Dujiangyan Panda Valley

A calmer panda visit near Chengdu, without the “theme park” feel

If you’re planning to see pandas around Chengdu, you’ve probably seen the Chengdu Panda Base everywhere. It is genuinely good, but it also gets very busy. Dujiangyan Panda Valley felt like a nicer option to me because it’s greener, more spread out, and a bit less intense. It’s still popular, but it didn’t have the same “everyone in one place” feeling.

Here’s what actually mattered when I went, including the one thing that can mess up your visit if you don’t know it beforehand.

1) Why I think Panda Valley is the better pick

Panda Valley just feels more open. More trees, more walking, and less of that “city attraction” vibe.

The tradeoff is that it’s not the place for maximum baby pandas. It’s more about a calm visit and seeing pandas in larger, more natural-looking enclosures. That was exactly what I wanted.

A lot of people online describe it as more relaxed and less packed than the main Chengdu base, and that matched what I experienced.

2) Tickets: the thing you really need to know

This part is important: there’s no ticket window where you can just show up and buy entry. You need to book online in advance.

What worked for me:

• I booked through Trip.com because it was simpler than dealing with the WeChat mini program. You can buy them by clicking here.
• You can also book on WeChat via the official account called “Panda Valley”.

It’s real-name booking. On the day, you enter by scanning your passport.

Prices and hours (official):

• Ticket: 55 RMB (full price), 27 RMB (half price)
• Opening hours:
• • May to October: 7:50 to 17:30
  • November to April: 8:10 to 17:00

Small detail that matters: you book a morning or afternoon entry slot, and they don’t want you showing up outside your slot.

3) Getting there from Chengdu without overthinking it

You’ve got a few options, and they’re all fine. Pick whatever matches your day.

Option A: High-speed train + local bus

• Take a high-speed train from Xipu Station (Chengdu) to Dujiangyan Railway Station
• Then take Dujiangyan Bus Line 14 to Panda Valley

Option B: Tourist bus
There’s also a direct tourist bus option mentioned from Chunxi Road, often sold as a round trip ticket.

I’d only do this if I could clearly find the exact pickup spot and schedule for my day.

Option C: Didi
If you want the easy option, Didi is straightforward. If you’re two people splitting the cost, it can be a really good deal. For me, the drive was worth it.

What to paste into Didi or maps:

• 熊猫谷
• 都江堰熊猫谷
  (These usually work better than English.)

4) Go early if you want active pandas

This is true basically everywhere in Sichuan: pandas are most active when it’s cool. Morning is best.

If you arrive later, you’ll still see pandas, but there’s a higher chance they’re just asleep in the shade. I’d rather get up early and actually see them moving around and eating.

5) Yes, there are crowds, but you can still get good views

It’s not empty. When I went, there were still plenty of people.

What helped:

• Be patient at the main enclosures. People rotate in and out constantly.
• Don’t try to force your way to the front. Wait 2–5 minutes and a gap usually appears.
• If one spot is packed, keep walking and come back later.

Even with the crowds, I still felt like I got loads of good panda moments.

6) The teddy sellers at the entrance

Quick heads up: near the entrance there were a bunch of people trying to sell panda teddies and souvenirs. They can be a bit pushy.

My approach:

• Keep walking
• Smile, shake your head, don’t stop

If you stop, they’ll keep going. If you keep moving, it ends fast.

7) Is it worth the drive?

For me, yes. Completely worth it.

If you want the easiest panda visit with the shortest travel time, the Chengdu Panda Base is the convenient choice. But if you want something a bit calmer, greener, and less like you’re being funneled through a crowd, Panda Valley is a really good pick.

Conclusion

If you want a panda day that feels a bit more relaxed, Dujiangyan Panda Valley is a great choice. Just book your ticket online in advance, go early, and don’t stress too much about the crowds. With a bit of patience, you’ll still get those proper panda moments.