Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. The Giant Panda is one of the most endangered animals in the world.

The Befengxia Panda Base is a branch of the Wolong Panda base. The road to the Wolong Panda Base was damaged seriously by the May 2008 earthquake, but Bifengxia was not affected. The Wolong Panda Center is closed temporarily to the public. Most of the Wolong pandas have been relocated to the sister Center Bifengxia in Ya’an City.

The Bifengxia Base is situated 8 kilometers from Ya’an City and 150 kilometers from Chengdu. The Base is located in Bifengxia Town. Bifengxia base was opened in 2003 as the part of the world’s largest Giant Panda Migration. It was the biggest artificial migration of captive bred giant panda ever seen. Now that it has been selected as China’s latest giant panda protection base, Bifengxia has a new role to play in altering the destiny of the endangered species. Pandas will be returned to nature after they have been given relevant training in simulated wild environments.

Bifengxia welcomes individuals or groups to volunteer at the Bifengxia panda reserve. These trips must be arranged by qualified individuals or travel agencies.

Volunteer with the Giant Panda in China is a wonderful and unique experience in your life. With our program you can help in the conservation work of the Giant Panda by volunteering at the Bifengxia Panda Base. We include 3-4 days volunteer work at the Center in the total 18 days program. Other than the volunteer work, we also visit Beijing, (Chengde as optional), Xi’an, Chengdu, Leshan, Chongqing and Shanghai, and the Yangtze Cruise is included as well.

The following special items are included in the program:

1. Panda volunteer administration fee, uniform rental and multiple admission fee;

2. Lecture on Panda Research by the scientist from the Center;

3. Taking pictures with Panda (to hold a Panda);

4. Certificate of volunteer participation.

The detailed itinerary for the program is as follows:

Day 01: Depart from your home city

Day 02: Arrival Beijing (D)

Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is at your leisure to explore this city once known as Peking to Westerns. (4-star hotel)

Day 03: Beijing (BLD)

Your first stop is the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. From there you enter the Forbidden City through the Tian’anmen Gate to explore the 250-acre complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens, containing 9,999 rooms. Your next stop is Summer Palace, the largest ancient preserved imperial garden in China and a summer retreat for the emperors and the chosen few. A delicious Peking Duck dinner is arranged to top off your first-day tour.

Day 04: Beijing (BLD)

We drive 70 Km north of Beijing to the Great Wall to see the wonder of it. Then visit the Ming Tombs and the Sacred Path – 13 of the 16 Ming emperors have their lavish tombs here. Kung Fu Show at night.

Day 05: Beijing-Xian by plane (BLD)

Tour the Temple of Heaven and Beijing’s old alleys – Hutong by riding a rickshaw before the afternoon flight to Xi’an – the first Chinese ancient city to open its door to the world during the Tang Dynasty as the first stop on the Silk Road. Enjoy the Dumpling Banquet dinner and you are entertained with the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show at night. (4-star hotel)

Day 06: Xi’an (BLD)

Visit the life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses – the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century, then the Ancient City Wall.

Day 07: Xi’an-Chengdu by plane (BLD)

Morning fly to Chengdu, proceed to have one-day excursion to Mt. Leshan to visit the Giant Buddha standing over 200 feet tall and 75 feet wide, that was completed in 90 years from 713 to 803 during the Tang Dynasty, and is now a World Heritage Site. The amazing statue is carved into a mountain side where the Minjiang, Qingyi and Dadu rivers meet facing Emai Mountain on the other side of the river on which we have a boat tour. Late afternoon drive back to Chengdu. (4-star hotel)

Day 08: Chengdu-Bifengxia by car: Panda volunteer program (BLD)

This morning we drive through the mountains to our the Bifengxia Panda Base, a sister center of the Wolong National Nature Reserve. You are specially arranged to have volunteer activities with Panda. (2-star hotel, best available)

Activities: You will work together with the staffs in the Research Center in their uniform along with their working hours. You will watch the Center staff preparing food for Panda, feeding Panda, cleaning their rooms and surroundings, and other daily breeding jobs. Depending on the different season you visit the Center, you will get a chance to observe Panda in estrus, copulation, body checkup, training, affective feeding, type-B ultrasonic, artificial insemination, childbirth and even participate in same of the scientific research activities.

Day 09: Bifengxia: Panda volunteer program (BLD)

Similar activities with the previous day. You can hold a panda for a picture, and play with the little ones.

Day 10: Bifengxia: Panda volunteer program (BLD)

Similar activities with the previous day. You will receive your certificate of volunteer participation by the end of the day. More days for volunteer program are available.

Day 11: Bifengxia-Chengdu by car (BLD)

Drive back to Chengdu. En route visit the Dujiangyan Dam – a 2000-year old irrigation system. Have city tour.

Day 12: Chengdu-Chongqing by car or train – Yangtze Cruise (BLD)

Drive to Chongqing and proceed to visit Ciqikou Old Town and People’s Square. Check in for our 3-day downstream Yangtze cruise in the evening. (5-star cruise ship)

Day 13: Yangtze Cruise (BLD)

At 6,380km the Yangtze is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world after the Nile and the Amazon. The most impressive section of the Yangtze is the Three Gorges. Today’s shore excursion features Shibaozhai (Stone Treasure Fortress), an ancient wooden pagoda built against rock cliffs facing the Yangtze.

Day 14: Yangtze Cruise (BLD)

Admire nature’s grandeur while sailing through spectacular Qutang Gorge (8km) and Wu Gorge (44km) today. Later this morning we navigate Shennong Stream on a small vessel. Originating in the southern slopes of Shennongjia Nature Reserve, the crystal clear river twists and turns 60 kilometers through forested mountains before emptying into the mighty Yangtze.

Day 15: Yichang-Shanghai by plane (BLD)

The ship enters the eastern section of Xiling Gorge (66km) in the morning. After lunch, we tour the site of the Three Gorges Dam. Construction of the dam began in 1992 and is scheduled to be completed by 2009. Estimated to cost over $24 billion, the project upon completion will become the largest hydroelectric dam in the world with a reservoir stretching hundreds of kilometers upstream.

We disembark in Yichang around noon. Fly to Shanghai. Acrobatic Show in the evening. A night view of The Bund. (4-star hotel)

Day 16: Shanghai-Zhujiajiao-Shanghai by car (BLD)

Shanghai, the largest city of China and the eighth largest in the world, is widely regarded as the citadel of China’s modern economy and the city also serves as one of the most important cultural, commercial, financial, industrial and communications centers of China.

Today’s sightseeing includes an excursion to Zhujiajiao – a water town near Shanghai. Afterward, we visit the Yuyuan Garden and the Town-God Temple bazaar nearby.

Day 17: Shanghai (B)

A free day today. Exploring China’s most dynamic city on your own is easy and fun. Our recommended to-do list includes a visit to glitzy Pudong New District and the popular evening cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy the city’s spectacular neon-lit skyline.

Day 18: Shanghai-Canada (B)

Free morning for packing up. You are arranged to take a ride aboard the world’s only commercially run Maglev train to the airport to board your return flight, and arrive home the same day.

Optional tour in Beijing:

Day 03: Beijing-Chengde by coach (BLD)

Leave from Beijing to Chengde Via Jinshanling Great Wall Or Shimatai and lunch, Visit Small Potala Palace Temple after arrival Chengde. (4-star hotel)

Day 04: Chengde (BLD)

Morning visit the Bishushanzhuang -The Imperial Summer Resort. Afternoon visit Small Kashilumbu Palace & Puning Temple.

Day 05: Chengde-Beijing by coach (BLD)

Drive back to Beijing and proceed to the airport to connect the flight to Xi’an.

Please e-mail info@chinavisittour.com for further info.

Other details please refer to Panda Volunteer Tours