We're backtracking. I (Shalini, on behalf of Mom/Saroj) didn't get this posted in time. Enjoy! :-)
Wei came over last night from Shanghai at 2am and was ready at 6:30am to show us his hometown. Breakfast and the hotel are both amazing, luxuries in China have no comparison (for the dollars spent).
The drive to the Panda Sanctuary (only Panda breeding program in the world) took us through the working class neighborhoods, which resemble Indian cities except they are much cleaner, the roads are better and have less people (hard to believe but true). The changes from the last visit (10 years ago) are that the bicycles have been replaced by electric scooters and cars and there are less people walking.
People riding electric scooters Giant Panda eating bamboo
Pandas are delightful and doing very well, thanks to the breeding program. The sanctuary is just that - “a sanctuary for the Pandas as well as for the visitors”. There are wonderful landscapes, the smell of fresh flowers, peacocks and black swans roaming around along with Red Pandas, Baby Pandas and teenager Pandas. There are many Pandas here brought back from the brink of extinction. We did not get to see the babies, but saw toddlers and older. Last year, Michelle Obama came to see this delightful place.
In the afternoon, we walked around the “Narrow alley” and the “Wide Alley”: a recreated neighborhood made to simulate old china. It had wonderful food, beautiful, old architecture and vendors selling everything. We had a traditional Chengdu lunch with lots of DimSum type food and then we walked some more. We saw traditional Chinese lifestyle including ear cleaning, candy making and lots of food.
Rabbit Heads
Do Fu Park & Museum
Do Fu is the famous poet of China from 12th century. His cottages have been converted into a grand park with meandering pathways, a museum, a waterfall, and of course his old house. Everything is clean, with attention to the smallest details (including toilets with butt warmers…which I have never seen in any park in USA). I was so worried about the toilet situation but so far everywhere we went, there are high tech and clean toilets with attendants who pay special attention to the grey hair lady! J No tipping is allowed - they refuse the money offered to them… amazing!
Cleaning Earwax Wishing Flags
Hot Pot (Michelle Obama ate here!)
Another historic section with recreated old town was a hustling and bustling bazar with local food vendors, shops, antiquities and people. Even on a normal working day, the place was filled with families and young people. We ate hot pot at a restaurant where Michael Obama brought her daughters last year. (Just a coincidence.) Wei treated us just as well, if not better than she was treated. We saw a famous show of face changer and came back to the hotel all happy, full and exhausted.
Thanks to Wei, it was a wonderful day. Good night from Chengdu.
Wei came over last night from Shanghai at 2am and was ready at 6:30am to show us his hometown. Breakfast and the hotel are both amazing, luxuries in China have no comparison (for the dollars spent).
The drive to the Panda Sanctuary (only Panda breeding program in the world) took us through the working class neighborhoods, which resemble Indian cities except they are much cleaner, the roads are better and have less people (hard to believe but true). The changes from the last visit (10 years ago) are that the bicycles have been replaced by electric scooters and cars and there are less people walking.
People riding electric scooters Giant Panda eating bamboo
Pandas are delightful and doing very well, thanks to the breeding program. The sanctuary is just that - “a sanctuary for the Pandas as well as for the visitors”. There are wonderful landscapes, the smell of fresh flowers, peacocks and black swans roaming around along with Red Pandas, Baby Pandas and teenager Pandas. There are many Pandas here brought back from the brink of extinction. We did not get to see the babies, but saw toddlers and older. Last year, Michelle Obama came to see this delightful place.
In the afternoon, we walked around the “Narrow alley” and the “Wide Alley”: a recreated neighborhood made to simulate old china. It had wonderful food, beautiful, old architecture and vendors selling everything. We had a traditional Chengdu lunch with lots of DimSum type food and then we walked some more. We saw traditional Chinese lifestyle including ear cleaning, candy making and lots of food.
Rabbit Heads
Do Fu Park & Museum
Do Fu is the famous poet of China from 12th century. His cottages have been converted into a grand park with meandering pathways, a museum, a waterfall, and of course his old house. Everything is clean, with attention to the smallest details (including toilets with butt warmers…which I have never seen in any park in USA). I was so worried about the toilet situation but so far everywhere we went, there are high tech and clean toilets with attendants who pay special attention to the grey hair lady! J No tipping is allowed - they refuse the money offered to them… amazing!
Cleaning Earwax Wishing Flags
Hot Pot (Michelle Obama ate here!)
Another historic section with recreated old town was a hustling and bustling bazar with local food vendors, shops, antiquities and people. Even on a normal working day, the place was filled with families and young people. We ate hot pot at a restaurant where Michael Obama brought her daughters last year. (Just a coincidence.) Wei treated us just as well, if not better than she was treated. We saw a famous show of face changer and came back to the hotel all happy, full and exhausted.
Thanks to Wei, it was a wonderful day. Good night from Chengdu.
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