Chengdu Travel Guide - A trip to the Bi Feng Xia Panda Center

Spot the Panda - there's a Panda in there. Closer pics further down.

With the recent Sichuan earthquake - a very popular travel destination was badly damaged and removed from the tourist route - The Wolong Panda Center. Because of this disaster the majority of the Pandas at Wolong needed to be re-homed - so they were transported to the Bi Feng Xia center near Ya'an - a city that's just over a 100 motorway kilometers from Chengdu. Many travelers have been asking about the center - but, over the net, it seems very difficult to find good information about the place. So with the aim of satisfying our own curiosity - and to get some useful info and pics to right a blog report - this Sunday's expedition headed towards Bi Feng Xia.

Chengdu Travel - We started from Chengdu at 9.30 in the morning and reached the Bi Feng Gorge turn-of just before 11.00. From here you have to drive about 10km kilometers up a very scenic road that leads you towards the Panda Center. As you can see, we were lucky with the weather - after a rather wet Autumn - this Sunday decided to be rather sunny.


The main Entrance where you buy your tickets.

Bi Feng Xia consists of two main attractions - the Panda Research Center - and a safari park type zoo - where you get on a bus to drive through areas with Lion, Zebra and all the other stuff you find at these type of places.
Since we had no desire to visit the safari area, we gladly discovered that the Panda Research Center is completely separate from this zoo, in fact it's in a whole other part of the gorge - and were relieved that you can buy a separate ticket, which just gives access to the Panda area. The cost of this ticket is 80RMB for adults. We had 2 small children with us - they were let in for free.
Around this entrance area are lots of restaurants and hotels - so it's quite possible to stay out here - although with Ya'an being only 15km down the road - its also quite convenient to overnight there. We saw a city bus going up to Bi Feng Xia - it was no. 4 - so I assume that's the bus you take from Ya'an.


Going down!!!!

The Panda Center is situated within the gorge, and the main entrance is at the top. So if you want to see Pandas - then it's down, down, down.

Those first flight of stairs take you to the top of this - an elevator. The floor counter read 99 at the top and we descended to level 1 - the bottom of the gorge.


And this is what it's like down here - rivers, waterfalls and scenic pathways. Rather nice!!!


The gang poking about - we're well impressed.


Actually for a beautiful Sunday - this place wasn't that crowded - this was the only big group of people we met on our walk towards the Panda Center. The paths are well looked after - but I think in wet weather they could be a wee bit slippy. I find a pair of soft soled sport's-shoes are a good idea for this type of path.


Some of those waterfalls look pretty neat.


Our nephew - totally fascinated by a rainbow - or is that a waterfallbow?


Him and Meggie also got a spot of bird watching in - the nature is good in this area. Just here they got a White-crowned Forktail in their sights.


The entrance to the research center and the Pandas - it was about a 3km walk on the path, after which you come to a road - from there you can than catch a free bus that will shuttle you a couple of further kilometers to this gate. Alternatively you can take this bus the whole distance and avoid the path walk.


This is where the Pandas live - a view over some of enclosures. Although this place is at least still 2,000m lower than true panda habitat - there's a lot forest trees, which gives a nice natural look


Here's that baby Panda again - you could gaze through a window and look into the incubator where this lazy little fellow was sleeping.

To get the best out of these pics - double click, to see them in a larger format.


Yawnnnnnnnnnnn - it's hard work being an animal superstar!!!


But of course there were bigger Pandas - the keeper is calling this one in for food.


Now it's inside eating - that goody it's chewing on is called a Panda Cake - which is made up of a whole lot of other stuff than just bamboo. Pandas don't just survive on bamboo - although this plant is by far the most important part of their diet.


Lazybones - enjoying the autumn sunshine


A young bear, enjoying a bit of Panda gymnastics.


There's a road that goes through the Panda area - and for an extra 10RMB you can buy a ticket for a small open bus that will shuttle you in between all the enclosures.


However, if you're like us - and more inclined to walk - there are also a network of nice quiet pathways.


Remember this place isn't just Pandas - apart from the Panda Center that ticket also gives access to a whole lot of other interesting areas. Along this path we met a fortune teller.


It's great place to chill out - lots of water - and cool vegitation - a nice nature park.


There's also a temple - it isn't old - but you can still wish for good fortune by burning a candle or two.


The bins are well camouflaged - just look for a mossy rock that has a hole for rubbish.


If you want to explore and simply can't be bothered to walk - then like royalty of old - you can be transported in a chair.


Here's a modern day empress - she looks very comfortable. I feel sorry for the bearers - but I suppose this is a way of making money.


A rest stop - lots of nice shady areas where you can find somewhere to sit.


When it comes to eating, there are restaurants in side this area - but we always like to get fried potatoes on a stick.


Of course it's the Pandas that make a trip to this place so special - a good day out.

To find out more about this site contact us on - chengduuk@hotmail.com

Tagong - Chengdu Roundtrip - Tagong Grassland is now open to foreign travelers - our October trip to Tagong

Chengdu Travel - During the summer Olympic period there had been restrictions with regard to foreign travelers being given entry into those fantastic areas to the West of Kangding (Kangding is an easy 6 hour's Motorway and mainroad drive from Chengdu). However we had been getting reports that these were coming to an end and from September tourists were once again being allowed through. Knowing that the best way to check out rumour is to test them - we made the trip to Tagong last weekend - and yes no problems its all open!!!!
When we had to stop at the one security check-point just on the edge of Kangding I wasn't even asked to show my passport (I'm a Brit) - in Tagong a policeman came to talk to us - but he was all smiles - informing us of road construction and telling about the best routes.
The pic is of the towering 7,000m Gongga Mountain viewed from Zheduo Mountain which is just outside Kangding.
This and all the other pics were taken on this last trip - click on them to get a bigger image.


And this is the end-point - the Tagong grasslands - home of nomadic Tibetan Yak herders. A frosty morning pic taken in the intense sunlight that's found at this 3,000m plus location - take your sunblock (my nose is still a little sore).
You can get here - with a good driver - in about 10 hours from Chengdu. If you take public transport give a day to drive to Kangding and then pick up one of the many minibuses for the last stage of your trip on day 2.


This area isnt just nomads and grasslands - there are also farming communities - with lovely villages and more tranquil scenery.

But of course we also have our mountain scenes - this is at 4,300m at the Zheduo Pass - prayer flags and peaks making for a photographers dream.

The light here is just incredible - the river that flows through Tagong, here there is forest on the valley sides.


A lot of the roads are being rebuilt to a high standard - and much of that work is already finished. Trvel here is easy - and getting even easier. In normal tourist seasons there is no need for 4WD.


There's my wife - I kept on losing her with the camera!!!!


This is what it looks like when you get very close to the vegitation line - its a tad chilly here, and snow was starting to fall. This is on the road to Moxi.
You don't have to be an ace mountaineer to get up here - just drive a car and walk up a track. However go slowly - the air is thin.
with regard to altitude sickness - here are tips -

1. - making sure not to over exert yourself when high

2. - taking oxygen - you can buy small cheap spray canisters of O2 with a mask. I've never used them, and can't vouch for the quality of content - but by the evidence of rubbish cans lots of tourists use them.

3. - taking Tibetan herb medicine - which being organic shouldn't mess with other medications. I've tried this and it seems to work - but then again there is the placebo effect and mind over matter!!!!

4. - to stem the symptoms - drink lots of water - getting altitude sick often feels like a hang-over - you get de-hydrated.

5. - If you really do get sick go down again. In normal cases you recover very quickly when you descend.


This is nice country - again a view up from the Zheduo Mountain - this time from the new airport road.


The new temple on the Tagong Grassland - basking in the early morning sunlight.


Looking down onto the grasslands near Tagong - on that airport road.


A backdrop to the Tagong Grasslands is the holy Yala Mountain - this shot gives you the holy feel!!!

More rolling grassland at Tagong - there's also a few autumn colours that enliven this pic.



Mustn't forget Stupas - here is one and that Yala Mountain.


Most of the people we guide this way are birders - but even if you're not a wildlife freak its hard to ignore the fantastic nature here.


It might be just a Sparrow - but you don't often see 'em sitting on Tibetan prayer flags.


Vulture meets the moon - lots of big birds floating about!!!


Here's the old Tagong Temple - an important place for Tibetan pilgrimage. Lots of prayer wheels and a great whiff of yak butter!!!!


A smaller temple on the road out of Tagong - these places look very neat.


There she is - found her again - this time hiding behind a Stupa.


We have a van so we like to give folk lifts - for the price of a photo. Here are 3 nuns - on a pilgrimage to Tagong Temple.



Three farming girls - those hats look so pretty.


For us the most serious effects of altitude, and changes in air-pressure, were exploding crisp (for you Americans thats - chip) packets - here's another one that's about to go. Wonder if there's money in producing a high altitude packet.


Here's that airport road I've been talking about- the surface still isn't finshed - but its perfectly okay in dry conditions. On this road you can get to Kangding in about 3 to 4 hours (a lot slower if you're always stopping to take the scenery in) .


Our Hotel landlady - we always stay at this friendly place. The food is Tibetan, which includes - yak butter tea - some Tibetan cheese (it doesn't taste much like cheese), barley flour which you mix with yak butter and sugar - and lots more yak butter tea.
Actually I'm not going to rave on about this diet - and the old lady chuckled when she told that she was sure some foreign guests only ate through being polite!!!!
A few other restaurants in the town where you can get away from yak butter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Here she is again - a great place to stay.


Our bedroom - no posters on the wall here.
There are electric blankets to keep you warm - but bathroom and toilet conditions are basic. A bowl for washing and a hole in the floor type toilet for doing other business - but down the road there other establishments that cater for those who need a bit more pampering

To find out more about the grasslands, contact us on - chengduuk@hotmail.com