How to See Giant Pandas in China: 2026/2027 Guide

Quick Answer: Where Can You See Giant Pandas in China?

China's giant pandas live primarily in Sichuan Province, where five major panda bases offer distinctly different experiences — from the bustling Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (成都大熊猫繁育研究基地) with its 180+ pandas to the mountain-ringed Wolong Shenshuping Base (卧龙神树坪基地) at 1,700 m (5,577 ft) altitude, home to celebrity returnee Fu Bao (福宝). You can also see pandas in Xi'an and Beijing. A China panda tour typically starts in Chengdu and ranges from a half-day base visit to multi-week itineraries combining pandas with the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Yangtze River cruises, and Tibet. Volunteer "keeper-for-a-day" programs at Wolong and Bifengxia let you prepare bamboo, clean enclosures, and work alongside professional panda keepers. This guide covers every base, the best visiting strategies, and how to build a panda trip that fits your schedule.

Key Takeaways

✔ Sichuan has five distinct panda bases, each suited to a different type of traveler — from quick half-day visits to immersive multi-day volunteer programs.

✔ The Chengdu Research Base is the most accessible and largest facility, with 180+ pandas and direct metro access from downtown Chengdu.

✔ Wolong Shenshuping offers the quietest, most natural panda-viewing experience at 1,700 m (5,577 ft) altitude, with far fewer crowds than Chengdu.

✔ Panda volunteer "keeper-for-a-day" programs are available at Wolong and Bifengxia — participants clean enclosures, prepare food, and earn an official certificate.

✔ Morning visits between 8:00 and 10:30 are essential — pandas retreat indoors once temperatures exceed 26°C (79°F).

✔ July through September is the best window to see newborn panda cubs, born after the March–May breeding season.

Why Visit China's Giant Pandas?

Giant pandas are more than a photo opportunity. A visit to a panda base in Sichuan connects you to one of conservation's greatest success stories — and to landscapes, culture, and food that make Chengdu one of Asia's most rewarding cities.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

• One of the rarest wildlife encounters on Earth — Approximately 1,900 wild giant pandas survive, and China's breeding programs are the reason the species was downlisted from "endangered" to "vulnerable" in 2016. Seeing them in purpose-built conservation centers is a privilege with genuine scientific weight.
• Five bases, five different experiences — The Chengdu Research Base offers volume and accessibility. Wolong delivers mountain solitude at 1,700 m (5,577 ft). Bifengxia has the largest panda kindergarten. Each base rewards a different kind of traveler.
• Hands-on conservation participation — Keeper-for-a-day volunteer programs let you prepare bamboo, clean enclosures, and learn from professional caregivers. You leave with a certificate — and a visceral understanding of what panda conservation actually involves.
• Celebrity pandas draw global fans — Hua Hua (花花) at the Chengdu base and Fu Bao (福宝) at Wolong have millions of followers worldwide. Visiting their home bases adds a personal dimension that no documentary can match.
• Chengdu itself is the reward — The panda's hometown is also China's capital of hot pot, tea culture, and the famously relaxed Sichuan lifestyle. Most travelers spend 2–4 days here and wish they'd planned more.
• The gateway to wider China — Chengdu connects by high-speed train and direct flight to Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, and Lhasa. A panda visit slots naturally into almost any China itinerary.

The Panda Bases: Where to See Giant Pandas in China

China's panda bases are not interchangeable. Each has a distinct character, crowd level, and specialty. The right choice depends on how much time you have, whether you want a volunteer experience, and which celebrity pandas you want to see. All five Sichuan bases operate under the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (中国大熊猫保护研究中心) or the Chengdu Research Base system.

1. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (成都大熊猫繁育研究基地)

The morning air carries the clean, grassy scent of fresh bamboo as keepers wheel carts toward the enclosures. By 8:00 a.m., pandas emerge from sleeping quarters into their outdoor yards — some rolling, some climbing, most eating with the focused intensity that has made them internet celebrities. The sounds are surprisingly loud: bamboo snapping, low grunts, and the occasional squeal from the nursery wing.

The Chengdu Research Base is China's largest and most-visited panda facility, home to over 180 giant pandas plus red pandas across a sprawling park divided into themed zones. Located just 10 km (6 mi) north of downtown Chengdu, it is the most accessible base for travelers short on time.

Fact Panel

• Location: Chengdu, Sichuan — 10 km (6 mi) from city center
• Pandas: 180+ giant pandas, plus red pandas
• Tickets: ¥55 (~$8 USD) adult; ¥27 student; 65+ free
• Hours: 7:30–18:00 (last entry 17:00); opens 7:00 in peak season (Jul–Aug, Spring Festival, National Day)
• Reservation: Required 1–7 days ahead via official WeChat account or Ctrip/Meituan — no walk-up tickets
• Getting there: Metro Line 3 to Panda Avenue (熊猫大道), then shuttle bus to base; taxi ~30 min from Chunxi Road; direct public bus ¥8 from Chunxi Road area to West Gate
• Visit duration: 3.5–5 hours
• Star pandas: Hua Hua (花花) in Villa 6; multiple cubs in nursery halls
• Best for: First-time visitors, families, anyone short on time

Insider visiting strategy: Enter through the West Gate, not the South Gate. The West Gate area has higher panda density and significantly fewer visitors at the same time of day. Staff recommend Villas 1 and 2 for the best viewing angles. Skip the observation cars unless you need to cover both West and South zones — the walk between panda halls is short, except for an 800 m (0.5 mi) stretch between the Moon halls and Xinghan Hall where there is nothing to see.

Explore the Chengdu Research Base

4 Days Chengdu Panda Tour (Chengdu - Dujiangyan - Chengdu)

Tour Route：Chengdu-Qingcheng Mountain in Dujiangyan, Chengdu-Dujiangyan-Chengdu

Tour Type：Panda Tours / Wildlife Tours / City Tours

4 Days

3 Places

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2. Wolong Shenshuping Base (卧龙神树坪基地)

Shenshuping Base of Wolong China Panda Garden in Aba

Shenshuping Base of Wolong China Panda Garden in Aba, Sichuan

Fog clings to the valley floor at dawn, and the bamboo forest surrounding the base amplifies every sound — birdsong, rushing water from a nearby stream, and the quiet rustle of a panda pulling a fresh stalk from the pile. At 1,700 m (5,577 ft), the air is noticeably cooler and cleaner than in Chengdu, and the enclosures feel less like a park and more like habitat.

Wolong Shenshuping is the official breeding and wild-training center of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. Set deep in the Wolong mountains of Wenchuan County (汶川县), it offers the closest experience to seeing pandas in their natural environment. Visitor numbers are a fraction of the Chengdu base — you can stand directly in front of an enclosure with no crowd between you and the panda.

Fact Panel

• Location: Wenchuan County, Wolong National Nature Reserve — ~100 km (62 mi) northwest of Chengdu
• Tickets: ¥90 (~$13 USD) adult; ¥45 student; 70+ free
• Hours: 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
• Reservation: Online via official platform or authorized agents
• Getting there: ~1.5–2 hours by car from Chengdu; passes through Dujiangyan
• Visit duration: 2–4 hours
• Star pandas: Fu Bao (福宝) — the South Korean-born celebrity who returned to China in April 2024; resides in Panda Kindergarten Hall 2
• Best for: Photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, Fu Bao fans, travelers heading northwest toward Jiuzhaigou or the Aba Tibetan region

Insider tip: Bring a light jacket — Wolong runs several degrees cooler than Chengdu, even in summer. The recommended route is: ticket gate → outer ring forest trail → inner ring viewing halls → Panda Kindergarten Hall 2 (Fu Bao) → Hall 1 cubs → gift shop exit.

See Fu Bao at Wolong

3 Day Wolong Giant Panda Volunteer and Panda Habitat Exploration Tour

Tour Route：Chengdu

Tour Type：Provinces Tours / Photography Tours / Panda Tours / Wonders of China Tours / Hiking Tours / City Tours

3 Days

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3. Bifengxia Panda Base (碧峰峡熊猫基地)

Bifengxia Panda Base in Yaan, Sichuan

Bifengxia Panda Base in Yaan, Sichuan

The valley narrows between two green ridges, and the air takes on a damp, mossy quality. Bifengxia's enclosures follow the natural contours of the gorge — pandas here live in semi-wild conditions where the boundary between "exhibit" and "forest" blurs convincingly.

Bifengxia, located near Ya'an City (雅安市) about 2.5–3 hours southwest of Chengdu, operates as a semi-wild breeding and observation base. It houses the country's largest panda kindergarten exhibit and has a dedicated zone for overseas returnee pandas. Bifengxia is also the only base where, around Chinese New Year, you may see pink, hairless newborn panda cubs — a sight unavailable elsewhere.

Fact Panel

• Location: Ya'an City, Sichuan — ~150 km (93 mi) southwest of Chengdu
• Tickets: ¥100 (~$14 USD) adult; ¥50 student; 70+ free
• Hours: 8:30–17:30 (seasonal variations)
• Getting there: ~2.5–3 hours by car from Chengdu
• Visit duration: 2–4 hours
• Best for: Travelers interested in newborn pandas (Jan–Mar), those heading south toward Ganzi Prefecture, volunteer program participants

Volunteer programs: Bifengxia runs one of the three official panda volunteer programs (see the Volunteer section below). The 3-day program (post_id 914) includes enclosure cleaning, bamboo preparation, and panda feeding under keeper supervision.

Volunteer at Bifengxia

3 Days Chengdu & Bifengxia Panda Volunteer Tour

Tour Route：Chengdu-Bifengxia Panda Valley Base in Yaan-Chengdu

Tour Type：Hiking Tours / Panda Tours / City Tours

3 Days

3 Places

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4. Dujiangyan Panda Base (都江堰熊猫基地)

Dujiangyan Panda Base

Dujiangyan Panda Valley, Chengdu

Dujiangyan Panda Base sits in Qingchengshan Town (青城山镇), about one hour from Chengdu — the closest conservation base to the city. Known primarily as a retirement and rehabilitation facility for elderly pandas, it hosted one of China's most popular volunteer programs before its closure.

Fact Panel

• Location: Dujiangyan, Sichuan — ~60 km (37 mi) northwest of Chengdu
• Status: Closed for renovation (as of April 2026)
• Getting there: ~1 hour by car from Chengdu
• Best for (when open): Travelers with limited time, volunteer program participants, those combining with nearby Dujiangyan Irrigation System and Mount Qingcheng (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites)

The Dujiangyan base's greatest strength was its proximity to two of Sichuan's UNESCO sites — the ancient Dujiangyan Irrigation System (都江堰水利工程) and Mount Qingcheng (青城山). When the base reopens, combining all three into a day trip from Chengdu remains one of Sichuan's most efficient touring strategies.

5. Pandas Beyond Sichuan: Xi'an and Beijing

Giant pandas are not exclusive to Sichuan. Two locations near Xi'an (西安) and one in Beijing offer panda encounters that slot into broader China itineraries without requiring a Chengdu detour.

Foping National Nature Reserve (佛坪国家级自然保护区) — Located in the Qinling Mountains about 4 hours south of Xi'an, Foping is one of the few places in China where wild giant pandas can be observed in their natural habitat. The reserve protects a population of wild pandas in dense temperate forest. This is not a zoo-style experience — it is a nature reserve with guided treks.

Louguantai Wild Animal Breeding Center (楼观台珍稀野生动物抚育救护中心) — About 1.5 hours southwest of Xi'an, Louguantai offers a more accessible alternative to Foping with captive pandas in a smaller, quieter facility.

Beijing Zoo (北京动物园) — Beijing Zoo maintains a dedicated panda house where several giant pandas are on permanent display. While the experience is less immersive than the Sichuan bases, it provides a convenient panda encounter for travelers whose itineraries don't include Chengdu.

See pandas near Xi'an

1 Day Xian Panda Tour to Hanzhong Foping National Nature Reserve and Panda Valley

Tour Route：Xian

Tour Type：Panda Tours / Nature Tours / Day Tours / Top China Tours

1 Days

3 Places

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Panda Base Comparison: Which One Should You Visit?

Every base serves a different traveler profile. Use this table to match your priorities.

The Panda Volunteer Experience: Keeper for a Day

The smell of bamboo pulp, wet concrete, and something unmistakably animal fills the prep room. You pull on work gloves and a blue volunteer vest. A keeper hands you a broom and points toward an enclosure where a two-year-old panda is doing its best to ignore the entire operation. Your job for the next four hours: clean, prepare food, and learn what it actually takes to keep these animals alive.

The panda volunteer program — officially called the "Panda Loving Care Experience" or "Keeper for a Day" — is the most immersive way to interact with giant pandas in China. Three bases currently offer official programs: Wolong (Shenshuping), Bifengxia, and (when it reopens) Dujiangyan. Each program runs approximately 7–8 hours and follows a similar structure.

What you actually do:

• Clean panda enclosures and living areas
• Prepare bamboo — washing, cutting, and sorting by type
• Make "wowo tou" (窝窝头) — steamed corn-and-soybean buns that supplement panda diets
• Observe professional feeding and behavioral training sessions
• Participate in a science education session on panda biology and conservation
• Care for elderly pandas by preparing specialized soft food
• Receive an official Panda Volunteer Certificate at completion

What you should know:

• Age limits: 10–70 years old (some programs specify 8–70)
• No perfume or nail polish — pandas have a keen sense of smell
• Physical requirements: You will be on your feet for 7+ hours, lifting bamboo bundles and bending to clean
• Panda holding: Direct contact is extremely limited. Some premium programs allow brief supervised contact under strict conditions (weight 45–80 kg, no transmissible diseases, age 18–50). Frame your expectations around working alongside pandas, not cuddling them.

Join a panda volunteer program

3 Days Chengdu & Dujiangyan Panda Base Volunteer Tour

Tour Route：Chengdu-Dujiangyan-Qingcheng Mountain in Dujiangyan, Chengdu-Chengdu

Tour Type：Panda Tours / City Tours

3 Days

3 Places

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Best Time to See Giant Pandas (and Baby Pandas)

Panda activity follows temperature, not the calendar. The single most important rule: arrive early. Between 8:00 and 10:30 a.m., pandas are actively feeding and moving. Once temperatures climb above 26°C (79°F) — which happens by mid-morning in summer — most pandas retreat to air-conditioned indoor enclosures, and the viewing experience deteriorates sharply.

The baby panda window: Giant pandas breed between March and May. Cubs are born roughly 3–5 months later. The nurseries at Chengdu, Wolong, and Bifengxia display newborns from approximately July through September — tiny, pink-skinned, and almost comically helpless at first, then growing into the stumbling, tumbling furballs that dominate panda social media. If seeing baby pandas is your priority, plan for late July through September.

Bifengxia exception: Pandas at Bifengxia tend to give birth earlier — around Chinese New Year (January–February). This is the only base where you may see the rarest sight: red, hairless newborn cubs in their first days of life.

Sample Itinerary: 9-Day Sichuan Panda and Nature Tour

Practical Logistics: Planning Your Panda Trip

Getting to Chengdu

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (天府国际机场, TFU) and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (双流国际机场, CTU) serve international and domestic flights. Direct international connections include Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, London, Sydney, and major US cities. Domestic flights from Beijing (~2.5 hours), Shanghai (~3 hours), Xi'an (~1.5 hours), and Guangzhou (~2 hours) run frequently.

High-speed rail connects Chengdu to Xi'an (~4 hours), Chongqing (~1 hour), Guilin (~6 hours), and Kunming (~6 hours).

Getting to Each Panda Base from Chengdu

What to Bring

• Comfortable walking shoes — all bases involve significant walking on paved and boardwalk paths (3–5 km per visit)
• Light jacket for Wolong — the altitude makes it several degrees cooler than Chengdu year-round
• Mosquito repellent in summer — bases are surrounded by bamboo forest and standing water
• Snacks and water — food options inside the bases are limited; Chengdu Research Base has a few cafes, but the other bases have minimal dining
• Portable battery — you will take hundreds of photos
• No flash photography — strictly prohibited; baby panda eyes are extremely light-sensitive

How to Navigate Without the Language

Most panda base staff do not speak English beyond basic greetings. Signage at the Chengdu Research Base is bilingual (Chinese-English), but the other bases have limited English signage.

Practical solutions:

• Download a translation app before arriving — Baidu Translate or Google Translate (with offline Chinese pack) both work
• Screenshot your base ticket QR code — entry staff scan codes, not paper tickets
• Ask staff for directions — base employees at all facilities are consistently helpful and will use hand gestures or phone translation to guide you, even when language fails
• Travel with a guide — for Wolong and Bifengxia especially, a bilingual guide eliminates guesswork entirely

For an accurate cost breakdown tailored to your group size, dates, and preferences, contact the Yaso Trip team for a custom quote.

Combo Itineraries: Pandas Plus China's Greatest Hits

A panda visit fills one or two days. The rest of your China trip is wide open — and Chengdu's position as a central transport hub makes it easy to connect pandas with almost any major destination. Here are the most popular combinations.

Pandas + Sichuan Highlights (Jiuzhaigou, Leshan, Mount Emei)

The classic Sichuan deep-dive pairs panda bases with three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the turquoise lakes of Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟), the 71 m (233 ft) Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛), and the sacred Buddhist peaks of Mount Emei (峨眉山). A 7–9-day itinerary covers all four, with Chengdu as the base. The new high-speed train from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou (1.5–2 hours) has made this route dramatically more accessible since 2024.

Explore Pandas + Sichuan Highlights

9 Days Sichuan In-depth Tour (Chengdu-Leshan-Emeishan-Dujiangyan-Jiuzhaigou-Chengdu)

Tour Route：Chengdu-Leshan-Mount Emei in Sichuan-Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area-Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan-Chengdu

Tour Type：Provinces Tours / UNESCO Sites Tours / Photography Tours / Panda Tours / Wonders of China Tours

9 Days

7 Places

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Pandas + Beijing and the Great Wall

A 6-day itinerary connects Chengdu's panda bases with Beijing's imperial heritage — the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and a Great Wall hike at Badaling or Mutianyu. A high-speed train or domestic flight links the two cities efficiently.

Explore Pandas + Beijing & Great Wall

6 Days Beijing to Chengdu Panda and Great Wall Tour By Speed Train

Tour Route：Beijing-Chengdu-Leshan-Chengdu

Tour Type：Great Wall Tours / Panda Tours

6 Days

4 Places

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Pandas + Xi'an (Terracotta Warriors)

Chengdu and Xi'an are connected by a 4-hour high-speed train, making a 5–6-day combo natural. Add the Terracotta Warriors, the Ancient City Wall, and the Great Mosque, plus a day at the Chengdu panda base and Sichuan's other highlights.

Explore Pandas + Xi'an

6 Days Chengdu-Xian Speed Train Tour with Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei

Tour Route：Chengdu-Leshan-Emeishan-Xian

Tour Type：Speed Train Tours / History and Culture Tours / Panda Tours

6 Days

6 Places

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Pandas + Tibet

Chengdu is the traditional gateway to Lhasa. A 7–12-day itinerary combines the panda base with the Chengdu-to-Lhasa train (one of the world's highest-altitude rail journeys), the Potala Palace, and — on the longest versions — Mount Everest Base Camp. Tibet Travel Permits are required for all foreign visitors and must be arranged through a licensed agency.

Explore Pandas + Tibet

12 Days Sichuan-Tibet Train Tour with Mount Everest and Chengdu Giant Panda

Tour Route：Chengdu-Lhasa-Namtso Lake in Lhasa-Shigatse-Mount Everest Base Camp in Tibet-Lhasa

Tour Type：City Tours / Speed Train Tours

12 Days

View Detail

Pandas + Yangtze River Cruise

The grand-tour format: a 11–16-day itinerary threading Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Chengdu, and a 3-night Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges. This is the most popular choice for first-time China visitors who want to see it all.

Explore the Grand China + Panda Tour

16 Days China Panda and Yangtze Cruise Small Group Tour (Beijing-Xian-Guilin-Chengdu-Chongqing-Yangtze Cruise-Yichang-Shanghai)

Tour Route：Beijing-Xian-Guilin-Chengdu-Chongqing-Fengdu Ghost City in Chongqing-Shibaozhai Pagoda in Zhongxian County, Chongqing-Yichang-Shanghai

Tour Type：Yangtze River Cruise Tours / Panda Tours / Family Tours / Wonders of China Tours / Top China Tours / River Cruise Tours / Classic China Tours / History and Culture Tours / Nature Tours / Great Wall Tours

16 Days

12 Places

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Tips and Cautions

• Arrive before 8:30 a.m. — At the Chengdu base, the panda activity and visitor experience gap between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. is enormous. Early visitors see active, feeding pandas outdoors. Late arrivals see empty yards and sleeping pandas behind glass.
• Use the West Gate at Chengdu base — Higher panda density, fewer crowds, and a more logical walking route. The South Gate is better only if your sole priority is Hua Hua (Villa 6).
• Don't rely on the sightseeing car — Inside the Chengdu base, the sightseeing car (¥30) is useful only if you need to cover both West and South zones and have limited mobility. Otherwise, walking is faster and you miss nothing.
• Weekdays are dramatically better — Weekend and holiday crowds at the Chengdu base can make viewing difficult. Weekday mornings, especially outside of summer, offer a completely different experience.
• Verify Dujiangyan status before booking — As of July 2026, the Dujiangyan Panda Base remains closed for renovation. Check with your Yaso Trip advisor before planning any itinerary that includes it.
• Carry cash as backup — While most bases accept mobile payment (WeChat Pay, Alipay), some vendors and shuttle buses inside bases may not accept foreign payment cards. Keep small-denomination RMB bills handy.
• Don't feed the pandas — It is strictly prohibited and enforced. Don't pick bamboo from the base grounds either.
• No flash photography — Enforced at all bases, especially in nursery areas. Baby panda eyes are extremely sensitive to light.

Why Travel With Yaso Trip

Seeing pandas in China is straightforward in theory — buy a ticket, walk in, look at pandas. In practice, the logistics trip up independent travelers more often than expected.

• Reservation navigation: The Chengdu Research Base's real-name booking system runs through Chinese-language platforms. Yaso Trip secures your reservations through direct booking channels, including volunteer programs that require advance coordination with base administrators.
• Multi-base and combo logistics: Wolong and Bifengxia have no public transit connections. Yaso Trip provides private vehicle transfers, bilingual guides, and itineraries that combine panda bases with nearby UNESCO sites, cities, and experiences — without backtracking.
• Current, verified information: Panda bases change policies frequently — the Dujiangyan closure, shifting reservation windows, and celebrity panda relocations all affect planning. Yaso Trip's Chengdu-based team verifies conditions before every departure.
• Flexible itineraries from 1 to 16 days: Whether you want a half-day Chengdu base visit or a 16-day grand tour combining pandas with Beijing, Xi'an, the Yangtze, and Tibet, Yaso Trip builds itineraries around your schedule and interests.

Ready to Meet China's Giant Pandas?

China's panda bases offer an experience that no zoo outside the country can replicate — the scale of the breeding programs, the mountain settings, the chance to work alongside professional keepers. Whether you have half a day in Chengdu or two weeks to explore Sichuan and beyond, the pandas are waiting.