• TRAVEL UPDATE: We're open! Program reopening updates and answers to your questions about COVID-19 and our flexible booking policy.

Overview

Be a part of the amazing Giant panda Volunteering Program in China with Volunteering Solutions and spend your days looking after these adorable ones! As we know, the giant panda is the mascot for the World Wildlife Conservation Association and now, it's your turn to do something meaningful for them, while volunteering at the Dujiangyan Giant Panda Conservation Center.

This program is conducted in association with the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, and it'll be a great opportunity for all volunteers to learn more about these endangered animals. This would be a great choice for those who are looking for a short term volunteering program in China.

Being a volunteer, the main tasks would be: Feeding panda, cleaning enclosures, panda feces analysis, making intelligence toys for giant pandas, learning about rescue and scientific research of giant pandas, making artwork and souvenirs about the giant panda, planting bamboos for pandas, panda behavior observation, etc. So no matter whether you are a high school or college student, or maybe a gap year traveler in China, this program would surely be a great choice for you!

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Program Requirements

Volunteers will have to work for 6-8 hours per day. Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants who are under 18 must be accompanied by guardians or the elders, who are capable and healthy enough. 

You need to have an open mind and a flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference. Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the program. Physical examination records within 3 months before your arrival will be needed. All participants must be fluent in English or Chinese.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in China & transfer to hotel
You'll be arriving at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (Code: CTU), where you'll meet our country coordinator, who'll then transfer you to the accommodation. There will be an Orientation Session once all the volunteers arrive, and you'll get to know more about the project, Health &  Safety notes, etc.

Day 2: Giant Panda Breeding Center & Chengdu Tour
Today, you'll be going to explore Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center, which is famous for the protection and breeding of endangered wild animals that are unique to China, including giant pandas and red pandas. You'll also get to explore the Jinsha Site Museum and go for a landmark tour in Chengdu. Enjoy a hot pot dinner tonight!

Day 3: Puzhao Temple & Dujiangyan Panda Base
Today, you'll be traveling to Mount Qingcheng and visit Puzhao Temple. Later, you'll go for a tour in the Dujiangyan Panda Center and get to know more about the adorable animals and their lives.

Day 4 - Day 6: Giant Panda Volunteer Experience
Your volunteering program begins today and continues for the next couple of days! You'll be given a brief Orientation about the program and the work to do before you start.
Some of the work that you'll have to do are as follows: You'll have to help in moving bamboos to giant panda enclosures under the guidance of staff while listening to knowledge about the giant panda and the base.

Collecting feces and food wastes of giant panda under the guidance of staff and moving to designated places. You can also go and visit the Giant Panda Park to learn more about giant pandas and their living habits. Join the feeding process where Wowotou (steamed cornbread), carrots and apple, etc are usually fed to the animals by the staff. Watching the panda documentary, learning about panda protection will also be a part of the project.

On the 6th day, you’ll also get to visit the ancient town of Jiezi, learn about Chengdu teahouse culture, learn to play mahjong.

Day 7 - Departure

Your amazing journey comes to an end here! Since you’re in China, you can plan a trip to Beijing and explore the Great Wall

Living

Volunteers arrive at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, and we'll arrange a bus transfer to a hotel in Chengdu city, for overnight stay. The same bus will take volunteers to Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base, the next day. 

Accommodation & Meals - Accommodation will be provided in hostels at Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base. Volunteers will be provided with 3 meals a day. Breakfast will usually comprise of Toast and coffee; Chinese porridge, egg, and steamed bread. For lunch, there will be Chinese food at the canteen at the giant panda base or quick lunch such as sandwiches/hamburgers outside the base. 
Dinner will comprise of Sichuan cuisines, dumplings or hotpot, in some Chinese restaurants

Orientation and Briefing - There will be an orientation session on the first day of the program. Volunteers/Interns will be told about China in general, and about their specific project and if there’s any question, our in-country coordinators will be glad to reply.

Program Cost

Please Note: -An application fee of £149 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.

What are you Paying for?

  • Accommodations: shared hostel rooms (extra charge for upgrading)
  • Meals: 3 meals per day; Chinese cuisines and sandwiches
  • Bottled water
  • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure
  • Transfer from site to site
  • Activities in the program
  • Guide services 
  • Translator accompanying throughout the whole tour

What's NOT included?

  • Flights 
  • Entry Visa
  • Health check and insurances
  • Vaccinations
  • Laundry
  • Individual expenses such as souvenirs or snacks

Program Dates

Months

Available Filling Fast Not Available Past Date

 

 

FAQ's

FAQ's Application and Program Details
Being an international volunteer placement organization we receive applications throughout the year. Volunteers usually book in advance to avoid losing the seats. Advance booking is recommended for all volunteers. Also, we abide by the first come first serve policy.
Usually, it takes around 10-12 working days for the application to be processed and placement to be confirmed. After the application is accepted, your placement document shall be updated in your account online and you can view the information in your account. The application acceptance depends on the availability of seats in the project as well as the eligibility criteria of the program (age, skills and experience etc.).
Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the beginning of the program
Volunteers need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment.
The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.
Participant must be in good health.
In Beijing, our programs start every Monday of the month (except during holidays) and volunteers need to arrive on the program start date itself. Volunteers are picked up from the Beijing International Airport by the local coordinator or representative assigned by the coordinator. Those volunteers who are arriving overland or are already in China will be picked up at a meeting point decided beforehand. Please note that pick up from Beijing Airport is only provided from 8 am – 8 pm.
Flights and Visa
Participants need to apply for the Chinese Visa on their own. Any necessary supporting documents shall be provided by VS and enrolled participants are provided with more details as well.
Health and Safety
As in any large city around the world, general precautions need to be exercised by travelers. However, Beijing is a safe city and tourists do not face any problems. 
Carry general medicines with you, other than that consult your doctor before flying. We recommend these basic vaccinations for your safety:
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
Yes, for all participants it is mandatory to have a travel medical insurance. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider.
Accommodation and Living
Your country coordinator will take you to your placement and introduce you to everyone after giving you a basic orientation about the program/city/culture etc. You will be told about the transportation from the accommodation to the placement and the best places to eat and shop as well during the briefing.
We provide you with accommodation from your start date to the end of the program. Volunteers are provided accommodation in a Youth hostel in Beijing. The hostel is centrally located in the heart of Beijing. Volunteers use subway trains to commute to the project placements generally. The subway station is not very far from the hostel. The hostel has a dining room and internet facility as well. Meals are not provided to the volunteers in the program. However, your coordinator will guide you on the best and reasonable restaurants to eat. Beijing, being an international city with rapid development has also lots of restaurants around the city. Chinese cuisine is one the most popular cuisines around the world and you would love to explore the different dishes and foods available in Beijing.
Typically volunteers are required to put 5-6 volunteer hours every day, 5 times a week. They get free evenings and weekends. You can utilize this time to explore the different parts of Beijing and visit locations such as Forbidden city, National Museum of China or travel to the Great Wall of China as well. It is around 1 – 1.5 hr trip from Beijing.
Your program fee covers you for accommodation, airport pick up, Orientation, Pre-departure information, and in-country coordinator support. You will need to cover yourself for your food, local traveling, telephone, the internet, shopping, sightseeing etc. However, you should carry around $60 - $70 per week for your basic personal expenses.
Volunteers usually work for 5 to 6 hours a day depending on their program. You will have the weekend off so you can go to travel on weekends. However, some organizations will need you to work on some Saturdays as well.
You can exchange your foreign currency to Chinese Yuan at the foreign exchange counters at the airport in Beijing. There are many ATMs as well throughout the city and it is not a problem to withdraw the local currency using the ATM.
Connect with Past Volunteers
We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook Group to communicate with other participants.

To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit the Meet a Volunteer section on our website.
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Other Programs in China

English Teaching Volunteer in China - Beijing

School for Poor Children

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