Shenshuping Panda Base, Wolong

Shenshuping sits in the Wolong valley at around 1,700 metres, two to three hours west of Chengdu on a road that climbs steadily into the mountains. It was built to replace the older Wolong facility damaged in the 2008 earthquake, and it holds a large share of the captive giant panda population in enclosures of bamboo and hillside rather than the landscaped city setting of the Chengdu base. Visitors follow a set route between viewing points, keepers appear at feeding times, and the animals are most active in the cool of the morning. Red pandas share part of the site. The forested valley itself is much of the appeal of the trip.

What you actually see

• The hillside enclosures - large forested pens along the slope, seen from a walking route rather than through glass.
• Morning feeding - the period after opening when the animals are awake, moving and eating bamboo.
• The nursery area - the section for younger animals, busiest in the cub season.
• The Wolong valley road - the drive in through forested gorges, a real part of what makes the trip worthwhile.

When to go

Come as early as the gate allows. Pandas sleep through most of the middle of the day, and by noon there is little to watch. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable, since the valley is cooler and wetter than Chengdu. Cub season in late summer and autumn draws bigger crowds, and weekends and national holidays fill the car park.

Honest expectations

It is a long drive for a visit most people finish in two or three hours, and roadworks or landslides in the valley can slow the trip badly. There is no guarantee of activity, and sleeping pandas at the back of an enclosure are a common result. If you only want to see the animals, the Chengdu base is far easier to reach.

Nearby

The Dujiangyan irrigation works, and the road on towards Siguniang mountain.