The reason most foreign visitors come to Chengdu: a research base founded in 1987 in the north-east suburbs that has grown into a 3,570-mu park with the world's largest captive panda population. The original zone behind the South Gate holds the nurseries (Sun, Moon and Star delivery houses), the numbered panda 'villas', the red-panda walk-through and the panda hospital. Everything runs on real-name online booking — up to 14 days ahead, a hard cap of 85,000 a day split into a morning and an afternoon slot — and the base's own English ticket page names Trip.com as the channel for people without a Chinese phone number.
EntranceSouth Gate: Line 3 Panda Avenue station Exit A, then shuttle bus 408; or Line 3 Zoo station, then bus 655 / 87
Last verified 2026-09-11
How to book
Real-name online only, up to 14 days ahead: WeChat official account / mini-program, Meituan, Ctrip, Douyin, Tongcheng, 'Chengdu Scenic Shuttle Bus' and 'Chengdu Tourism Sightseeing Bus' WeChat official accounts (Feb 2026 notice); Trip.com is listed on the base's English ticket page for visitors without a Chinese phone number, and a 'Cash and Cards' window sells remaining tickets on the dayVerified · 2026-02Source ↗
ID details
Passport required; see details for entry handling. One ticket per person per ID; bring the original document used to book. With the passport original either gate lane will pass you — the base's three official texts name the lanes differently — so follow the staff
Beat the crowds
Morning ticket, at the gate at opening (7:30 in summer, 8:00 in winter): pandas are most active early and the base takes them indoors in heat. Afternoon tickets are cheaper in queues but poorer in pandas, and the base itself says not to arrive early on an afternoon ticket — you will not be let in.
Language
Self-service audio guide with English: ¥30 a day for the whole park (¥20 museum only), rented from kiosks by scanning a QR code with WeChat or Alipay — no card reader, so it needs a working Chinese wallet. Guide-service desks at both gates (028-83510022, 7:30-17:30). The English website is full and current.