Panda Volunteering: Where can you do it?

From 5th graders all the way up to college students, everyone loves volunteering at the panda base. But where can you do it, how are they different, who’s qualified, how much does it cost and what exactly would you do? In this article, Real China would like to help you understand your options.

Although the Panda Research and Breeding Center within the city of Chengdu is a great place to observe many pandas of different ages, unfortunately it doesn’t offer a volunteering opportunity.

There are four Panda bases in the Sichuan Province where you may volunteer: Dujiangyan, Wolong Hetaoping, Wolong Shengshuping, and Ya'an Bifengxia. They are all associated with China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). They all have volunteering programs available on limited bases. Here are the following bases and their respective details:

1. Dujiangyan Base 中国大熊猫保护研究中心都江堰基地.

a. Distance from Chengdu city center: 63km; 1h30min.

b. Volunteer age limitation: 12 to 65, may be 11 to 70 years via Real China.

c. Price: RMB800/person.

2. Wolong Shenshuping Base 中国大熊猫保护研究中心卧龙中华大熊猫苑神树坪基地（地点：卧龙耿达镇)

a. Distance from Chengdu city center: 120km; 2h30min to 3h.

b. Volunteer age limitation: 12 to 65 years, may be down to 8 years via Real China

c. Price: RMB800 /person.

3. Wolong Hetaoping Base 中国大熊猫保护研究中心卧龙核桃坪基地.

a. Distance from Chengdu city center: 130km, 3h to 3hr30min

b. Volunteer age limitation: 10 to 65

c. Price: RMB1200/person.