Golden Triangle & Giant Panda
The three great capitals plus a morning with the pandas of Chengdu — the trip we recommend to seven out of ten first-time visitors.
★★★★★4.9 164 reviews
From US$1,690/per person
View tourWildlife · 5 days
Panda Volunteer Express
Five days in Sichuan with a half-day volunteering at a panda centre — cleaning enclosures, preparing bamboo and meeting the keepers.
The short version
Panda Volunteer Express is a 5-day Sichuan trip built around a half-day volunteer programme at a panda centre, where you prepare bamboo, clean enclosures and work alongside keepers. It also includes the Chengdu Research Base and a Leshan Giant Buddha day. From US$980 per person.
- A genuine half-day keeper programme, not a photo opportunity.
- Chengdu Research Base at opening, when the pandas are active.
- Leshan Giant Buddha day trip included.
- Small groups of eight or fewer; minimum age 12.
Day by day
Your day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
What's included and what isn't
Includes
- 4 nights 4-star hotel
- Volunteer programme fee and certificate
- Panda Base entry and guide
- Leshan day trip with entrance fees
- Daily breakfast and listed meals
Not included
- International flights
- Chinese visa
- Some meals
- Personal expenses at the centre
Destinations on this route
Chengdu
Sichuan · 4 tours
Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province and the gateway to the panda reserves, the Leshan Giant Buddha and Jiuzhaigou. In the city itself the Cheng
Sichuan
Sichuan · 2 tours
Sichuan Province is entered through Chengdu, its capital, and it holds more variety than any other province in China: giant pandas in the bamboo fores
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View tourFrequently asked questions
Do I actually work with the pandas?
You work around them, not with them: preparing bamboo, cleaning enclosures and carrying food. Direct contact with giant pandas is not permitted for visitors, and any operator promising otherwise should be avoided.
Is there an age limit?
The volunteer programme requires participants to be 12 or older. Younger children can join the rest of the itinerary.
How far in advance should I book?
At least six weeks. Volunteer places at the centres are limited and released in blocks.
Is the Chengdu base the same place?
No. The volunteer programme runs at a separate centre in the Sichuan hills; the Chengdu Research Base is a public facility we visit separately.
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