Although the contributions of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to poverty alleviation and resource conservation are widely acknowledged, NTFP collection is still one of the leading human activities threatening the habitats of giant pandas. This study thus explores the dynamics and determinants of household's participation in, income from, and reliance on NTFP collection in the panda reserves. Data were derived from surveying 943 households surrounding 17 reserves in Shaanxi and Sichuan, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric techniques. Our results show a decline of both collectors and income dependence in 2018 compared to 2013, while it remained a vital livelihood strategy for many households. Also, households generated lower amounts of NTFPs, walked further and spent more days collecting in 2018 than in 2013, while the proportion of NTFPs collected inside the reserves decreased. Socioecological variables, including household's connection to the reserves and their basic characteristics, affected their participation in and income generated from NTFP collection. Our findings are beneficial for a better understanding of the significance of NTFP collection and thus improve its linkage with poverty reduction and wildlife conservation.