Well our first overnight Train in China and unfortunately only first class cabin left Oh dear me!! not too worry Mark it'll be fine only 20hrs of sheer heavan. Nice little cabin with all the ammenities you could ask for even ear plugs and personal tv.. Not bad eh!!

Arrive in Chengdu early morning and get collected from the station from our little man, The taxi drops us off at the end of the road unable to travel any firther.. When we turn the corner we understand why (see photo's) The whole road has been dug up. We have to clamber over pipes and mounds of mud bigger enough for me to think this is a mountain!!  Well the hostel was well worth it.. Original style accomadation lovely court yard and the rooms were comfortable. No complaints in this direction apart from having to wear our boots out everyday to get through the mud!!

The Day of the Pandas Well thats what we are here for. Nice early start of 07:00 our guide tells us that best time before the crowds arrive. He was dead right!! The park is massive and looks after over 70 Giant Pandas. There is a strict breeding programme here and its working. We wander and talk with the pandas who are more than used to camera's and seem to behave accordingly. We were lucky enough to see a pair of twins just 8days old. They were being fed by the local nurse. mmh just moves the heart strings a little!!

Only here for 2 days thern off to Lijiang