I would like to see the pandas and will be staying in Chengdu. Is it near the city?

You can go to Bifeng Gorge Base of China Panda Protection and Research Center to see pandas. Bifeng Gorge is located in Ya'an City, which is just over one hour by bus from Chengdu. From the hotel, you can catch a taxi toXinnanmen Bus Station, then take a bus to the Bifeng Gorge. Buses leave every 35 minutes from 07:00 to 19:30. It is OK to take a one day trip tp each of these places.

No, I don't think one day is enough to visit Jiuzhaigou.

we took a taxi from tianfu square in the city center and paid around 50 yuens to the panda base breeding place just out side of chengdu. Just make sure the taxi driver use the meter. admission to the place was around 58 yuens