Set up high in the mountains of China’s western Sichuan Province, Wolong Nature Reserve is the best-known panda reserve in the country. Begun in 1963, it is home to more than 6,000 species of animals and plants.
Covering an area of 200,000 hectares, Wolong Nature Reserve features deciduous and evergreen forests as well as ice-covered mountains and was listed on UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Reserve Network in 1980. It is among the last protected habitats of the giant panda, red panda, golden snub-nose monkey and takin, with a total of 150 pandas, 67 of which are captive pandas.
Over 100,000 tourists, explorers, animal lovers and scientists are welcomed to Wolong panda reserve every year. Occasionally, wild pandas can be watched from the various wildlife observation spots in the reserve. Other key places of interest include an animal and plant specimen museum, bird specimen, insects, fish and amphibious reptiles. In the hi-tech research center visitors can take pictures of mice-like panda babies.
Wolong Natural Reserve experiences a warm and humid climate that is favorable to bamboo, the pandas’ favorite fare. Over 100 mountains with heights varying from 1,150 to 6,250 meters above sea level contribute to the preservation of biodiversity as well as stunning natural scenery.
Getting There & Away
One bus departs daily from Chadianzi Bus Station in Chengdu to Wolong village, with the journey taking 4 hours. If you miss that bus you can head to Dujiangyan, from where buses run twice daily to Wolong. Make sure to tell the driver if you wish to get out at the conservation center instead of Wolong village.