Panda Valley or Panda Base? How to choose for your first trip to Chengdu

Visiting Chengdu without seeing the giant pandas is like not having been there at all!! But if time is limited and you can only visit one, should it be the Panda Base or the Panda Valley? My suggestion is definitely to go to Panda Valley. Sisters planning to see the giant pandas, quickly take note of this guide~ Panda Base VS Panda Valley 1. Transportation convenience (Panda Base > Panda Valley) The Panda Base is located in Chenghua District of Chengdu city, just a subway ride and a taxi ride of about ten minutes from downtown. Panda Valley is in Dujiangyan City, you need to take the subway line 2 to Xipu Station, then take the intercity train to Lidui Park, it is recommended to arrange a day trip with Dujiangyan 2. Scale and number (Panda Base > Panda Valley) The Panda Base is very large, you need to buy a sightseeing ticket to ride (30r, unlimited times), and there are also many pandas, the top female star Hua Hua is at the Panda Base. Panda Valley is smaller in scale, and there are fewer pandas, which can be visited on foot Viewing experience (Panda Valley >>> Panda Base) The Panda Base is very crowded, often packed with people, and you have to queue for a long time to see Hua Hua, and you might not even get to see her. Panda Valley is smaller in area, you can see the giant pandas up close and clearly, and the baby pandas here are free-roaming. If you're lucky, a baby panda might even pass by you. There are also much fewer tourists here compared to the Panda Base, making the overall experience much better than the Panda Base 4. Environment (Panda Valley > Panda Base) The old pavilion at the Panda Base is cooler with trees for shade, the new pavilion does not have shade, and the ground gets quite hot in summer. Panda Valley is in the mountains, almost entirely green plants, the environment is better, like a park 5. Species (Panda Valley > Panda Base) Both places have giant pandas and baby pandas, but Panda Valley also has raccoons. Tickets Both Panda Base and Panda Valley are 55r per person, half price with a student ID is 27r, free for people over 60 and children under 6, additionally, the Panda Base requires a sightseeing car (30r) Caution 1. No matter which attraction you go to see pandas, be sure to go early! Pandas are only active in the morning, they usually sleep in the afternoon, and if you go late, you might not see them. 2. Do not feed the giant pandas privately, nor throw anything at them. 3. If you want to see Hua Hua, try to get to the Panda Base by 8 am, the Panda Valley has feeding around 9:30 am, this is when the pandas are most active. 4. It is recommended to spend 2-3 hours visiting Panda Valley, and afterwards, you can go to Guanxian Ancient Town to try some Chengdu snacks, continue visiting Dujiangyan Scenic Area in the afternoon, and watch the beautiful night at Nanqiao in the evening. 5. The panda-related products inside the Panda Base are quite expensive, it is not recommended to buy them there, there are many outside and the prices are much cheaper Panda Valley