We arrived in Chengdu via an overnight sleeper train very early in the morning.

The overnight sleeper train wasn't the best quality ever but if I had just one suggestion it would be to add a surprise snap photo as you exit the train which you can buy at an extortionate price just like those photos they take on roller coasters.

We were so tired and worn out we took some time to have a quick shower and a nap before we got ready to go again.

As I woke up from my nap, still half asleep and still exhausted I struggled to remember the reason why I was getting up. More than that, I struggled to think of anything in this whole wide world that was worth dragging my sleep-weary body out of this unusually large, comfortable bed. Finally I remembered what we were doing- we were going to go see the pandas!

And they were so, so cute. Just adorable. We even started nicknaming them. Well, just the naughty cub, which we called Naughty David, after a certain member of our tour group who shall remain nameless.

And we got to experience 'five star' toilets, which in reality was just one of those fancy Japanese toilets.

When we got back to the hotel it was time to go on a walking tour/lunch break.

Up the road and round the corner from our hotel was the famous Tianfu Square, known in our group as Hot Pot Square because of its resemblance to a hot pot bowl from a bird's eye view. Chengdu is famous for its hot pots.

Naturally then, for lunch we had hot pot at a local restaurant. It was quite good but I'm not sure we were doing it right. It's not often I feel under qualified to eat food at a restaurant, but you have to make your own dipping sauce from various ingredients on offer (including MSG). Not only that but you have to choose your own ingredients for the hot pot and cook and serve it up yourself. And the food was so spicy that my lips were burning by the end and I had to order a second drink.

Despite the second drink I skipped the chance to go to the toilet at the restaurant thinking we would be off to the People's Park and back to the hotel (with somewhat nicer toilets) in less than half an hour.

The People's Park was less than five minutes walk from the restaurant and so large Dragon made sure we memorised the entrance we came in through in case we got lost.

We walked around the large cement stone sculpture at the entrance to find this beautiful little water scene, with the stone sculpture behind it and a lovely blossoming tree with this somewhat less lovely drag queen posing in a mini skirt in front of the tree.

A bit beyond that a seniors club was putting on an orchestra concert.

Through another path we came across a tea house surrounded by a lake and vivid greenery. People, young and old sipping on various different trees.

Along the lake there were families rowing colourful little rowing boats adding even more colour to this already vibrant park.

Past the tea house, we walked through some stalls with colourful toys, balloons and candy for sale and beyond that we came across a large open area bustling with activity. Although there were many things going on in this area, the one that interest us the most was the group of people dancing in a sort of line dance, presumably following the leader.

We were happy to stand there and watch in awe, taking photographs of the people, ranging from almost every age group, dancing in sink. Taking photos of the children running around, of the people practicing their badminton and doing all sorts of activities. It was just so great to stand there and take it all in.

And then a Backstreet Boys song started playing and I looked at Lauren who was obviously itching to dance. And I looked into myself and suddenly I knew I was no longer content to stand around and watch life happen, I wanted to be a part of it.

And next thing we knew, after gaining assurances from the rest of our tour group they would look after our belongings, we were in and we were struggling for everything we are worth to keep up with people older than our grandparents dancing to Backstreet Boys.

It was over before we knew, and most definitely before I ever got a chance to learn the moves.

My tiredness from the wearisome train ride momentarily forgotten in all the excitement I put off going back to the hotel in favour of exploring this magnificent park and its lively Sunday afternoon activities in more detail.

And it was like nothing I'd ever seen. Every inch of space used for some activity or entertainment. Here a concert out on by amateur singers in gaudy costumes. There a bonsai park or a koi pond. Further on a mini amusement park filled with super old but well loved rides. A path on the way to another area of the park had been transformed to a karaoke bar.

Another area people were writing poems (we think) in beautiful characters with water on the pavement. Part of the beauty of the characters was in their ethereal property.

Further on there were even more free concerts out on by amateur performers, more people playing various sports, and as ever more stunning scenery to set a backdrop for the lovelies park I've ever seen.

And then those two drinks I had at the restaurant really started to catch up with me.

We looked and we looked and we looked but we (Mel, David and I) couldn't find a toilet anywhere.

Eventually we found a sign which pointed towards something named 'emergency toilet'. Mel and David tried to talk me out of it, saying surely I could wait until we got back to the hotel. But no, it was getting to the point where it would be an emergency soon.

With help from a local drinking tea and the photograph I took of the sign we finally managed to find the 'emergency toilet'.

I left my belongings with Mel and David, other than the tissue paper and the hand sanitizer - two necessary items when venturing into local Chinese toilets - and I made my way to the queue.

All I will say is that, whilst since then I have been to toilets even more basic than this one, nothing yet has compared to the stench, the unashamed humanity and the relief of getting out of there in one piece.

But not to let this one small blotch on the beautiful tapestry of humanity exhibited at the Chengdu People's Park ruin our experience, we made our way to sit down and enjoy a cup of herbal tea at one of the many tea houses within the park.

To me, the adorable pandas, as cute as they were, the Chinese Opera we saw later that night, as impressive as it was, the hot pot meal, as deliciously spicy as it was, and pretty much everything else I'd seen in China and have seen since paled in comparison to the vivacity and energy of this park.

It was a park where you could experience drink delicious tea, eat local sweets, and enjoy a background of exquisite views and the babble of people chatting and laughing and singing or doing whatever takes their fancy in the Chengdu People's Park.