I'm not sure what you mean, Miss_A? I was there last month...

Thank you so much for your thoroughly interesting and detailed report of your Panda and overall China experience!

I will be traveling for the 1st time in December to China and I have purposely scheduled 1 volunteer day in Chengdu. I had been long debating about volunteering at BFX or Chengdu. I don't have a lot of time to spend there and the overall suggestions I received was to simply go to Chengdu as it was closer.

If you had to choose to go back and it was only 1 day to volunteer, would you choose BFX or Chengdu?

I absolutely appreciate any feedback you can offer me!

BTW...I am traveling for the Christmas/New Year's holidays and will be going to 9 cities in 16days - so the whole "sensory overload" warning is very much appreciated!

rubigemz, I only visited Chengdu as a visitor and didn't work there, so I can't speak to what the volunteer experience at Chengdu is like. Chengdu has more of a "zoo" feeling to it as it is more visited and meant to be more educational for the visitors. Chengdu is a wonderful visitor experience, for sure. BFX does not at all feel like a zoo and was far less crowded, but I loved the interaction with the keepers and the pandas as a volunteer there (which I definitely would not have had if I was just a visitor there). When I do it again, I'd work at BFX again (or Wolong if it's reopened). But any time with any pandas is better than nothing, I believe!

Yes, 9 cities in 16 days will be a lot. I would just prepare yourself to be mentally tired after a point. I'm not sure I could have gone on much longer after Shanghai without a serious day of rest. It's a lot of travel and absorbing things in a very short period of time.

Also, I don't know where you're coming from, but get something to help you sleep. For me, it was a 12 hour time difference and I'd never experience such bad jetlag before. I think my lost sleep at the start of the trip took a toll (before I got some sleeping medication) and I never really bounced back from it. If I could have gotten solid sleep sooner in the trip, I don't know if I'd have been as wiped out mentally!

amyb (the OP) says it's 2.5 hours to get to BFX from Chengdu, and she spent another half-day during orientation. I don't know how this will work with just one day of volunteering.

rkk is right, it isn't worth 2 1/2 hours each way just to volunteer for a day.

Thanks amyb & rkkwan for the help! I will stick to Chengdu for this trip and look forward to going back to China and volunteering at the BFX or Wolong Panda Reserve in the future!

Yes, I will heed your advice and take some sleeping pills with me - I checked the time difference and it is 13 hours ahead in Beijing.

Thanks again!

Amy I don't usually visit the Asian board, but a friend suggested I read your trip report . I'm so glad!
I've enjoyed reading it so much. What an amazing trip! What an amazing trip report!
I think your report is very well written , informative and so entertaining ..
It almost makes me feel like planning a trip to China ....... Almost.... The hole in the ground is holding me back.
I'm anxious to 'click' on your name to see what other trip reports you may have written .

Thank you .

Thank you Kodi! Glad you enjoyed it! China is exciting, fascinating and incredible...I encourage anyone to think about going!

rubygemz - it will be quite cold in December and if you go to remote places like the panda reserve you may find inadequate heating. Make sure you research your hotels carefully before booking.

amyb,

I just typed Wolong in the search function to see what might pop up. I hit the jackpot with your report on volunteering Bifengxia.

Nice to know there is a sister facility to Wolong that I never even knew about. Your duties looked very familiar to mine, right down to the panda bread. As I recalled bamboo was still preferred.

Wolong was just on the news. The keepers put on panda costumes to care for the very young pandas to help minimize the human imprinting and improve the pandas' chances when introduced to the wild. Maybe the same thing is now happening at Bifengxia.

Glad you enjoyed your time with the pandas. Such a special experience. Looks like you're ready for more in the future!

Hi atravelynn...Wolong should be opening up in 2012 for volunteering. "When" I go back, it'll probably be to there, although I'd like to visit BFX again to see pandas I took care of. I'm closely following one of 'my' pandas now, as they've just moved her to Edinburgh Zoo on a 10 year loan. She's only 6 hours away from me now!

Panda road trip, amyb!

Oh, you meant 6 hours by plane.

Yes! Which is much better than 18 by plane plus 3 by bus!

What an excellent report! You've raised my comfort level about visiting China...and about guides. And, I agree with you that you need some opportunity to shop!

barefootbeach, glad you enjoyed it. I think you'd be fine with a balance of guided, independent and shopping time!