giant panda and baima people culture tour

Tracking Giant Panda in Wanglang & Exploration Culture of Baima People in Sechuan

Brief Introduction

As part of the strategy for Giant Panda conservation in China, a host of measures are being undertaken to increase China conservation capacity and one is the development of simple ecotourism facilities in key areas that offer the chance of seeing Pandas in the wild, and thus develop alternative incomes for communities instead of the unsustainable logging activities that were recently curtailed.
This groundbreaking tour to Sechuan province aims to give privileged insight into new Panda reserves, which up till have not been open to tourism, allowing unique opportunities to look for Giant Pandas, to meet and stay with some of China ancient tribal people, the Baima, and to meet those individuals with the task of saving the Giant Panda into the new Millennium.
The Wanglang Reserve was established in 1963 as one of the first four reserves set up for Giant panda protection and as such holds some of the best high altitude primary forest and flora to be seen in China from 40 varieties of rhododendrums to wild roses and meadow flowers. A wealth of birdlife and wildlife including endemic Golden Monkey, Red Panda, Leopard, Black Bear and Takin can also be seen.
The hospitable Baima tribal communities live in small picturesque villages with lovely painted windows and doors and enjoy festivals, dancing and storytelling. Staying with them in their houses will offer you a unique window into their unique culture.

Itinerary Tour Code: P-WL124L

Day 01	Arrive Chengdu and transfer to Hotel for the night. Sightseeing of the city. Sechuan cuisine for dinner. Overnight.
Day02	Drive to Pingwu. Stay at the simple hotel. Afternoon visit temples. Evening walk in the old part of the town.
Day03	Drive to Wanglang Panda Reserve, met and briefed by the Reserve Staff.
Day04	Early morning bird watching led by Reserve Staff and English speaking guides. In the afternoon walks in the hills above the Reserve Headquarters for an excellent view of the terrain.
Day05	Walk in the surrounding forests. Reserve staff will teach identification skills. and brief participants about the flora and fauna of Wanglang Reserve.
Day06	In Changbai tracking the Giant Panda with monitoring and naturalist staff of the reserve. Time to look for Panda signs and learning about the Panda. Evening talk on the Giant Panda and research done in Wanglang and the current status of the Panda in this region.
Day07	Drive to Zhugencha and Baishaguo valley and walk in the primary forest with monitoring staff and guides and explore the region walking till the end of the valley. Picnic Lunch and rest and drive through the forest to Dacaoping.
Day08	Drive to Dawodang valley and walk in this valley. Staff set up camp in the valley for overnight in this wilderness.
Day09	Walk back to the Reserve Headquarters and time to rest and freshen up and evening Presentation on the Giant Panda and its status in Sechuan and other areas of China and the challenge ahead.
Days10 to 12	Depart for the Baima valley which will be base for the next 3 days. The group will stay in 3 or 4 Baima homes. The group will have a chance to spend time with the families, share meals with them Walks will be arranged to the sacred hill and sacred tree of the Baima people and around the evening fire a chance to learn their origin myth and legends and hear their songs and see their dance.
Day 13	Drive to Pingwu and time walk in the town.
Day 14	Drive to Chengdu and to see the old parts of the city.
Day 15	Transfer for a'port and see off .
Please note: viewing Giant Pandas is not guaranteed. They are wild creatures and live in difficult terrain. Please also note: this itinerary is subject to change.

This tour we can arrange as Deluxe, Standard, Economic and budget tour service.

The best season is: May, June, Sep and earlier Oct