Dujiangyan Panda Base Panda Keeper Program Day Tour from Chengdu

Panda Keeper Program
Panda Keeper Program can be the best way to work with giant pandas and learn more about pandas, meanwhile to contribute to the protection and conservation of this endangered animal as the money goes to the Panda Base for helping research, breeding as well as training to reintroduce pandas to get back to the wild. The Panda Keeper Program offers people who show great love to the adorable pandas and would like to get up close contact as well as more interaction with pandas. During the program, visitor get the chance to learn about taking care of giant pandas with the help of professional Chinese panda keepers who speak English. Dujiangyan Panda Base is the most easily accessible base to join the Panda Keeper Program. There is a daily quota of 60 volunteers for the Panda Keeper Program. Since the Panda Keeper Program is getting more and more popular, please book this tour the sooner the better. First Come First Served!

Tour Highlights
• Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
• Feed a panda at a very close distance
• Clean a panda enclosure
• Watch a panda documentary movie
• Make panda cakes in different shapes
• Get Volunteer Certificate
• Perfect for all ages and skill level

About This Tour
• Departure: Daily departing from Chengdu
• Tour Duration: Approximately 8 hours
• Pick-up Time: Between 06:30 and 07:00, choose a departure time most suitable for you
• Pick-up & Drop off Place: Your accommodation in Chengdu
• Advice on Meals: Simple Chinese lunch is served at staff's canteen.

Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• 07:00 Pick up from your accommodation in Chengdu
• 08:30 Arrive at Dujiangyan Panda Base and register
• 09:00 Clean panda enclosures, prepare fresh bamboo for pandas
• 10:00 Tour around Dujiangyan Panda Base
• 11:00 Feed a panda with cakes, apples or carrots
• 11:30 Lunch at staff's canteen
• 13:00 Watch a panda movie
• 14:00 Clean panda enclosures, prepare fresh bamboo for pandas, feed a panda
• 15:00 Make panda cakes
• 15:30 Get Volunteer Certificate and transfer back to your accommodation in Chengdu.

Tailor This Tour to Meet Your Needs and Requirements
• If you want to modify this itinerary, please feel free to contact GoGrandChina by WhatsApp (+86-18309280878), Wechat (+86-18309280878) or email (info@GrandChinaTravel.com), we will create a tailor-made tour package for you.

Price Remark
• Prices are not valid during China's Official Holidays (such as National Day & Chinese New Year Festival etc.).

Price Inclusions
• Professional English language speaking private tour guide
• Air-conditioned vehicle with private experienced driver
• All admission tickets to sightseeing places
• Chinese lunch is served at staff's canteen
• All government taxes

Price Exclusions
• Hotel accommodation.
• Your personal expenses.
• Meals are excluded allowing you flexibility on menu.
• Travel insurance is not included. Please purchase before your trip to provide for any unforeseen circumstances.
• Gratuities to guide & driver. They are customary and would be of great encouragement and reward for quality service.

Additional Info
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking.
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
• The itinerary is subject to change due to traffic conditions or bad weather.
• The itinerary is flexible; changes can be made upon written request from travelers.
• IMPORTANT: It is required by the government regulations that travelers must provide their name, gender, nationality, passport number and date of birth to their tour operator upon booking a tour. Failure to do so could result in being denied access or admittance to sites and attractions during sightseeing. When you book this tour, please complete all required fields at checkout. Please bring your passport with you on the tour.

Cancellation Policy
• You may cancel the booking and receive a full refund up to 24 hours prior to the date of your tour.
• Cancellation within 24 hours or after the tour begins is non-refundable.
• Cancellation request will be confirmed in 2-5 business days, you will receive your refund within 14 working days.

Why Travelers Have to Choose GoGrandChina Private Tours?
• Choose your most suitable departure time, whether you are an early bird or you prefer sleeping in.
• GGC private tours are more flexible, allowing you to adjust everything on your trip to your wishes.
• GGC tour guides will be at your service to make sure you get the most from each destination. They are there for you and are responsible for making your journey special – and your needs always come first.
• GGC offers comfortable and luxury vehicles with a private & experienced driver who’s always by your side and ready to take you to your next destination.
• No shopping stops & factory visits, no chance of getting ripped off.
• No hidden costs, rest assured that there are no nasty surprises.

Know Before You Go
• Keep your passport on you constantly. It might be needed to buy entrance tickets.
• Add us on WeChat (+86-18309280878) or WhatsApp (+86-18309280878) to reach GGC service staff at anytime.
• Pick-up time, guide's name & contact information will be confirmed by WhatsApp, WeChat or email.
• Your guide will hold GoGrandChina welcome sign with your name, waiting at the appointed meeting place.
• Meals are not included; please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• Please note that if you book accommodation on Airbnb, you may not be picked up and dropped off at the door.
• We provide up to 20 minutes of waiting. If you don’t show up and cannot be contacted, this tour will be cancelled and you will receive no refund.
• Panda Keeper Program has an age restriction from between 5 years to 80 years. Children under five years who are accompanied by an adult can take the standard panda tour in panda base, but due to restrictions they are not able to be a panda volunteer.
• A maximum of 30 keepers are allowed each day, it is advisable that you book the program the earlier the better.
• Volunteer panda keepers must provide a Physical Examination Record prior to commencement of the day’s activities.
• Panda keepers are strongly advised to be guided by their supervisors and should approach the animals with extreme caution and only under supervision. Though pandas look gentle, they are animals and their behaviour can be unpredictable.
• Dujiangyan Panda Base allows a limited amount of people per day to take a photo next to a panda for an extra fee. If you are interested in it, please contact us for the extra charge and ask for the reservation in advance.

07:00 Hotel Pick-up & Transfer to Dujiangyan Panda Base
Your private guide will be holding GoGrandChina pick-up sign and waiting for you in your hotel lobby (or other appointed meeting place) at the appointed time. You will be transferred to Dujiangyan Panda Base by a comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle (90 minutes).

08:30 Arrive at Dujiangyan Panda Base and register
Arrive at the Dujiangyan Panda Base and sign up with the assistance of your guide. Get a uniform, gloves, and a volunteer’s card. Your guide will introduce you to the professional English speaking panda keepers. Meanwhile your guide will be there for you at all times, helping to take photos of you with the lovable pandas.

09:00 Clean Panda Enclosures, Prepare Fresh Bamboo for Pandas
Clean the panda enclosures. Panda keepers need to feed fresh bamboo three times a day. Pandas eat 20-40 pounds of bamboo per day. That’s a lot of poop and leaves to pick up in one enclosure. The pandas usually eat only 30% of the bamboo, wasting 70% of it. You will need to sweep out the leftovers and replace it with fresh bamboo.

10:00 Tour around Dujiangyan Panda Base
There are about 10 pandas in the base and some of them were born abroad, including the most popular Tai Shan and Bao Bao who arrived from the Washington DC Zoo to participate in the panda breeding program. You will also have a chance to meet four naughty red pandas.  

11:00 Feed a Panda
Pandas are supplied with panda cakes, apples, and carrots four times a day. The panda keepers will show you how to feed a panda with your own hands at close proximity. It offers you a chance to look into the eyes of panda in a very close way.

11:30 Lunch at Staff's Canteen
A simple Chinese lunch is included at the Staff's Canteen. Usually there are two meat dishes and one vegetable dish. Rice and porridge are also provided. It is highly recommended for you to prepare some snacks in case you do not like the food there. After lunch, you can walk around to continue exploring or have a rest in the volunteer office or the resting room.

13:00 Watch a Panda Movie
After lunch watch a 40-minute movie to learn about scientific facts about the endangered species and the painstaking efforts that human put forward to protect them.

14:00 More Cleaning and Feeding
Clean the panda enclosures again,  feed a panda with more fresh bamboos and supply with more special treats (apple, carrot, etc.), one more chance to get close to the cute creatures.

15:00 Make Panda Cakes
Make some panda cakes with prepared ingredients under the guidance of the instructor. Here is a chance for fully use of your imagination to create differently shaped cakes.

15:30 Get Volunteer Certificate and Transfer Back to Your Hotel
You will get a certificate granted by the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Foundation. The volunteer work ends here and say goodbye to the pandas that you have taken care of. Your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel in Chengdu (90 minutes).