Giant Panda Pavilion at Seac Pai Van Park

The Giant Panda Pavilion is located within Seac Pai Van Park on Estrada de Seac Pai Van, in the hills of Coloane, Macau. The pavilion opened to house giant pandas sent to Macau from Sichuan, and it keeps them in air-conditioned indoor and outdoor enclosures that imitate their natural habitat. Visitors walk along viewing galleries and see the pandas eating bamboo, resting or playing, with information panels explaining panda biology, conservation and the breeding programme in China. The pavilion forms part of a larger hillside park, which also contains a botanical garden, an aviary, a small zoo-style area, a butterfly zone and walking paths. A typical visit lasts one to one and a half hours, including the park paths. Admission is about MOP 10 for adults and about MOP 5 for children, and visitors should verify current fees on the official website. The pavilion is generally open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00AM to 1:00PM and 2:00PM to 5:00PM and closed on Mondays, with a break at lunch. Morning visits are best, since pandas tend to be more active near feeding times, and weekdays are quieter than weekends, when school groups and families arrive. Crowds at the glass viewing areas can be thick on public holidays. Photographers can capture the pandas through the glass and in the outdoor yard, though reflections can be an issue and flash is not allowed. The pavilion is reached by buses 15, 21A, 25 and 26 to the Seac Pai Van Park stop, and it can be combined with Coloane Village and Hac Sa Beach in a single day. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes for the hillside paths and bring water, since the park involves some walking between sections.