Pricing & Basic Info

• Price: From $239 / Per person

• Duration: 8 - 9 Hours

• Group Size: Max 4 People (Private)

• Location: Dujiangyan Qingchengshan Base (1.5 hours from Chengdu)

  

  Overview

This is not your standard sightseeing tour. The Dujiangyan CCRCGP Base is the only official facility near Chengdu that offers a full-day volunteer program. Because spots are strictly limited each day, booking as a foreigner can be incredibly frustrating due to language barriers and local payment systems. That’s where we come in.

We handle all the complex paperwork, health declarations, and reservations for you. On the day of the tour, you will work alongside professional keepers. You’ll sweep enclosures, carry fresh bamboo, and even learn how to bake special "panda cakes" (Wowotou). It’s physical work, but getting this close to the pandas’ daily lives is an experience most tourists never get.

Tour Highlights

• Hassle-Free Booking: We deal with the complicated Chinese booking system and secure your limited volunteer spot in advance.

• Behind the Scenes: Enter restricted keeper areas to clean enclosures and smash fresh bamboo.

• Panda Nutritionist: Learn the recipe and hand-make the special dietary cakes that keep the pandas healthy.

• Official Recognition: Receive an official Giant Panda Volunteer Certificate issued by the conservation center.

• Comfortable Travel: Rest your legs after a day of physical work in our standard, spacious sedan (Lexus ES300 or similar) for a smooth ride back to your hotel.

  
  

  

  Itinerary

07:30 AM - Early Start & Briefing Since the pandas are early risers, so are we. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in our comfortable private car. During the 1.5-hour drive to Qingchengshan, we’ll brief you on the safety rules and what to expect during your shift.

09:00 AM - Registration & Putting on the Uniform Upon arrival, we’ll help you complete the final health checks and registration. You’ll receive your official volunteer ID and keeper’s uniform.

10:00 AM - Morning Shift: Cleaning & Bamboo Prep Time to get your hands dirty. You’ll enter the pandas' living areas (while they are safely outside) to sweep up old bamboo and collect panda waste. After cleaning, you’ll help carry and smash heavy fresh bamboo to prepare their breakfast.

12:00 PM - Lunch Break We’ll grab lunch at the staff canteen or a simple, authentic farmhouse restaurant just outside the base. It’s a great time to rest and chat with us about panda conservation efforts in Sichuan.

01:30 PM - Afternoon Shift: Panda Cakes Back to work! You will go into the preparation kitchen to mix ingredients and bake "Wowotou"—a special, highly nutritious bread made specifically for the pandas.

03:30 PM - Certificate Ceremony & Relaxing Return You’ve earned it. The base will present you with an official certificate proving your contribution to panda conservation. We’ll take some final photos (your smartphone is perfectly fine for great shots here) before settling into the car for a well-deserved nap on the drive back to Chengdu.

What's Included

• The Official Volunteer Program Donation Fee (This covers your uniform, training, and certificate)

• Private English-speaking local guide

• Comfortable private car (Lexus ES300 or similar)

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off

What's Excluded

• Lunch - Usually around $10; we keep this flexible so you can choose what you'd like to eat.

• Personal expenses and guide gratuities (optional)