A New National Park Dedicated to Giant Pandas Is Opening in China
Pandas are arguably some of the cutest creatures alive. And you might soon be able to visit China's first national park dedicated to the endangered, black-and-white bears.
When it opens, Giant Panda National Park will connect 67 giant panda reserves spread across the southwestern province of Sichuan, which is home to over 80% of all wild pandas.
The Giant Panda National Park will span over 10,476 square miles — about three times the size of Yellowstone National Park — according to China Daily. On Thursday, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration said the park would be open soon, before the end of the year. (Other sources have pointed to early 2020.)
The park will form a corridor connecting dozens of existing panda reserves, helping wild panda groups to breed and shielding the region's panda populations from further human interference. In addition to Sichuan, the Great Panda National Park will extend into northwestern Shaanxi and Gansu. There are currently 1,864 bears in six mountain ranges and 30 groups across western China, making them a vulnerable species, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The Giant Panda National Park is by no means a zoo, and tourism will be limited in certain areas to protect the pandas. But there will also be general control zones for tourism and other activities. Another development proposal includes a connecting railway through the park, but this, along with other initiatives, will only be approved if it benefits the conservation of pandas.
Of course, even when the park opens, pandas are known for being extremely elusive. So travelers may have a better shot observing these incredible bears at research bases and breeding facilities.
There are four panda reserves in Chengdu, the seventh-largest city in China and capital of the Sichuan province, that visitors can access. Beyond these, there are smaller panda reserves across China.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, for example, is located just six miles from downtown Chengdu and is open to all visitors. Here, guests can see pandas up close, and there are even various tours that allow tourists to volunteer for the day by cleaning cages and feeding the pandas.
The Bifengxia Panda Center covers 988 acres of land, but it's 93 miles from downtown Chengdu. Visitors here are welcome to explore the area and observe the wildlife. After the Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008, pandas from the Wolong National Nature Reserve (considered the foremost panda research and tourism center in the country) were saved and moved to the Bifengxia Center.
Spread across six acres of land and just 40 miles from downtown, the Dujiangyan Panda Base offers visitors a more interactive encounter. The base offers a one-day panda keeper program, during which people learn to care for the pandas, clean their cages and see the creatures.
The aforementioned Wolong Panda Research Center was reopened in 2016 after the Wenchuan Earthquake, and has taken important steps to reclaim its reputation. The center is located 75 miles from downtown and offers multiday panda keeper programs. Visitors can also explore the panda bear's natural habitat.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.