We then went to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. We learned that the center cares for about 100 rescued and bred pandas. Giant Pandas are endangered and there are around 1,600 left in the world including those in zoos. We also learned about endangered red pandas. Apparently Giant Panda fur is desired, especially in Hong Kong, so there is the death penalty for anyone who harms a panda.
Sichuan is the home of Giant Pandas and 80% of the world's pandas live here. They live about 25 years in the wild and 30 in the center. Their preferred food is bamboo, specifically arrow bamboo which is 80% of their diet, but they also eat mutton and fish and vitamin bread. Because of people encroaching on their living space in the wild and the lack of bamboo, more and more wild pandas are rescued and brought to the center. They are skinny and their fur is discolored from their poor diet. They are rehabilitated at the center and released into a more suitable wild habitat. They do very well upon release. While mother pandas are 200 pounds, babies are only 50 grams when born. Pandas are thought to be mild, but mothers can be aggressive like grizzlies when they fear for their babies.
We loved walking around the center. It was not like a zoo as it had beautiful grounds and very large enclosures to replicate a wild environment.
It was very cool and rainy so the pandas were especially active. The first one we saw ran around a lot and climbed a tree. Its bottom was reddish because the earth here is red clay.
We saw a sleeping panda after that and then saw a panda eating his lunch.
After that, we saw six babies!!
Then we saw the newborns!!! This sweet one was born last month!
These panda twins (super rare) were born on June 23rd!!! Just three days ago!!!!
We saw red pandas too, but they were fast and we didn't get any great pictures of them.
Then, of course, we hit the gift shop. I knew this is where Willa would spend most of her money.
(Yes, she got this.)
(And this.)
(And she bought this backpack earlier!)
(Jia got this cute one.)
We had a lunch of the best Kung Pao Chicken ever (a classic Sichuan dish).
Then we walked through Jinli market which is lined with buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
We crossed off another food bucket list item with these blown sugar animals!
(Many wishes on this tree!)
(Lotus blossoms.)
(An ear deep-cleaning service - not by doctors.)
This man is making a soybean stringy, powdery taffy-like sweet.
More sugar animal candy.
Jia felt bad for this street performer so she paid 10 RMB to take pictures with him.
We bought some snacks for tomorrow. We are off to Guilin!
1 comment:
Jia is so thoughtful to have paid some money to take photos with the street performer. My favorite part of this post (and it was all wonderful!).
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