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!
RTW: p45c – Chengdu, Grand Buddha »« RTW: p45a – Chengdu, Sim’s Cozy Garden Hostel
Sim’s Cozy Garden Hostel is a great hostel in Chengdu. Run by a Japanese and Korean couple who were backpackers in their youth, they set up a very COZY place with all things a hostel should have, based around a beautiful quiet garden. Very cheap, very helpful staff speaking a bunch of languages, internet, lockers, secure baggage room (only place I’ve been that actually takes and tags the bags and doesn’t just give you the key!!), organises tours, good food, everything!
Apparently they have now moved (Dec 10, 2007), and he new place looks even nicer! This photo is from the NEW place! Look at it!!
RTW: p45b – Chengdu, Pandas are cool »« RTW: p44 – Shanghai
Shanghai gave me the chance to meet up with Bao Qin who was there for work and Dave from Postmodern who jut finished the Trans-Mongolia route!
Bao Qin was very busy but we managed to checkout the great Jujube restaurant – its name means “hurry up and become a vegetarian” The food here was great. I ordered way to much but ate it anyways.
I met up with Dave – the 1st familiar Aussie face Id seen since I left! We checked out some markets which were just crazy. Huge and very crowded.
“Hello watch! Hello Bags!” How did they know my name? But as foreigners you can only haggle so far. Then I went back with Bao Qin the next day and prices magically dropped! haha
DVDs, Shorts, t-shirts, Binoculars etc.
Hang on what does my bag weigh again?
RTW: p45a – Chengdu, Sim’s Cozy Garden Hostel »« RTW: p43 – The Great Wall (of China)
This really is the best reason to come to Beijing.
After choosing to walk up to the start at 700m it was worth it and avoiding the dodgy ski-lift thing. This really is the Great Wall. Instantly impressive.
I joined a group from the hostel and we went to the Mutianyu section which is apparently one of the best, and awed in the massive winding structure. It was busy but not so much that it ruined it. The elder Chinese were loving it and charged on while we were struggling in the heat. There are guys along the way selling cool drinks if you need it.
One section was VERY steep and high and only 1 of us, a Belgian guy, tackled the hike to the top.
Seeing the wall snake around the hills and eventually to a point of collapse is is awesome. Couldn’t help but being reminded of LOTR where they light fire signals at the towers on the hills.
We eventually came back down – via the tobogan! Was pretty cool but we wanted to go faster!
RTW: p44 – Shanghai »« RTW: p42 – Beijing Sights
