RTW: p45b - Chengdu, Pandas are cool

We got a group together to head off to the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center. Initially I thought it was kind of a fenced reserve area naturally populated by pandas, but it is basically a zoo. However it is very natural, they are successfully breeding pandas and releasing them into the wild, and from what we saw they are very happy! There are no bars, high walls stop them from getting too close but I really wanted to just give THEM a big bear hug! They are soooo cool and just look like big Teddy Bears! Our visit was timed to be just after breakfast, so they were very active, happy, playful, and totally putting on a show. Chasing each other, playing games and climbing trees etc, I could watch for hours!