Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu and Visit to Panda Base
Begin your journey in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where rescued and captive-bred pandas live in a semi-natural setting. Learn about panda biology, conservation breeding, and forest restoration projects. Overnight in a local green hotel.
Day 2: Transfer to Wolong Nature Reserve and Forest Walk
Drive into the Wolong National Nature Reserve, nestled in the Qionglai Mountains. After settling into a conservation guesthouse, take a gentle walk through the lower forest trails, home to red pandas, takins, and endemic birds. Enjoy a lecture from a local ranger on how rewilding efforts are helping pandas return to the wild.
Day 3: Panda Tracking & High-Mountain Hiking
Join a guided eco-hike through higher elevations in Wolong — bamboo forests and alpine valleys known as panda habitat zones. While wild panda sightings are rare, signs like droppings or feeding traces offer insight into their presence. Learn to identify medicinal plants and animal tracks along the way.
Day 4: Tangjiahe Reserve – Biodiversity in Action
Travel east to Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, a lesser-visited gem rich in biodiversity. Trek along the Xuefeng Trail, where you may spot golden snub-nosed monkeys, muntjacs, or even a takin crossing a river. This area is a model of balanced conservation, with carefully managed tourism supporting research and patrol work.
Day 5: Bifengxia Canyon and Panda Observation Center
Visit Bifengxia Panda Base, surrounded by cliffs and waterfalls. Here, pandas live in forest enclosures close to their native environment. Spend time observing their behavior from quiet platforms and walk through the Bifengxia Canyon, a stunning natural trail system dotted with caves and fern-covered slopes.
Day 6: Return to Chengdu and Cultural Wrap-Up
Head back to Chengdu. Enjoy a plant-based Sichuan lunch and reflect on your experience in a bamboo forest tea house. Optionally, visit a local NGO working on panda corridor connectivity before transferring to the airport or train station.
