Chengdu and the Pandas

Our cruise finished in Chongqing, the most important city of south west China, and a former capital when we in the west knew it as Chungking. Our luggage was taken ashore by porters using bamboo poles to balance everything from cases to heavy containers of cooking oil for the next cruise on their shoulders. We stopped here to wander round the old part of the city with a market street selling mostly food and tourist knickknacks. There was a queue outside one of the food stalls although it looked exactly the same as all the others. Presumably it had a reputation a bit like the Anstruther chippie! We really enjoyed exploring the streets and picking up a few bargains as well as watching the crowds and the stall holders. Our early lunch stop here served lovely coffee and a very nice plate of food, not the usual ten of us round a table.

Popular food stall

The next stop was Chengdu, the capital of one of the most affluent rural areas in China, and now a city of 14 million people and one of the key centres of China's electronics industry. That night we were treated to traditional Chinese Opera, entitled "Changing Faces". We were a bit doubtful but by now we knew the evening shows were not to be missed. It turned out to be a spectacular show featuring colourful costumes, a plot involving a wayward husband and a nagging wife, fire eating, puppets and masks. The masks were continually changing and we still have no idea how they did it. Even the puppet changed masks. Wow!

The Leshan Buddha

Next day we had a long bus trip to Leshan to see the Grand Buddha of Leshan, reputed to be the largest statue of Buddha in the world. It was carved into a cliff overlooking a dangerous rapid at the confluence of two rivers, and was supposed to protect mariners. We embarked on a boat to cruise past it, and we all got back safely so it must be working. On the way back to Chengdu we stopped at what was billed as a traditional village dating back to the Qing dynasty, but which seemed more like a run-down theme park packed with Chinese tourists. Later we passed a huge building which we were told was the "Global Center". Look it up on the internet. It's the biggest building in
the world - yes really - and only opened in July. That and the fact that it's at the centre of a major corruption scandal might explain why a visit was not on our itinerary. Our bus trip passed one municipality where there were logos on the side of many of the houses. These looked a bit like Santa Claus and were an indication that a very old person lived there. This area is one where there are many centenarians.

An old person lives here

After dinner we set off on our own to the main shopping street, crossing the road to a huge pedestrian area by a raised walkway. The shops were quite upmarket and only differed from our shopping malls by the people outside beating a piece of cardboard and exhorting everyone to come in and get a sale bargain. Being a bit deprived of puddings we were ecstatic to discover a Haagen Dazs and enjoyed lovely ice creams. On the way back we found a fast food mall where many splendid looking treats were on sale, but again with a distinctly Chinese flavour to them.

The gang's all here

And now to one of the highlights of the trip, a visit to the giant pandas. They are found in the famous Chengdu Research Base opened in 1995. It has a museum, research facility and protected wilderness and breeding area. We arrived early and four from our group signed up to get closer to a panda. The weather was wet but improved as the morning went on. The pandas were very close, in a lovely open environment and there was also the opportunity to see the nursery where the babies were looked after. DVDs also taught us more about these animals and why they are so endangered. Cuddling a panda was very expensive but a once in a lifetime opportunity!

In the afternoon we visited another park, but this was no peaceful relaxing stroll. The centrepiece was a performance area where a number of informal shows were being presented. All seemed extremely loud, and so close together that it became a huge kaleidoscope of colour and noise, with crowds of spectators watching, moving between performances, and even joining in. After a bit we were glad to retreat to a nearby teahouse and watch a quiet game of Chinese chess at the next table.

Panda and friend