It is no longer possible to hold or hug a giant panda at any facility in or around Chengdu, as these programs have been suspended or banned to protect the health and safety of the endangered animals. While visitors previously paid significant fees to hold cubs at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding or the Dujiangyan Panda Base, recent policies now strictly prohibit direct physical contact to prevent the spread of human diseases and avoid unnecessary stress for the pandas. Instead, those seeking a more immersive experience can participate in "Panda Keeper" or volunteer programs at the Dujiangyan or Wolong panda bases. These programs allow participants to get closer to the animals by cleaning enclosures, preparing bamboo, and making panda cakes, and sometimes include opportunities to feed pandas through the bars of their enclosures, though touching remains prohibited. To see the largest number of pandas, including infants in nurseries, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding remains the premier destination, but all interactions are limited to observation from a distance.