Panda

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, home to more than 30% of the world's pandas which are classed as highly endangered, covers 924,500 ha with seven nature reserves and nine scenic parks in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains. The sanctuaries constitute the largest remaining contiguous habitat of the giant panda, a relict from the paleo-tropic forests of the Tertiary Era. It is also the species' most important site for captive breeding. The sanctuaries are home to other globally endangered animals such as the red panda, the snow leopard and clouded leopard. They are among the botanically richest sites of any region in the world outside the tropical rainforests, with between 5,000 and 6,000 species of flora in over 1,000 genera.

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains is principally renowned for its importance for the conservation of the giant panda, recognized as a “National Treasure” in China and as a flagship for global conservation efforts. The property is the largest and most significant remaining contiguous area of panda habitat in China and thus the world. It is also the most important source of giant panda for establishing the captive breeding population of the species.

In addition to the giant panda, the property features a great number of endemic and threatened species of plants and animals, including other iconic mammal species such as the red panda, snow leopard and clouded leopard among the 109 species of mammals recorded (more than 20% of all Chinese mammals). The property is an important centre of endemism for some bird taxa with 365 bird species recorded, 300 of which breed locally. However the property is particularly important for flora, being one of the botanically richest sites of any temperate region in the world with some 5,000 – 6,000 species recorded. Many species are relicts, such as the dove tree, and there is significant diversity in groups such as magnolias, bamboos, rhododendrons, and orchids. The property is a major source and gene pool for hundreds of traditional medicinal plants, many now under threat.

Located in China’s southeast province of Sichuan in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains between the Chengdu Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the property includes seven nature reserves and eleven scenic parks in four prefectures or cities. It covers a total area of 924,500 ha surrounded by a buffer zone of 527,100 ha.

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (hereinafter referred to as the Panda Base), located at 1375# Panda Avenue, Chenghua District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, P.R. China, is 10 km away from the city center (Tianfu Square), about 30 km from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and about 50 km from Tianfu International Airport. Proclaimed the ecological demonstration project for giant panda ex-situ conservation, the Panda Base, covering an area of 3.07 square kilometers, serves as the world’s preeminent institution for giant panda ex-situ conservation, scientific research and breeding, popular science education, and cultural tourism. The Panda Base wears its title as the sanctuary for giant pandas, red pandas, and other endangered wild animals exclusive to China with pride. The scenery is breathtaking: trees cover the slopes as crystal clear rivers wind down the hills. Forests line the paths, nesting birds that sing their sweet melodies. The Panda Base, as a beautiful garden, is China’s worst-kept secret – "the natural paradise of the national treasure and our Xanadu".