The only remaining giant panda habitat is on the mountainous eastern edge of west China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces.
Giant Pandas mainly live in Sichuan Province (thus nicknamed "home of Giant Pandas"). Giant pandas usually live in bamboo forests.
There are over 60 nature reserves in China to protect giant panda's living habitat.
See the best reserves to see giant pandas.
Where Panda Live — Bamboo Forests
Giant pandas live in large bamboo forests on humid and relatively high mountains — about 1,200 to 3,100 meters (4,000 to 10,000 feet) above sea level.
Currently, about 1,600 giant pandas live in over 20,000 square kilometers (8,000 mi2) of habitat.
Recommended tours:
- 1-Day Dujiangyan Panda Keeper Program Tour
- 1-Day Chengdu Panda and Sichuan Cuisine Tour
- 4-Day Wolong In-Depth Panda Tour
Giant Pandas' Habitat Are Shrinking
The Qinling mountains, one of the major giant panda habitatsThe giant panda's habitat once spread across central, southern, and eastern China, and China's neighboring countries of Myanmar and northern Vietnam.
But it has been dramatically reduced by the growth in people's logging and farming practices.
Now the species is restricted to only about 20 isolated patches in western China's Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi Provinces.
The Major Areas of Giant Panda Habitat
Wild Giant Pandas are mainly distributed in the Min Mountains (岷山) in Sichuan and Gansu provinces, and the Qin Mountains (or Qinling 秦岭) in Shaanxi Province.
The Min Mountains
The Min Mountains (岷山 Mínshān) support the largest population of pandas in China, 44% of all China's pandas. 27 giant panda reserves have been established in the mountains to protect them.
The Qin Mountains
A wild giant panda in Foping Nature Reserve in the Qinling MountainsThe Qin Mountains (秦岭 Qínlǐng) are part of China's most important watershed, which provide a natural barrier between the North and South of the country. They are home to 270 Qinling pandas, a sub-species of the giant panda.
Foping and Changqing nature reserves have been established there to protect them and other rare species.
Foping Nature Reserve is humid all year around, which suitable for the pandas, and 55% of the forest is bamboo, giant pandas' main food.
Many pandas live in this 350 km2 (140 mi2) reserve, around one for an area of 2.5 kilometers. Coming across a panda there is quite likely. The reserve is closed to travelers at the time of writing.
Recommended tours:
Contact us for a private tour of Leshan and Mount Emei.
Giant Panda Protection
Giant Panda Bases
Giant Pandas at Chengdu Panda Breeding CenterMany panda bases have been established to help the reproduction of this species.
Some pandas are then introduced to the wild from the main panda bases in Sichuan:
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center
- Bifengxia Giant Panda Center
- Dujiangyan Panda Base
- Wolong Panda Center
Over 60 Nature Reserves
There are over 60 nature reserves, covering over 10,000 square kilometers (4,000 square mile), to protect this endangered species. Wolong (130 km, 80 mi, from Chengdu) and Foping are the two major giant panda protection reserves.
Connecting Isolated Habitats by Planting Bamboo Forest
Wolong Nature ReserveThe bamboo forest has been planted in the zones between some isolated patches of giant panda habitat to link them together. Now giant pandas have a chance to migrate if food is scarce in their area.
Reforestation to extend existing habitats also helps create a more spacious and less stressful environment for the pandas.
Top Places to See Giant Pandas in China
The best place to see giant pandas is, of course, in Sichuan Province in west China. You can see many giant pandas in the panda base and panda center.
The Giant Panda Breeding Center in Chengdu is the best place to see baby giant pandas.
Dujiangyan Base close to Chengdu is the best place for giant panda volunteer program.
Wolong Panda Center is the best place to explore giant panda's habitat.
You can also see giant pandas in zoos in other cities, such as Beijing Zoo and Hong Kong Ocean Park.
- Read more details on Top Places to See Giant Pandas in China.