Population: 11.3M Province: Capital of Sichuan  Location:  West of the Sichuan Basin

We caught the overnight train from Xi'an, arrived Friday 10th November 5.30am, we were all very tired as we didn't get much sleep.  Straight to the hotel to drop bags off then out for breakfast to Holly's Cafe, more banana pancakes for me!

First stop of the day was the Chengdu Panda Breeding & Research Base.  I know its a really girly thing to say, but I found the pandas so cute, especially the baby ones, only a month or so old!  George I think was very tired as he said "you've seen one panda, you've seen them all", he wasn't so over enamoured by them as me!!! 

After the Panda visit we popped along to the Wenshu Monastry (also known as the Hollow Wood Temple) for a vegetarian lunch and tea.   Some of us went to the People's Park (Renmin Gongyuan) for tea and a massage or ear clean...which George, Gail, John and Tom partaked in, I chickened out of the ear cleaning, especially after seeing what came out of Tom's...sorry Tom!!

We all decided to go and see a local Sichuan cultural performance, I think I would have enjoyed it more had I not been sooo tired.

Next stop Emei Shan tomorrow Sat 11th Nov.