Sichuan - 'Land of Abundance'

  Chengdu, China
Sunday, January 13, 2008

Day Four - to the 'home of Panda'
Sim's  kind of thin, has longish hair, is kind of lived-in, you might say, isn't Chinese, and knows how to run hostels. He's the owner, by the way. A Japanese guy, whose now on his way to Tibet, recommended I visit the Panda research breeding centre for something to do today. "You'll need to get there early or they'll be asleep." (wasn't it a question of getting there late?)
"How do I get there?"
"Ask Sim. He's over there."
I thought 'Sim' was just a logo, so learning the hostel's actually named after an owner, took me by surprise.
Another Japanese, a female, said "they're very cute." That wasn't what I'd felt when coming away after my visit, but something a bit deeper and sad.
Why should I visit the Pandas? It's not something I've been that interested in. Maybe it's all the hype or trivia surrounding them. I was under the impression that it cost an arm and a leg to see them. I didn't realize they are right here in Chengdu. So not to waste a day. And Sichuan, according to a TV logo, is 'land of abundance,' and 'home of Panda.' Not only is Sichuan the animal's very home, but is actually one of the national emblems of China and is chosen as the mascot for this year's Beijing Olympics. There are only a few hundred of them left here in Sichuan now, and if it wasn't for conservation efforts to preserve them in mountainous places such as Jiuzhaigou, they'd be pretty much wiped out. The breeding centre on the outskirts of Chengdu is doing its bit to preserve the mascot.
It took an amusing bumpy and clattered bus journey to reach the Centre. Right aligned photo tag:

Entrance, Panda Park

And it's getting quite cold. When 'falling' on the Pandas in enclosures Left aligned photo tag:

Busy at the Bamboo

that have been established to resemble their natural habitat, I was disappointed to discover a total of only about 20 fully grown; six others, plus one, were cubs, and were housed in a nursery. Taking photos of these was strictly forbidden because of the flashlight affecting their eyesight. I got plenty of footage of those feeding on bamboo leaves,Right aligned photo tag:

Busy on the Bamboo, posing

and a couple playing together. Left aligned photo tag:

Pandas playful together

Of all the 60 types of bamboo, a Panda will only eat 20 of them and spends 60% of it's time doing so. It's also amusing to note that due to over-consumption, the Centre has to rely on purchasing the bamboo from villagers outside Chengdu. It was interesting to see one worker organize them into bundles and hose them down before doing so.Right aligned photo tag:

Worker preparing the Bamboo Feast

The bus journey on the way back, got jammed in a pile up. When the driver weaved it through, accelerating its humming motor, was somewhat amusing; to me at any rate.
Changes to it's habitat, habitat destruction, and economical development are the reasons for the Panda's dwindling numbers. But its habitat is pretty exciting, up north in the mountains of Sichuan. It's certainly a 'land of abundance' with goodies to choose from: beautiful Jiuzhaijou and its clear lakes, Huanglong scenic park, Yading glacial park, all things Tibetan such as Litang, Doucheng and Kanding towns. Not to mention a performance of 'Bian Lian.' I spent the rest of the day milling around the downtown area, having a coffee in Starbucks and buying a jar of Cinnamon in an adjacent Carrefour. It was almost amusing dodging the myriads riding down the isles on electric scooters. I took a taxi back. The drivers seem honest and very friendly, enough. Chengdu and the glories of Sichuan; they'rrreee GREAT!!

Below are a couple more thumbnails of the Park
 

Left aligned photo tag:

'Swan Lake,' Panda Park

Right aligned photo tag:

Embracing Bamboo, Panda Park