.
We’ve been collecting panda bears since Chongqing, but mostly stickers and toys. Chengdu had the real deal—giant pandas. No, sorry, Mark. They don’t roam around the city; they live at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
It’s not a zoo, it’s a government-funded non-profit. I’m still traumatized by the Beijing zoo… And because it was a rainy and slightly cooler day, we figured the big black-and-white bears would be a bit more awake.
We took the subway and got off at “Panda Avenue”, then we boarded a bus to the research base.
My expectations were pretty low because pandas are popular in China, so good luck trying to spot a poor animal hiding behind a glass wall when you’re stuck in a crowd of Chinese tourists.
But it turned out that the research centre is huge, and that most pandas roam in large naturalistic habitats, phew. They are separated by age, with adults, teenagers and cubs in different enclosures, but you can actually see them pretty close, playing, sleeping or feasting on bamboo.
Although they are less popular with curious humans, the red pandas are also very cute!
Chengdu subway, Xiong Mao Avenue, 熊猫大道站Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610016Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610084Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610084Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610084Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610084Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street, 春熙路步行街, Jinjiang District, ChengduYulin Street 玉林街道 , Wuhou District, ChengduYulin Street 玉林街道 , Wuhou District, Chengdu
We often go to the zoo Pairi Daiza in Belgium. They currently have two pandas. Their 3 children (including twins) went “home” to Chengdu last year. We always loved seeing them in Belgium (the twins were hilarious together but I think they were separated at Chengdu), so I wonder if you happened to see them there. I’m glad to know it’s such a nice place for them.
Tian Bao is the big brother, and the twins are Bao Di and Bao Mei. We have passes to the zoo, so we go often. We went quite a bit before they left in order to say “goodbye”. My kids were very sad – but at least we can still see their parents!
We often go to the zoo Pairi Daiza in Belgium. They currently have two pandas. Their 3 children (including twins) went “home” to Chengdu last year. We always loved seeing them in Belgium (the twins were hilarious together but I think they were separated at Chengdu), so I wonder if you happened to see them there. I’m glad to know it’s such a nice place for them.
What an amazing experience!
This is such a cute story! Do you by any chance remember their names? I wrote down the names of the pandas we saw (… I know!).
Honestly, this is a great facility. It’s huge and pandas look quite happy.
Tian Bao is the big brother, and the twins are Bao Di and Bao Mei. We have passes to the zoo, so we go often. We went quite a bit before they left in order to say “goodbye”. My kids were very sad – but at least we can still see their parents!
I think we saw Bao Mei! I’ve heard that when the twins celebrated their birthday, people lined up at midnight to celebrate at the center.
“Di” means little brother and “Mei” means little sister.
I hope you can show my pics to your kids, I find it’s a lovely story that they saw the pandas in Belgium, and now that they are doing great in China 🙂