The giant panda is beloved by people from all over the world, and it is considered a national treasure of China. Opened in 1987, this compound is a non-profit research and breeding facility dedicated to the critically endangered giant panda as well as some other rare species. It is an excellent recreational area and the highlight of any visit to Chengdu. The base is one of the most critical centers in China for the conservation of giant pandas. The current mission is to increase the captive population of giant pandas with the ultimate goal of reintroducing giant pandas into the wild. The base started with 6 giant pandas rescued from the wild, and now has a captive population of 62 pandas and has seen 110 births as of 2007.
In addition to the Giant Panda Museum, a Butterfly and Vertebrate Museum have also recently been opened on the premises. The three museums have information on a total of 2,140 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and fossils.

For the best chance to see the pandas in action, go early during the feeding hours (08:00–10:00), or you may just see them sleep for the rest of the day.