The New Panda Base is Scheduled to Open in 2025.
The first phase of Mianyang Giant Panda Base is planned to open in October next year. The Mianyang Base Project (Phase I) of the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center will construct a total of six functional areas, namely the entrance portal area, secret realm area, forest and valley area, bamboo forest screen area, supporting construction technology integration area, and disease control and rescue area. The project started in February 2024 and is scheduled to open in October 2025. Currently, the construction of the project is proceeding in an orderly manner.
Mianyang Giant Panda Base covers an area of 1800 mu, which is another base to be built by China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center after Wolong Shenshuping, Wolong Hetaoping, Dujiangyan Irrigation Project and Ya'an Bifeng Gorge. The Mianyang Panda base is located in Guloushan Ecological Park, Science and Technology City New District, Mianyang City, and is jointly constructed by the Mianyang Municipal Government and the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center. The first phase of the public bidding project covers an area of 121.2 hectares (1818 acres), with an investment of 1, 012, 074, 400 yuanes and a planned construction period of 700 days. Seven major functional areas, including the entrance portal area, Mianyang secret territory area, forest and valley area, and bamboo forest screen area, as well as 58 sets of panda near natural animal houses and four types of companion animal exhibition areas, will be planned and constructed, covering the four main functions of giant panda scientific research, relocation protection, nature education, and innovation integration.
Why is the New Panda Base in Mianyang?
According to the fourth national survey of giant pandas, there are 418 wild giant pandas in Mianyang, accounting for 22.4% of the global wild giant panda population, ranking first in the country in terms of quantity. In September 2022, the Mianyang Municipal Government signed a "Cooperation Agreement on Strengthening the Protection and Research of Giant Pandas in Minshan Mountain" with the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center, planning to jointly build a comprehensive base integrating protection, monitoring, scientific research, breeding, and education functions within the scope of Mianyang City. According to the previous plan, after the completion of the Mianyang base, it will maintain a scale of around 50 captive giant pandas throughout the year.
Looking forward to the another iconic panda base in Sichuan Province, the hometown of pandas, where panda enthusiasts will have more opportunities to observe pandas up close.