Wolong International Panda Reserve, Chengdu, China
Well at first thoughts of traveling to Chengdu it seemed highly overrated! I mean a 32 hour train journey from Xian, I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to go that much to see the Wolong International Panda Reserve and sanctuary. Honestly could it really be worthwhile?
Short answer YES! It was absolutely amazing to see Pandas in an almost real environment, they were extremely well looked after in their nature reserve. Unlike other relations in the Beijing Zoo where I have heard many stories of money being thrown at the animals to get a reaction!
I even got to hand feed some young Red Pandas, I even got to hold one. Normally I wouldn’t be up for this due to the welfare of the animals, but I was sterilised and basically couldn’t get them off me after feeding them apples. I had never seen a Chinese Red Panda before or even knew they had existed.
It was unbelievable to see a baby Giant Panda, they are tiny! I was told that if a human were to have a baby in the same proportion as the Giant Panda the child would fit in a match box! The baby is 1/100th of the size of the parent. But due to the small size of the infant it is quite common that the Panda accidently kills it. Most of these deaths are for the first infant as the Pandas are quite scared and do not know what has happened.
Anyway on the positive side latest scientific evidenece using DNA testing on Giant Panda poo in the wild has shown that there are greater numbers of Giant Pandas in existence than previously thought. Lets just hope that the fantastic Wolong Panda Reserve continues to help look after these amazing animals.
Comment by Jeanette on 8 September 2007:
I am trying to find a china travel tour which includes a visit to this reserve, can you help.? Want to travel in 2007. Is any month of the year better to see the pandas?
Comment by Jeanette on 8 September 2007:
I am trying to find a china travel tour which includes a visit to this reserve, can you help.? Want to travel in 2007. Is any month of the year better to see the pandas?
Comment by Andy on 12 October 2007:
I was there in June 2002. Go early in the morning for most activity. Great place to visit. A tour is not really necessary.
Comment by Andy on 12 October 2007:
I was there in June 2002. Go early in the morning for most activity. Great place to visit. A tour is not really necessary.
Comment by Tammy on 22 October 2007:
I plan on going to Chengdu to see the pandas. How did you find information on transportation from Chengdu to Wolong Panda reserve? Should I spend the night there or is one day good enough?
Comment by Tammy on 22 October 2007:
I plan on going to Chengdu to see the pandas. How did you find information on transportation from Chengdu to Wolong Panda reserve? Should I spend the night there or is one day good enough?
Comment by elunamoon on 1 January 2008:
wow at first i thought red pandas were raccons but realy if u just saw on walking by u would think it was ether a raccon or a small fox
Comment by elunamoon on 1 January 2008:
wow at first i thought red pandas were raccons but realy if u just saw on walking by u would think it was ether a raccon or a small fox
Comment by greg whiddon on 7 February 2008:
I have booked with wendy wu tours as an add on from hong kong
Comment by greg whiddon on 7 February 2008:
I have booked with wendy wu tours as an add on from hong kong
Comment by Leon on 9 March 2008:
I plan to go to Wolong for 10 days this summer 2008. When is the best time to go from mid June to mid August? Is a train from Hong Kong possible?
Comment by Leon on 9 March 2008:
I plan to go to Wolong for 10 days this summer 2008. When is the best time to go from mid June to mid August? Is a train from Hong Kong possible?
Comment by Duane on 11 August 2008:
If you love Pandas you must love animals in general. If you love animals in general, PLEASE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to stop the horrific abuse of raccoon dogs and foxes in China. Brutal killers are skinning them alive and making them suffer for hours before dying in a pile of carcasses. Usually, they only want the fur. Sometimes they want meat and fur. ALWAYS, their methods are extremely cruel and unjustifiable. It is outrageous, heartless and shows China to be a nation full of sociopaths. If you can torment an animal, you can torment and murder a human. One leads to the other. China is full of them!
Please recognize the backward, barbaric practices and send China a message.
Comment by Duane on 11 August 2008:
If you love Pandas you must love animals in general. If you love animals in general, PLEASE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to stop the horrific abuse of raccoon dogs and foxes in China. Brutal killers are skinning them alive and making them suffer for hours before dying in a pile of carcasses. Usually, they only want the fur. Sometimes they want meat and fur. ALWAYS, their methods are extremely cruel and unjustifiable. It is outrageous, heartless and shows China to be a nation full of sociopaths. If you can torment an animal, you can torment and murder a human. One leads to the other. China is full of them!
Please recognize the backward, barbaric practices and send China a message.