Pandas near

Seeing pandas near Shenzhen

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 Shenzhen, with straight-line distances and honest travel times — from a panda you can reach today to the bases worth a dedicated day.

Pandas in Shenzhen right now

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

In the city

Shenzhen Safari Park

A hillside zoo in Shenzhen with a panda enclosure.

See on the panda map

Worth the journey from Shenzhen

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 Shenzhen in a day or less.

Giant panda cubs playing on a wooden climbing frame

Panda base · 1342 km

Chengdu Research Base

The famous one, and still the easiest.

Travel time: Best reached by flight

View base

Dense bamboo forest in the Qinling mountains

Panda base · 1373 km

Foping Panda Valley

The densest wild panda country in China.

Travel time: Best reached by flight

View base

Panda in a misty forested canyon enclosure

Panda base · 1383 km

Bifengxia Panda Base

The retirement home for pandas who came back.

Travel time: Best reached by flight

View base

Plan a panda trip from Shenzhen

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.