No, it is no longer possible to hug or hold a giant panda in Chengdu or anywhere else in China as of 2026. While various panda bases previously offered "panda hugging" or photo opportunities with cubs for a significant fee, these activities have been strictly banned at all research facilities since 2020 due to conservation and safety regulations. Current guidelines at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and surrounding facilities prioritize the health of the animals, maintaining a distance of at least one meter between visitors and the pandas. Although you cannot have physical contact, you can still participate in supervised "keeper for a day" volunteer programs at bases like Dujiangyan or Wolong, where participants help clean enclosures and prepare food, or simply visit the many public villas to observe the pandas in their naturalistic habitats.