Be A Panda Volunteer in Panda's Hometown in Chengdu
Spend a day assisting with panda care, including food preparation and enclosure cleaning, and receive a certificate recognizing your volunteer participation.
Explore tour & itineraryThe West
China’s wild west has long marched to the beat of its drum, as during much of its history, the region was a collection of independent kingdoms such as Tibet completely separated from China. In the past, the remote nature of these lands remains hard for visitors from the world. The lack of modern transportation and underdeveloped road and other infrastructure made the trip difficult.
Today, thanks to China’s bullet train system and the highways, these untamed areas are begging to be explored. The culture, land, and history are now showing to the world. Our programs in the west of China cover an area that’s epic in scope and scale. They include such fantastic destinations as the holy mountains of Tibet, the boisterous markets and bazaars of the Silk Road, the mighty waves of the Yangtze, the mountains of Zhangjiajie (primary inspiration for the look of Avatar), and of course that icon of Chinese wildlife, the Panda.
Tibet’s mountain landscapes, monasteries, and cultural heritage have long drawn travelers interested in history, spirituality, and adventure. The fertile Brahmaputra Valley forms an important part of the region’s heartland.
Walking in the steps of Marco Polo, a tour of the Silk Road is truly a journey into the ancient history and diverse culture of China quite unlike any other. The range of attractions is quite unsurpassed. It’s a journey of contrasts: Desert and mountain scenery, East and West cultures. Journey from scorching desert austerity to cool, watery mountain beauty and lush green upland pasture. The Silk Road has everything you need for a rich cultural journey into the heart of China’s past.
A cruise down the Yangtze River puts you on a journey aboard China’s mightiest-and the world’s third longest river. Starting life as trickles of snow in the Tanggua Shan of southwestern Qinghai, the river then spills from Tibet, swells through seven Chinese provinces, sucks in water from hundreds of tributaries and powerfully rolls into the East China Sea north of Shanghai. En route, it surges past some of China’s greatest cites, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Nanjing.
Giant pandas are among China’s best-known wildlife icons and a highlight of many visits to Sichuan. Alongside the Great Wall and Terracotta Army, panda conservation centers offer travelers another memorable perspective on the country’s natural and cultural heritage.
