Another early start this morning as we loaded the bus for the Panda Research and Breeding Center at 7:00 AM, arriving around 8:00 AM. In the wild, pandas are typically found at elevations between 1,200 and 3,700 meters, where temperatures are a bit cooler than down here on the ground. So because of the heat, they tend to be active in the mornings at the institute and then hide away for the rest of the day. Although “active” seemed to mostly mean short shuffles between different spots to eat before another nap. Honestly, that is the exact level of physical activity I can get behind.
The pandas are kept individually in large habitats. When we first started walking around, I wondered if we would even be able to spot them. Since pandas are such a huge tourist draw, it turns out you just look for a massive crowd and there is your panda.
It is pretty amusing how rangers are stationed all around the park holding signs asking everyone to be quiet, yet their main job seems to be yelling at people to keep moving so traffic does not grind to a halt, or breaking up fights over pushing and shoving. People are very keen to see these animals. It is no wonder there is not much breeding going on in the wild because they do not get a single moment of peace.
That being said, we were lucky enough to see plenty of baby pandas, which were delightfully clumsy and adorable.
After a morning with the pandas, we headed back into town for a group hot pot lunch. Hot pot is a traditional type of communal dining where bite-sized pieces of thinly sliced meat and vegetables are cooked in flavored broths in heated bowls on the table. Michael ordered for the group, and he went a tad overboard. We ended up with several plates of rice, beef, lamb, and potatoes, alongside two types of broth: a fiery spicy one and a rich mushroom one. It was an absolute struggle to finish it all, yet the entire feast came out to a grand total of £6 each, drinks included!
Once again, the food was incredible. The waitress kindly skimmed off about 90% of the peppers and chili paste from the spicy side before pouring in the boiling water, and we were super grateful she did. It was still wildly spicy, but thankfully manageable and oh so good. The Michelin-star noodles are still just barely clinging to the top spot on this trip, but the hot pot is now a very close second!
Unfortunately Adam wasn’t feeling up to it but after a necessary food-coma recovery session, a few of us ventured out to the theater to catch a variety of traditional Chinese acts. The lineup included a musician playing the erhu, several music and dance performances, a classic opera scene, acrobatics, shadow puppetry, normal puppetry, a comedy skit, and the famous face-changing routine. It was fantastic entertainment, and they even had English subtitles on either side of the stage so we could follow along.
My favourite act had to be the shadow puppetry, the woman was amazing, not just in making the animals themselves but also with the movement of them, she even made some of the animals blink! A great performance and to top it all off, our ticket unexpectedly included a complimentary back massage, which was a surprising bonus and wonderfully relaxing. Safe to say, I definitely felt wined and dined!