Pandas near

Seeing pandas near Kunming

You do not need to plan a whole Sichuan trip to meet a panda. Below are the closest places to see a giant panda from Kunming, with straight-line distances and honest travel times — from a panda you can reach today to the bases worth a dedicated day.

Pandas in Kunming right now

If you are already in Kunming, you do not have to leave the city to see a panda. Yunnan Wildlife Park keeps giant pandas and is the fastest option when your time is short.

In the city

Yunnan Wildlife Park

Kunming’s wildlife park on the northern hills, with a panda pair.

See on the panda map

Worth the journey from Kunming

These are the breeding bases we actually send travellers to. They are further than the city zoo, but they are the real thing — and each is reachable from Kunming in a day or less.

Panda in a misty forested canyon enclosure

Panda base · 560 km

Bifengxia Panda Base

The retirement home for pandas who came back.

Travel time: A full day by rail, or a short flight

View base

Giant panda cubs playing on a wooden climbing frame

Panda base · 649 km

Chengdu Research Base

The famous one, and still the easiest.

Travel time: A full day by rail, or a short flight

View base

Panda on a forested hillside with a red panda on the boardwalk

Panda base · 664 km

Dujiangyan Panda Valley

Semi-wild hillsides, a fraction of the crowd.

Travel time: A full day by rail, or a short flight

View base

Plan a panda trip from Kunming

Tell us your dates and we will send a day-by-day outline with the bases that fit, plus costs. One contact, on the ground in China.

Plan your panda trip Open the panda map

Distances are straight-line estimates for planning only. Always confirm opening hours, tickets and panda availability with the venue before you travel — rosters rotate and some animals are off display.