1-Day Dujiangyan Panda Volunteer Program Tour

PandaA Meaningful Hands-on Panda Conservation Experience

China is the homeland of giant pandas — and it is currently the only place in the world where travelers can take part in a real panda volunteer program. Through hands-on participation, you will gain a deeper understanding of panda conservation, the challenges faced by endangered wildlife, and the daily dedication behind animal protection work.

Located closest to Chengdu, Dujiangyan Panda Base offers a rare opportunity to work alongside professional keepers. You will prepare food, clean enclosures, observe pandas at close range, and learn fascinating insights from your guide — who knows the base well and can even introduce many pandas by name.

⭐ Tour Highlights

Watch Panda Feeding Up Close

Observe a keeper feeding pandas at close distance and witness their unique behaviors and eating habits.

Prepare Fresh Bamboo Like a Real Panda Keeper

Learn how bamboo is prepared and delivered to pandas every day, and assist in basic enclosure maintenance.

Make Panda Cakes with Your Own Hands

Create special panda cakes in different shapes using pre-prepared ingredients — a fun and memorable hands-on experience.

Receive a Volunteer Certificate

At the end of the program, receive an official certificate to commemorate your contribution and love for pandas.

🗺️ Suggested Itinerary

8:45 am — Arrival and Suit Up

Your guide will contact you one day in advance to confirm the pickup time. You will be picked up from your hotel at around 7:15 am and transferred to Dujiangyan Panda Base by private vehicle.

Upon arrival, you will register, change into a volunteer uniform, and meet the professional panda keepers. The keepers can speak simple English, and your guide will assist with translation throughout the day.

9:00 am — Prepare Bamboo for Pandas

Pandas need fresh bamboo delivered three times a day. Under the guidance of the keepers, you will break bamboo, wash bamboo shoots, and prepare food for the pandas. You will also help clean the glass of the enclosures.

10:00 am — Roam Around with an Expert Panda Guide

Take a break and enjoy a guided tour around the base. Our guides are true panda lovers — knowledgeable about panda behavior, conservation, and the unique stories behind individual pandas.

There are about 10 pandas at the base, including several overseas returnees such as Tai Shan and Bao Bao, who returned from the US. You may also meet four playful red pandas.

11:00 am — Lunch Time

Enjoy lunch with panda keepers at the staff canteen inside the panda base.

12:00 pm — Watch a Panda Documentary

Watch an educational panda film to learn more about panda caretakers’ working conditions, basic panda knowledge, and the long-term mission of panda conservation.

13:00 pm — Make Panda Cakes and Cut Bamboo Leaves

After seeing how panda cakes are used during feeding, it’s time to make them yourself. Ingredients will be prepared in advance — you can shape the cakes creatively.

You will also cut bamboo leaves into smaller pieces for elderly pandas.

14:30 pm — Receive Your Certificate

Your volunteer work concludes here. You will receive a certificate to commemorate your unforgettable day.

Say goodbye to the pandas you have cared for. Your guide and driver will escort you back to your Chengdu hotel, arriving at around 4:00 pm.

Tour Price

From US$349 p/p
Based on a private tour for 2 people. Price varies depending on the program, travel date, and number of people.

Price includes:

• Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space

• English-speaking local guide

• Activities and meals listed in the itinerary

• 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling