The next stop on our journey was Chengdu. It was a flying visit (literally - it was good to be back on planes and off trains) lasting only 1.5 days and with a lot to pack in. After an essential fuel stop (an English breakfast with baked beans), we had an orientation walk round the city. Highlights included a large statue of Chairman Mao that appeared to be doing a half wave, half nazi salute and the People's Park where locals and school children congregate to participate in various stuff e.g. Aerobics, karaoke and messing about on the boating lake. We didn't hang about for long as we had a busy evening planned and were tired out from another early start (5.30am this time) so some well earned rest was in order.

That evening we headed out for a traditional Sichuan hotpot, a local delicacy, before taking in a cultural performance. Chengdu puts a completely different spin on the humble hotpot: it's actually a really spicy, boiling stock that meat and vegetables are dropped into to cook before you fish them out to eat them. Luckily there was also a non-spicy version for the wusses in the group (me included). It wasn't easy food to find or eat especially with chopsticks but we muddled through with watery eyes, runny noses and nasal bleeding. It was an experience but probably not one we'd repeat. The only hotpots we'll be eating in the future will have Lancashire in the title.

From here we went on to the cultural performance. It was pretty much a variety show with different acts performing different pieces. Some of it was wasted on us to be honest like the Chinese opera (same applies with any opera really), comedy sketches and musical interludes. But some of it was great including the shadow puppetry and the whistling trumpet bloke (had us in discreet stitches but wasn't sure if supposed to be funny). The highlight was the masked men who changed costumes and masks within seconds right before our eyes. It might not sound much but it was amazing - and we still have no idea how they do it.

The next day came the absolute highlight - pandas. We headed out to the Chengdu Research and Breeding Centre very excited, cameras charged and ready to see them in action or rather inaction. We weren't disappointed - the place itself was very green and lush - a welcome contrast to our previous destinations in China. But more to the point we saw pandas, pandas, pandas and pandas. The first panda we saw was about 2 years old and sat with his back to us munching away on bamboo looking exhausted. From there onwards we saw pandas dozing in trees, sat together munching bamboo, sat alone chomping bamboo, laying out looking exhausted and generally mooching around. Most were aged between 9 months and 2 years. We didn't see any adult ones as they're very aggressive (maybe just misunderstood). Unbelievably cute - big, cuddly, loveable critters that almost don't look real - they look like cuddly toys especially due to their lethargy and inactivity. The centre also had red pandas which look like a mix between a fox and a raccoon but fluffier. They were very cute but the giant pandas were definitely the show stoppers. It was an amazing experience.

Later that day, we headed to Jing Hong still feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Kelly and Mike