🐼 Volunteer for Pandas + Jiuzhaigou 🏞️ Day by Day Itinerary

Adventure Together Sg
Sep 17
5 min read

Updated: Sep 17

Thinking about joining us for our Volunteer for Pandas adventure in Nov 2025? Here's a Day by Day overview of our 🐼 Volunteer for Pandas + Jiuzhaigou 🏞️ adventure!

🏔️ View Adventure Itinerary: 6D5N Volunteer for Pandas 🐼 + Jiuzhaigou (Nov 2025) 🏞️

Day 1: ✈️ fly sin > Chengdu TFU (L/D)

✈️ Suggested Flight: SIN > Chengdu TFU,

Singapore Air ⏰ 04.10 > 08.55am (4hrs 45mins) 🧳

Estimated Airfare: ~ S$710.5 Google Flights Link

Last Updated: Tue 16 Sep 2025

Flight Screenshot at end of Post

✈️ Upon landing in Chengdu 🇨🇳, we begin our Adventure by heading into the city of Chengdu's People's Park to try a variety of delicious Chengdu local "Xiao Chi" snacks and bites for lunch. 😋

Some of 🇨🇳 Chengdu's common "Xiao Chi" include:

🥟 Zhong Dumplings: silky dumplings in a fragrant, slightly spicy red chili oil with a hint of numbing Sichuan pepper
🍜 Dan Dan Noodles: dry spicy noodles with minced meat
🐼 Panda Tang Yuan: glutinous rice balls filled with black sesame, red bean paste or peanut paste

Since we've had tiring 4-9am flight, after lunch around 2pm we'll check in to our hotel: Crowne Plaza 4* or similar, and have the a bit of rest in the afternoon.

🌃 Around 6pm we meet again to go out for dinner at Chun Xi Lu, the main walking street near our hotel, ie. must try: Mapo Tofu, a spicy, flavourful dish with soft tofu, ground meat, and a Sichuan style chili bean paste sauce. 🥘

After a tasty dinner, we head to the traditional streets of Jin Li to soak in the lively ambience of the old street, illuminated by the glow of red lanterns in the night. 🏮

Day 2: Volunteer for pandas 🐼 (B/L/D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we head out bright and early to Dujiangyan Panda Base, where we'll be doing our half day Volunteer for Pandas session. 🐼

Some of the things we'll do include: helping to prepare fresh 🎋 bamboos, 🍃 leaves and nutritious cakes for the Pandas. 🐼 For a more in depth look at what to expect on our Panda Volunteer day, check out this post!

Here we'll also have a chance to see our Singapore Panda Lele 🇸🇬 who was born in Singapore's River Wonders in Aug 2021, and was relocated in Chengdu in Jan 2024. He is now a sub adult of 4 years old! 🐼

PS: All Pandas are not always visible as they are rotated to ensure that the Pandas have some "time off" from humans viewing them as well. 🙈

PPS: In line with our mission to only support Ethical Wildlife experiences:

No, there is no touching or hugging of Pandas 🙅🏻‍♀️ 🐼

Since 2015, touching or hugging Pandas has officially been prohibited and banned in China to prioritise the health, safety and well being of the Pandas - as they are sensitive to human germs, and even minor infections can be dangerous for them. 🙏🏻

After a Volunteers lunch at the Panda Centre, we'll return to Chengdu city.

We'll spend the afternoon exploring Kuan Zhai Alley, a lively area full of both old, traditional, courtyard homes and architecture, but also trendy lifestyle shops, boutiques and cafes.

Another lively spot to visit: Tai Koo Li, Chengdu's "Orchard Road". Its architecture fuses traditional Sichuan design with sleek, modern glass facades, and is home to a mix of upscale, luxury and international fashion brands.

For dinner, we'll head to a traditional 🎭 Bian Lian (Face Changing) Restaurant, where we can enjoy a spread of local Sichuan dishes whilst watching a fascinating Bian Lian, Face Changing, performance.

After a nice dinner and exciting performance, we'll head to the Jin River, where we'll take an evening cruise down the river and enjoy the view of the city of Chengdu, illuminated in the night. ✨

The view of Jiu Yan Qiao (Jiu Yan Bridge), ie. Nine Eye Bridge is especially beautiful from the river when illuminated at night.

Day 3: journey to jiuzhaigou 🚄 (B/L/D)

Today we'll take the high speed train from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou. 🚄 Enroute we'll also get to visit Songpan Ancient Town, known for its grand statue depicting Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty.

The statue commemorates their historical marriage, signifying the unison between the Tibet and Han Chinese.

We'll make our way to our Jiuzhaigou Hotel, Days Hotel by Wyndham, or similar.

Day 4: jiuzhaigou day trip (B/L/D)

Today we visit the famed Jiuzhaigou, the "Valley of the Nine Tibetan Villages", a breathtaking, beautiful national park, renowned for its crystal clear lakes, grand waterfalls and lush forests. 🏞️

In terms of season: Nov is post Autumn 🍁, going into Winter ❄️. We hope to see some post Autumn / early Winter scenery. It is also off peak after China's Golden Week (1 - 7 Oct)

Lakes of Jiuzhaigou: ie. Five Flower Lake, Long Lake, Mirror Lake. 🌊

Look at how truly clear the lake is. 🥹 🥹 We truly didn't expect it to be this beautiful!

The Waterfalls are not too shabby either!! 🏞️

Waterfalls of Jiuzhaigou: ie. Nuorilang Waterfall, Shuzheng Waterfall, Pearl Shoal Waterfall.

If we can gather 10 adventurers, we'll also be able to cater a private mini bus for our group within Jiuzhaigou! So we don't need to squeeze with other tourists on the public buses. 🙈 🚌

Jiuzhaigou is home to various Tibetan ethnic groups and communities. The valley itself has been inhabited by Tibetans for centuries. In the evening, we'll experience a Tibetan dinner with song and dance performances.