Giant Panda
| country: | China |
| departures: | This trip is no longer running |
| price: | From £750 (14 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Foping National Nature Reserve, 1st Jun £750 ex flights
Foping National Nature Reserve is located in the Qinling Mountains in the south of Shaanxi province, China and is 215 km from Xi'an, the provincial capital. In October 2004, Foping NNR was added to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Also in 2004, 'Qinling Wild Research Centre for Giant Pandas' was launched. Specialising in the outdoor study of pandas, it attracts panda experts from around the world.
The reserve is famed for the unique brown giant panda, the "Dandan" and has the highest population density of wild giant pandas and thus the highest probability of seeing them.
Work over the last 20 years has made Foping one of the most significant reserves in the fight to save the giant panda and its habitat through its superb conservation and scientific research activities.
The problem
As a result of many years of destructive human interference, the habitat and populations of China's indigenous Giant Pandas have suffered severe damage and depletion and in recent years have been pushed to (near) the brink of extinction.
The solution
Through a series of inter-linking nature reserves in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanzi Province and reserves in 2 other provinces, wild giant pandas are being provided with havens from which to establish their come-back. The protection these reserves provide is allowing the populations to rebuild successfully and to interact with one another. Various research activities on the reserves are providing invaluable insights into many aspects of the pandas' lives.
What else is there?
Since Sanguanmiao Protection is within the mountains, there are excellent leisure activities right on your doorstep. There is a range of activities available locally such as birding or trekking on the reserve giving you the chance to enjoy the fantastically varied wildlife and stunning scenery on offer. Further afield, the city of Xi'an - Shaanxi province's capital and the site of the beginning of the world-famous 'Silk-Road' is a huge attraction. It is home to, amongst others, the army of Terracotta Warriors, Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum and boasts a vast array of other (ancient) historical treasures.
Accommodation
We will be staying at the Sanguanmiao Protection Station. This is in the Sanguanmiao village within the forest and up in the mountains, at 1,560m. Our accomodation will be basic - just simple rooms with beds in. Constant running water will be available at the station although there will be no shower facilities.
Laoxiancheng Nature Reserve, 15 Nov £750 ex flights
Laoxiancheng Nature Reserve is situated in the Qinling Mountains in the south of Shaanxi province, China and is 188 km from Xi'an, the provincial capital. Laoxiancheng NR is located at the headwaters of the Xushui River, on the south slope in the middle range of the Qinling Mountains and is bordered and for the most part surrounded by four other nature reserves. It allows several previously isolated habitats to link up into a single stretch. It also helps all the reserves in the Qinling Mountains to link up. The reserve enjoys a rich biodiversity of both flora and fauna. It has one of the highest population densities of wild giant pandas in the Qinling Mountains. The reserve is an area of overlap for many species of fauna and lies in the transition zone between the northern and southern fauna.
The problem
As a result of many years of destructive human interference, the habitat and populations of China's indigenous Giant Pandas have suffered severe damage and depletion and in recent years have been pushed to (near) the brink of extinction.
The solution
Through a series of inter-linking nature reserves in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanzi Province and reserves in 2 other provinces, wild giant pandas are being provided with havens from which to establish their come-back. The protection these reserves provide is allowing the populations to rebuild successfully and to interact with one another. Various research activities on the reserves are providing invaluable insights into many aspects of the pandas' lives.
What else is there?
Since Laoxiancheng Protection is within the mountains, there are excellent leisure activities right on your doorstep. There is a range of activities available locally such as birding or trekking on the reserve giving you the chance to enjoy the fantastically varied wildlife and stunning scenery on offer. You will also have the opportunity to visit historic sites such as Laoxiancheng's 'Old City' with its long history, traditions and local customs. Further afield, the city of Xi'an - Shaanxi province's capital and the site of the beginning of the world-famous 'Silk-Road' is a huge attraction. It is home to, amongst others, the army of Terracotta Warriors, Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum and boasts a vast array of other (ancient) historical treasures.
Accommodation
We will be staying at the Laoxiancheng Protection Station. This is in the Laoxiancheng village within the forest and up in the mountains, at 1,720m. Our accomodation will be basic - just simple rooms with beds in. Constant running water will be available at the station.
Foping National Nature Reserve is located in the Qinling Mountains in the south of Shaanxi province, China and is 215 km from Xi'an, the provincial capital. In October 2004, Foping NNR was added to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Also in 2004, 'Qinling Wild Research Centre for Giant Pandas' was launched. Specialising in the outdoor study of pandas, it attracts panda experts from around the world.
The reserve is famed for the unique brown giant panda, the "Dandan" and has the highest population density of wild giant pandas and thus the highest probability of seeing them.
Work over the last 20 years has made Foping one of the most significant reserves in the fight to save the giant panda and its habitat through its superb conservation and scientific research activities.
The problem
As a result of many years of destructive human interference, the habitat and populations of China's indigenous Giant Pandas have suffered severe damage and depletion and in recent years have been pushed to (near) the brink of extinction.
The solution
Through a series of inter-linking nature reserves in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanzi Province and reserves in 2 other provinces, wild giant pandas are being provided with havens from which to establish their come-back. The protection these reserves provide is allowing the populations to rebuild successfully and to interact with one another. Various research activities on the reserves are providing invaluable insights into many aspects of the pandas' lives.
What else is there?
Since Sanguanmiao Protection is within the mountains, there are excellent leisure activities right on your doorstep. There is a range of activities available locally such as birding or trekking on the reserve giving you the chance to enjoy the fantastically varied wildlife and stunning scenery on offer. Further afield, the city of Xi'an - Shaanxi province's capital and the site of the beginning of the world-famous 'Silk-Road' is a huge attraction. It is home to, amongst others, the army of Terracotta Warriors, Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum and boasts a vast array of other (ancient) historical treasures.
Accommodation
We will be staying at the Sanguanmiao Protection Station. This is in the Sanguanmiao village within the forest and up in the mountains, at 1,560m. Our accomodation will be basic - just simple rooms with beds in. Constant running water will be available at the station although there will be no shower facilities.
Laoxiancheng Nature Reserve, 15 Nov £750 ex flights
Laoxiancheng Nature Reserve is situated in the Qinling Mountains in the south of Shaanxi province, China and is 188 km from Xi'an, the provincial capital. Laoxiancheng NR is located at the headwaters of the Xushui River, on the south slope in the middle range of the Qinling Mountains and is bordered and for the most part surrounded by four other nature reserves. It allows several previously isolated habitats to link up into a single stretch. It also helps all the reserves in the Qinling Mountains to link up. The reserve enjoys a rich biodiversity of both flora and fauna. It has one of the highest population densities of wild giant pandas in the Qinling Mountains. The reserve is an area of overlap for many species of fauna and lies in the transition zone between the northern and southern fauna.
The problem
As a result of many years of destructive human interference, the habitat and populations of China's indigenous Giant Pandas have suffered severe damage and depletion and in recent years have been pushed to (near) the brink of extinction.
The solution
Through a series of inter-linking nature reserves in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanzi Province and reserves in 2 other provinces, wild giant pandas are being provided with havens from which to establish their come-back. The protection these reserves provide is allowing the populations to rebuild successfully and to interact with one another. Various research activities on the reserves are providing invaluable insights into many aspects of the pandas' lives.
What else is there?
Since Laoxiancheng Protection is within the mountains, there are excellent leisure activities right on your doorstep. There is a range of activities available locally such as birding or trekking on the reserve giving you the chance to enjoy the fantastically varied wildlife and stunning scenery on offer. You will also have the opportunity to visit historic sites such as Laoxiancheng's 'Old City' with its long history, traditions and local customs. Further afield, the city of Xi'an - Shaanxi province's capital and the site of the beginning of the world-famous 'Silk-Road' is a huge attraction. It is home to, amongst others, the army of Terracotta Warriors, Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum and boasts a vast array of other (ancient) historical treasures.
Accommodation
We will be staying at the Laoxiancheng Protection Station. This is in the Laoxiancheng village within the forest and up in the mountains, at 1,720m. Our accomodation will be basic - just simple rooms with beds in. Constant running water will be available at the station.
volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world. Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
how this holiday makes a difference
|
Yangling Panda Eco-Technology is involved in the conservation work on the nature reserve and are dedicated to wildlife protection and eco-habitat construction. We will be working closely with the local staff to aid in species/ panda research. Guided by reserve staff through the mountains, we will walk paths used for tracking and researching pandas to collect samples (footprints, droppings and bamboo). Further tasks could include plant control and even some pamphlet design.
|
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |