After Xian, we set off for a small Chinese city of 4 million people named Chengdu in the Sichuan province. It is known for two reasons: the gateway to Tibet and home of the Panda Breeding Centre. We took a night train into the city and had a rough ride because of a stinky man who insisted on putting his feet on my bed the whole time followed by incessant snoring. We settled into a comfy hostel which fortunately serves breakfast with bacon! We spent our first day exploring the city where we saw our very first Chairman Mao statue. We visited a place called the People's Park. It a wonderful park bustling with activity from ballroom dancing, kite-flying, tai chi and karaoke! Sadly we didn't partake in the karaoke although we considered it. We found a calmer spot: a tea house on a pond where we sat for 2 hours a relaxed for one of the few times since getting into China.

Day 2 in Chendu was all about the pandas. We set out early to make sure we catch them before they all went took their all day naps. When we showed up, the keepers were bringing them their bamboo leaves to chomp on. The pandas lived in spacious and natural-looking enclosures where they can climb and play and eat bamboo when they choose. The first few enclosures held adult pandas but as the day progressed, the pandas got younger until we saw a crib full of 5 panda cubs (2-3 months old). they were absolutely passed out and slept the whole time we were looking at them. They looked like stuffed animals because they were so tiny and adorable. At one point, a vet came in and picked them upone by one and bathed them. One by one, they would wake up dozy and cranky and they would try to attack her but they were so sleepy and tiny and helpless. In all, we spent over 5 hours watching the pandas. They are such beautiful creatures (although sometime stheir manurisms are very human) and sadly there are only 5000 remaining in nature.

The Shanxi province is known for its spicy food so we attempted an Shanxi hotpot. The hotpot is a vat of spiced oil in which you dip your food into and essentially it burns your mouth off. So much so, sweat would literally pour off my face. Fortunately, they have peanut-milk to put out the fire otherwise it would have been an expensive and painful experience.

Our last day in Chengdu was spent taking it easy in preparation for leaving for Chongqing and the Yangtzee river boat cruise.

-j & m