Essential Things to Know about China Panda Volunteer Program
All about Panda Volunteer Program
1. Where Can Do Panda Volunteer Program in China? How to Choose It?
| Panda Base |
Volunteer Length |
Distance from Chengdu |
Features |
| Dujiangyan Panda Base |
1 day |
62 kilometers (1-1.5 hours) |
the closest panda base from Chengdu; over 30 pandas live here.
|
| Bifengxia Panda Base |
1 day / 3 days or longer |
155 kilometers (2.5-3 hours) |
awesome site to do volunteer program for 3 days or more; over 40 pandas live here.
|
| Shenshuping Panda
Base |
1 day |
100 kilometers (2 hours) |
located in Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries in primitive environment; the largest
breeding
center for giant pandas; over 30 pandas live here.
|
| Hetaoping Panda Base |
1 day |
120 kilometers (2.5 hours) |
the only base to attend Red Panda volunteer program.
|
How to Choose a Panda Base?
- For panda lovers who have very limited time in Chengdu, it is recommended to visit Chengdu Panda
Base which is located in the northeast of Chengdu suburb with 30 minutes’ drive. Travelers
can see
nearly 120 giant pandas & baby pandas, as well as 76 red pandas. (PS: No panda volunteer program is
provided in this base.)
- To experience the one-day volunteering work, you’d better go to Dujiangyan Panda Base which is
chosen by 80% - 90% volunteers.
- If you want to experience something different in a relatively primitive environment, Shenshuping
Panda Base or Bifengxia Panda Base is a good choice to do the volunteer program.
2. Who Can Join a Panda Volunteer Program?
To do the panda volunteer program, volunteers should be aged between 10 and 70 years old.
The numbers of
different bases are different and you can have a check before booking. If the booking for one base is
full, you’d better head to another base or change your time to do the volunteer program.
- Dujiangyan Panda Base: The center can accept up to 50 volunteers at any one time
and the age should be between 10 and 70 years old.
- Bifengxia Panda Base: The center can accept up to 40 volunteers at one time (only
20 volunteers once in July and August) and the age should be between 8 and 70.
- Shenshuping Panda Base: Shenshuping Panda Base can accept up to 15 volunteers at
one time and the age should be between 8 and 70.
3. Is Health Examination Form Needed?
Yes, every volunteer needs a health examination form. Being a volunteer, you should apply it a week in
advance with your Application Form and Health Examination Form (valid medical
certificate and signature
which could apply it in your country or in China). Interested people could feel free to contact our
travel consultant to get more information about the form!
4. You’d Better Book 10 Days in Advance
It is recommended to make a reservation of the panda volunteer programs at least 10 days in advance, and
even 1 to 2 months earlier for volunteers during peak seasons (mainly May to October).
5. What a Volunteer Program Consists of?
The following is the sample volunteer program at Dujiangyan Panda Base and you can have a general idea
about what for a volunteer to do in a panda base.
| Time |
Activity |
Morning
(8:30-11:30) |
Learn safety announcement and sign the security agreement; put on the work suit and
gloves, wear the volunteer pass card before go to the work place; the staff will
tell
the panda volunteer matters need attention.
|
|
"Honorable Panda Keeper" experience: carry out the old bamboo, wash
the
panda house, clean up the panda excrement, carry in the fresh bamboo, etc.
|
| "Wonderful Panda Tour" time: visit other panda enclosures, look
around
the panda base for more giant pandas and red pandas. |
Have lunch with the staff in the restaurant and take a break;
Visit around the
base
and see the cute panda if you like. |
Afternoon
(13:00-15:30) |
"Panda Cinema": Watch a panda documentary that shows the scientific
facts
about panda, to understand how humans protect them.
|
"Panda Nutritionist" time: prepare food for the panda and also make
the
panda cake.
|
Answer some scientific questions about panda through your whole days’ experience;
Plant bamboo to improve the pandas’ environment; and then, finish the panda
volunteer
experience and get the panda volunteer certificate and souvenirs.
|
6. What are the Volunteer Fees?
Usually, the program fees range between 700 - 1000 RMB which include the volunteering work, uniform,
sightseeing, sightseeing vehicle in the base, lunch, certificate and souvenirs, etc.
For panda volunteers who want a worry free package including private car with driver and an experienced
tour guide escorted you the whole way, the fee will increase and please feel free to contact our travel
consultant for the reasonable quote (PS: before ready to book the panda volunteer program packages, the
quote will be free.)
7. Is Training Provided?
Conservation efforts should always have a positive effect on the giant pandas, and for this to happen,
volunteers should have a good knowledge of how to best serve the needs of the “black and white animals”
they work with. The panda base at the above four panda bases will first train their participants before
do the volunteering work. These measures ensure the safety of both the volunteers and the animals
themselves.
8. Panda Volunteer Program Practical Tips
- Dress Code: For you need to do some physical work, like carrying and breaking
bamboo, cleaning the panda house, please try to wear comfortable (like sneaker) and do not wear
skirt, short pants or slipper.
- No Strong Smells: For pandas have keen sense of smell, volunteers should avoid
using perfume or other odorous articles like mosquito repellent liquid or nail polish, skin care
products, makeups, etc. on the volunteering workday.
- Healthy Bodies: To well protect giant pandas, volunteers are required to be
healthy, and people who are suffering from illness, like a cold, fever, influenza, and other
infectious diseases are not suitable to have physical contact with the giant pandas.
- Photo-taking Permission: Please get permission before take photos and videos!
- Force Majeure: The panda volunteer is to be delayed or inaccessible if there is
Force Majeure like earthquakes, epidemic... Also, the inevitable requirement and control of the
government, country may influence your volunteer program.
