I know there are Pandas at the Beijing zoo, is this worthwhile? Are there day trips offered to see Pandas at a reserve and not a zoo? Overnight trip is not an option.

Only Panda reserve is outside Chengdu in Sichuan province in SW China. I don't think you can do it as a day trip.

i went about 5 years ago to the B zoo to see the pandas and i wish i had not...the "cages" were a mess and while the animals looked healthy the whole experience left me disturbed

We were recently in Beijing and were advised by this forum NOT to see the Pandas at the Beijing zoo because of the "cages". We waited and saw them in a much better envrionment at Ocean Park in Hong Kong. Open concept and lots of great pictures.

Any chance you can visit HK?

I agree with rhkkmk, I was there in 1999, our entire family were appalled by the squalid conditions (damp, filthy cages), don't know about the current situation, hope they do something nice before the Olympic games.

Just confirming the good advice offered above. Perhaps you can use your precious time in Beijing to see other things because reports of discomfort at seeing the Beijing pandas are pretty routine.

As BettyinToronto said though the pandas at Ocean Park, Hong Kong, are quite a treat to see. Also, my husband saw the pandas in Chengdu last month and found that experience very satisfactory but, as rkkwan intimated, that's no daytrip from Beijing.

Good luck.

I concur with all the great advice here! But will say, the pandas in Chengdu are AMAZING - especially if you are indeed a "pet lover." And Chengdu is a wonderful city, well worth a visit for other reasons besides the adorable black-and-white guys.

You can see pandas at the National Zoo in Washington D.C.

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/

Agreed. We went last year and it was not a fun thing. However, the aviary area was lovely. Odd, to spend time worrying about bird flu and then become enchanted by an aviary at the zoo.

Thank you all for your replies! I think I'll pass on the Beijing zoo.