1-day Panda Breeding Center Plus Chengdu City Tour

Great tour to see the pandas and the city with a very informative guide

Most of the best bits were closed as the maximum temperature for the day was above 26 C. It’s not worth it if you’ve seen pandas elsewhere.

Our guide Molly met us in front of our hotel prompt and on time. Our driver was already outside waiting for us when it was time to leave. Our ride to the Panda research center was quick and short. Molly was a great guide. She took us on paths away from the crowds, so at times we felt like we were the only ones walking around the park! She took us to most exhibits before the pandas have been released, so we were front and center waiting. She knew when to tell us to move on to see other Pandas. We were planning to only see 2 exhibits, but she took us to a 3rd one because she saw how much we were enjoying ourselves. She even took us over to a newly opened pavilion where we got to sip some coffee and watch the pandas as they walked around. Lily was on the other end to communicate with us and she was prompt and very professional! The afternoon was filled with a delicious hot pot lunch and a tour of the city. We got to People's Park and enjoyed the afternoon tea sharing stories with Molly. The most interesting part was the match making square, we had the best time walking around with Molly as she read us the resumes!

Amazing day absolutely loved the close up with the pandas. The guide Molly was very knowledgeable and helpful. Memories to last a lifetime .

Great Tour by Susan! Seamless entry to the Panda Research base, wonderful hot pot meal, very helpful pointing out details of the wide and narrow alleys and helping locate specific souvenirs and gifts, awesome seats to the opera. Made for a wonderful way to see all of Chengdu in a day!

It is not possible to find a better tour operator in Chengdu than Lily or a better tour guide than Kan. My husband and I were thrilled with our 2 days with Kan + driver. I am disabled and need a wheelchair. Lily worked with me extensively by email to plan outings that suited our interests and that were within my capability. The vehicle provided accommodated my wheelchair and our tour guide, Kan, and our driver were extremely accommodating of my physical limitations. On the first day, we did a tour of Du Fu Cottage and Kuanzhai Alley. On the second day, we visited the Panda Breeding Base in the morning and then drove out to Leshan Giant Buddha in the afternoon. Both days were splendid and exceeded my very high expectations. Kan is very knowledgeable, informative and organized. She took very good care of us and when we said goodbye at the end of the second day it felt like parting with a close friend. My only regret is that I neglected to inform Lily of my highly restricted medical diet. This proved to be quite a challenge for Kan for lunch in Kuanzhai Alley, but she worked with me and worked with Lily by phone to figure out a place where I could get something that I could eat. In the end, Lily agreed for us to eat at a more expensive restaurant for no extra charge; I let them know that I was willing to pay extra. Our 2 days with Kan were quite perfect and an experience we will always remember fondly. Thank you, Lily & Kan!

We were picked up promptly by our guide, Penny. Penny had a great sense of humour and made the whole day so worthwhile. The pandas were adorable, the lunch was a true feast, the garden and monastery were fantastic and the walk through the marketplace was amazing. This was definitely something I would recommend anyone do. I had two children (young teenagers) and we were all entertained and involved for the whole day. Penny took her time with us. We did not feel rushed anywhere and had all the information and help bartering we could possibly have needed.

Abby was a wonderful tour guide! She took us where we wanted to go, and allowed us to go at our own pace and spend more time where we wanted to go. She was very patient if we wanted to go look at other places real quick, that weren't scheduled for the tour. We had a wonderful time in Chengdu and would def book again.

Visiting the Panda breeding center was a wonderful experience, which we thought would be the highlight of our China trip until we visited the Park in Chengdu, with the square dancers, the quiet Tea House...and even the ear cleaners! Song, our guide, was cheerfully enthusiastic and knowledgeable about her city, and made sure we had the perfect visit. She read and responded to our interests without being intrusive. She was the perfect host for first time visitors to China.

We found Lily on TA and all our planning by email before the trip was excellent. Lily gave us great advice and organised the day at the Volunteer programme. We were also picked up at the airport by her driver. The arrangements were very smooth and we thoroughly enjoyed our day in the Panda breeding centre as volunteers. It was an amazing experience and one we will always treasure. On day 2 of our 3 day holiday we decided to go to the other Panda centre only 30 mins from Chengdu downtown, We emailed Lily at 4pm on the day before and she organised a driver to the centre and then to the airport! So responsive! Both panda centres were worth seeing but go early as the one in town gets really crowded, we got there as it opened at 7.30am and saw a baby panda in a cot. Thanks Lily! We will be back.....

<p>We had a great time in the full day service tour with Amy, starting early on at the Panda Center, she helped us avoid the crowds and took us to very good viewing spots, then to the People's park, with clear explanations about daily life activities for the Chengdu city dwellers, nice Sichuan lunch after the Temple visit, and finishing visiting the old picturesque alleys.</p>

Amy was an excellent tour guide, good communication, patient, knowledgeable. We started promptly at 8AM from the hotel and were among the first at the panda center. Amy skillfully took us to all the key spots were these beautiful and cute animals were starting their day eating their bamboo breakfast, and to see the baby pandas move from slumber to play with each other, finishing that first part through the much more active red pandas. From there we went to to visit a temple and for a nice Sichuan lunch finishing that day through the uplifted classic village. Worth the trip!

<p>Very successful trip made more so by Winnie our guide <br/> She was very professional with a pleasant style but was also great fun to be with</p>

<p>If you only have 1 day in Chengdu, this is a great way to see the highlights! Our group of 5 coworkers was picked up at the hotel by a comfortable minibus and treated to the excellent narration of our guide Cassie. We started at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding first thing in the morning when the pandas were eating and the young ones were frolicking. Such fun to watch and Cassie knew the best way to navigate through this large park. On my own I probably would have wandered for hours and only seen half as much! The pandas are as awesome as the videos you've seen and stories you heard! We had a lot of ground to cover, so no time for souvenir shopping though. :- After the pandas we stopped at the Comrade's Cantina, a restaurant modeled after the communal eating establishments of the Cultural Revolution. The place was jammed, but Cassie made sure we had a great selection of food, probably the best meal I had during my 2 weeks in China! After stuffing ourselves, we headed back toward the city center for a walk around the historic Wenshu Buddhist Monastery. For those sensitive to scents, there is a lot of incense being burned. I had to resort to wearing a mask to ward off the smog and other vapors. Again, Cassie provided great explanations of the history of Buddhism, the monastery, and contemporary Chinese thinking. We made a quick stop at the shop across the street where the famous water noodles are made and served. The noodles themselves don't have any distinct taste, but the sauces they put on will burn a hole in your mouth! :- Next was Wide and Narrow Alleys, which is an old military installation turned into a tourist center. It was very crowded with restaurants and shops of all kinds - even Starbucks! Its definitely a place to people watch and shop if you like that. You can get your ears cleaned too - a uniquely Chengdu experience I was not brave enough to try. They put a pointy object in your ear and then touch the other end with a vibrating tuning fork. Apparently it feels good if you're brave! Our next stop was People's Park with a stroll through to see huge groups of line dancers, a boating lake, food booths, the Match Making Corner, and many tea houses. We stopped for traditional afternoon tea and Cassie taught us how to play Mah Jong. It was a relaxing ending to an informative tour. Highly recommended!</p>

<p>I'm originally from Ireland and have been living and working in China for the past three and a half years. This was my first trip to Chengdu so I didn't know the city that well,so decided to take a tour with this company. It was a great investment. My guide Cassie and driver promptly picked me up at 8.15 am and off we went to see the pandas. We went nice and early,not a huge crowd and got to see at least 20 of those special creatures enjoying their breakfast. I also saw some red pandas there,fascinating. After a wonderful stay of about three hours we went to the Wenshu Temple,a serene place where many Buddhists like to visit and pray. After a break for lunchconsisting of a selection of small Sichuan dishes we went to the Peoples Park and drank tea. It was quite busy with many locals doing the same as us. It rained a lot so Cassie and I sat there talking for about an hour. Her English skills are good and she told me many things about Chengdu and the daily life there. We finished the tour at the Kuanzhai Alleys,a vibrant and interesting place. Then I was driven back to my hotel after a thoroughly enjoyable experience. So glad I took the tour,it was good value,Cassie was very informative and able to answer any query and the driver was prompt and well organized. Couldn't have had a better introduction to Chengdu! : Recommended.</p>

<p>My daughter and I booked the half-day tour of Chengdu and we happened to have Lily as our wonderful guide. Lily was prompt and cheery as she picked us up from the hotel in the morning, urging us to ask any questions we might have throughout the day. At the panda breeding center, she gave us lots of great tidbits on the park's history and operations, took us to several great panda viewing sites, and let us move through them at our own pace so that we never felt rushed. For lunch, Lily asked what kind of food and setting we were looking for and, when we said we were very open to new things, she suggested a simple, but unique vegetarian meal at a nunnery. Apart from being extremely delicious, the meal was definitely an unexpected highlight of the day as we shared the space in silence with the nuns and other diners. We then enjoyed a leisurely walk through the old section of Chengdu, stopping at shops and monasteries, and having all our questions met by very insightful responses from Lily. From there, Lily took us to the city center, showing us where we could buy post cards, pointing out local delicacies, and providing us a personal look into the dynamics of the city through her experience growing up there. To end the tour, she took us through the Railway Memorial Park, where she provided interesting backstory to the dance troupes and social groups meeting there. Finally, we had a nice, relaxing tea at the city's oldest teahouse, where Lily showed us proper tea etiquette and gave us an impromptu lesson on texting with Chinese characters. Upon saying goodbye, Lily reiterated that she liked to think of her tour guests as new friends and that we were free to contact her any time which we took her up on later that day in asking her for dinner suggestions. Her cheerfulness, openness, flexibility and attentiveness to our needs and style of traveling made her an impeccable guide, and the tour the best part of our visit to Chengdu. Thanks, Lily!</p>

<p>my husband and I had an amazing time at Chengdu, China thanks to our private tour guide Lily She is just awesome. She showed us the best places in Chengdu! Always in our hearts Lily, thank you so much!<br/> I would, recommend this company, Lily and driver are amazing, professionals, honest, et.</p>

<p>Getting to the panda centre early was a great advantage. While the centre is not crowded at this time of year it is still better to get there before the numbers build up. Nothing can beat the experience of seeing pandas in something approaching their natural habitat. And, the baby pandas are just incredible! <br/> The number of venues visited in the city was just right there is no point in trying to pack in too much. It is only by a leisurely-paced walk around the streets, parks and markets that one can get a good feel for the city and its people.<br/> The guide, Lily, was both charming and informative with excellent English and was able to explain various aspects of the local culture.</p>