Volunteer with the Giant Panda in China

The Program
The Giant Panda is one of the most endangered animals in the world. With our program you can help in the conservation work of the Giant Panda by volunteering at the Bifengxia Panda Base in China. Volunteers will work Monday to Friday. Typical hours are from 8am to 12am and 2:20pm to 5:00pm.

Transport
On arrival in China you will be met at Chengdu airport by our partner in China and transferred to your accommodation next to the Bifengxia Panda Base. The drive to the Bifengxia Panda Base takes about 3 hours. At the end of your program you will be picked up and driven back to Chengdu for your onwards travel.

Accommodation
Your new home will be in Xiaoxitian hostel, which is located next to the Befengxia Panda base, enclosed in the mountains. There are 2 or 3 beds in the room with attached bath, 24-hour hot water and washing laundry is available. Your breakfast is included in the price.
Pictures of the hostel : picture1 - picture2 - picture3 - picture4

Facilities

• Transportation : Xiaoxitian hotel is just in the Panda base, which is 16 km from Ya’an City and 150 km from Chengdu. There are some mini-super-markets in and around the Panda base. There are many shuttle buses to Ya’an and Chengdu City every 35 minutes.
• Money issues - There is no ATM in the Panda Base, but there are many Banks of China, and several ATM machines in Ya'an and Chengdu.
• Internet use - You can use the Internet in the office in the Panda base and there are many internet cafes in Ya’an city.
• International Phone calls – You can make international phone calls in Ya’an city but not available in the Panda base unless you have your own cell-phone, which is relatively expensive.
• Health information - There is a hospital near the Panda Base and several good hospitals in Yaan city.
• Weather and Clothes - The mountain weather is changeable, and it can be much colder and rainier at Wanglang than at lower elevations. Bring extra clothes for warmth and rain protection and wear comfortable, waterproof walking shoes. Bring sunscreen for sunny days. June, July, and August receive the most rain, however, it can rain anytime. Snow is possible as early as September, but is most prevalent from November through March.

Itinerary of a 1 week program

Day 1 : Arrive in Chengdu

The program starts from when you arrive at Chengdu airport where you will be met at the airport. You will be driven to the Bifengxia Panda Base which is situates 8 kilometers from Ya’an City and 150 kilometers from Chengdu, it will take about 3 hours. You will then check in to the Bifengxia Xiaoxitian Hostel and then walk to Panda Base for registering for your volunteering work. You will stay in the Xiaoxitian Hostel during your program which is located next to the Befengxia Panda base, enclosed in the mountains. Breakfast is included.

Day 2 - Day 6 : Bifengxia Volunteering

Your volunteering work starts. You will receive a training on how to care for the pandas and the guidelines for working with them. The volunteer available activities available are:
- Clean the Panda's enclosures and the gardens
- Prepare food such as bamboo for the pandas
- Help the scientists to collect the behavior data
- Help with the administration

Day 07 : Bifengxia - Chengdu

The diver will meet you at 10:00 am to drive you back to Chengdu airport for your next destination.

Start on any date throughout the year

The Bifengxia Base is situated 8 kilometers from Ya’an City and 150 kilometers from Chengdu. Bifengxia Panda Base is located in Bifengxia Town in Ya’an City. Bifengxia base was opened in 2003 as the part of the world's largest Giant Panda Migration. It was the biggest artificial migration of captive bred giant panda ever seen.

Now that it has been selected as China's latest giant panda protection base, Bifengxia has a new role to play in altering the destiny of the endangered species. Pandas will be returned to nature after they have been given relevant training in simulated wild environments.

click here for more info on the Bifengxia Base

Click here for pictures of the volunteer program with the Giant Panda in China

This price is based on a double room, the single supplement is 125US$/95GBP/105EUR/205AU$ per week

Included in the price:

• Volunteer Placement at the Bifengxia Panda Base
• Accommodation at the Xiaoxitian Hostel
• Breakfast at the Xiaoxitian Hostel
• Airport pickup at Chengdu airport
• Transportation from Chengdu airport to the Panda Base (about 3 hour trip)
• Transportation from the Panda Base to Chengdu airport at the end of your program
• Coordination and Administration fee for your volunteering

The prices of our programs also cover the cost of advertising and promotion costs, office expenses and staff at our head office and local staff.
Excluded: volunteering cloth rental (20 US$ per week), single supplement if you are booking alone

* A week program included 7 days and 6 nights
* You need to have a health certificate showing that you are in good health from a doctor or health center

Click here to ask us a question

click here for details on how to book