We would love your help and care with the Giant Panda in China. Although everyone loves a panda, with just 1600 left in the whole world it is the most endangered animal on the planet right now. Saving this species is a race against the clock. Help us care for the panda in China, sign up and get up close and personal with the amazing Giant Panda!

 

Giant Panda Conservation in China

Did you know that the bamboo eating Giant Panda is the “National Treasure” of China as well as the face of WWF? No wonder, these lovely and beautiful animals  are the rarest members of the bear family and among the world’s most threatened animals. The WWF puts seeing the Giant Panda number one on the list of must see wildlife, and now is your chance to work with this lovely creature!

Highlights

  • Tour of Chengdu, the “Heavenly State”
  • Stay at a giant panda breeding facility in China
  • Get to spend time with the Giant Panda in their natural surroundings
  • Airport pick up, meals, accommodation and in country support included

 

Your Role

You will be working according to a daily schedule which will vary depending on the duties and number of volunteers sharing the work. The majority of the volunteer work that you will get involved with includes:

    • Preparing food for the pandas such as apples, panda bread, carrots, and carry lots of bamboo
    • Serving the pandas food
    • Cleaning the pandas enclosures

Photos

 

Itinerary – First Week

Sunday

Arrival into Chengdu! We will transfer you to your accommodation for your welcome dinner and programme briefing.

Monday

Today you will have a tour of Chengdu. Capital of the Sechuan Province and known as the “Heavely State.” Two thousand years of history awaits you. Chengdu is famous for its Shu embroideries with bright colours and delicate designs.

Tuesday

In the morning you will be transferred by bus to Bifengxia Panda Base by bus. The journey is 150km and takes approximately two and a half hours (please note, this includes changing buses on the way), before enjoying your first lunch at the Panda Base. After lunch you will be given a full tour of the Base while also being introduced to your trainer and the panda keeper. Following this there will be an explanation of the guidelines for your work. In the evening it will be time to relax as you enjoy a meal at a local restaurant with your fellow volunteers.

Wednesday to Friday

Start the day with a briefing from the panda keepers before assisting them with their work at the Panda Base.

Saturday and Sunday

The weekends are your free time. You can spend this either by staying at the Panda Base or travelling around the area.

Second week

Monday to Friday

Working as an assistant to the panda keepers

Saturday and Sunday

Free time

Please note: Although you will be working in close proximity to the adult pandas, you will not have any physical contact with them. However, if there are baby pandas at the reserve while you are there you may have the opportunity to interact with them. You can pay a fee to the reserve which helps to fund the research and protection of the pandas, so please be prepared to take some extra money with you, an extra £50 should be sufficient for taking a photo and a £100 for 5 minutes playing time. Please note this is an optional extra and is dependent on the condition and age of the pandas.

Volunteers will be working Monday – Friday. Typical working hours are between 2 and 4 hours a day

Based on the needs of the project at that time, you may also get the opportunity to observe and do research on the pandas, and help in providing medical care for them.

Please note: Itineraries and activities are subject to change

Accommodation & Meals

Your home while on the programme will be the hotel in Xiaoxitian, which is located in the Panda Base surrounded by forests and mountains. There are two or three beds in your the room which will have an attached bathroom with plenty of hot water and Chinese style toilet. There is a laundry available for you to use.

You will have three meals a day provided in the nearby restaurant. The food is typical Chinese and will contain a variety of yummy dishes. English menu translations provided!!!

Free Time

The weekends will give you a great opportunity to explore the local area. There are a few shops and bars within five minutes walk of the Panda Base, and a town that takes about ten minutes by car to get to. Alternatively you can simply relax at the Panda Base with some of your fellow volunteers. There is also a nature reserve and zoo next door for you to explore.

Project Support

Throughout your stay in China you will have the support and guidance of our programme coordinators. They will provide you with competent assistance and help you with any questions or advice you may need during your stay. In addition, we will provide you with a 24 hour emergency contact number before you depart, so that you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.

Project Age Limit

Minimum age 18

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the panda conservation project located?
The accommodation is in walking distance from the project. This is 16 km from the nearest city of Ya’an and 150 km from Chengdu. Every half-hour there are buses from Ya’an to Chengdu. To get to the Ya’an, the closest city, you can take a taxi. This takes about 30 minutes.
Are there any shops nearby?
There are some small grocery stores in and around the panda conservation project and there is a small bar and relaxation room opposite the hotel where most volunteers hang out. Volunteers can come here to socialise, have a drink, read a book or even watch TV. However the bar is closed from December to February.
Where can I withdraw cash from?
There is no ATM at the panda conservation project. But there are many banks and several ATM machines in Ya’an city  and Chengdu city. Travellers cheques are becoming obsolete all over the world and they are very hard to get changed in China. Bring some local currency or just use debit/credit cards to withdraw money. The vast majority of time you cannot use a credit card to pay for transactions on the spot.
What if want to use Facebook, or call my mum?
Internet & phones – There is free internet in the panda project office during the working hours (8:30am – 4:30pm). There are also many internet cafes in Ya’an city (2 yuan per hour). You can use your own phone to ring home or use Skype. It would be a good idea if you are staying in China a long time (4+) to buy a local phone/sim. This way your mum can call you and it will not cost you anything. And also you can easily stay in touch with the other volunteers.
What is the weather like and what kind of clothes should I pack?

During the winter months it can be very cold. Electric blankets are supplied to all beds. These can be useful for drying the damp sheets in the summer when it gets very humid and wet. The mountain weather is very changeable.

Bring comfortable clothes. Waterproof shoes and a rain jacket come in handy and a fleece for colder weather. It is advisable for participants to check the weather forecast before they leave. (It tends to be a few degrees colder and a little wetter in the mountains than in Chengdu city).

It is a good idea to bring along some books and a small torch as power-cuts are quite common in China.

Are there hospitals?
There is a clinic on site at the project and several good hospitals in Ya’an and Chengdu city.

 

Price

Duration Shared accommodation
2 weeks 699
4 weeks 1299
6 weeks 1899
8 weeks 2399
10 weeks 2999
12 weeks 3499

Including

      • Information pack before departure
      • Airport pick up
      • All accommodation
      • Introduction
      • Tour in surrounding areas
      • Work clothes
      • Meals
      • Assistance
      • Tutoring on pandas and how to help
      • Volunteering Certificate

Excluding

      • Flights
      • Visa
      • Insurance
      • Spending money

Dates

Start dates are every Sunday. Airport pick up is included when arriving on Sunday before 5 pm. Please contact us for more details.

“The pandas were so beautiful, I absolutely loved my time with the project. China was really special and I would love to go back”
Lily small
“The people are really friendly and the pandas were so cute. I really feel I have made a difference after this trip.”
Jemima Olsen