Chengdu

Sadly we had to leave Yangshuo behind us and move on to Chengdu. Home of the Pandas and what used to be the capital of Shu (for those of you unfamiliar with this, search Romance of the Three Kingdoms). For years I have always said that if I went to Chengdu I would hold a one. And I did. At the time it was the best thing I had ever done in my life. Like seriously, they're dying out, when are you ever going to get to hold A PANDA!

I've fast forwarded a bit. Leaving Yangshuo at around 8am, after another all nighter in preparation for the twenty three hour train journey we had to endure, we were all a bit sad and very much hanging still. I know it seems like we all drank a lot (which we did) but we did do so many other things too. I digress. The train journey actually was not that bad as I slept for probably six hours, woke up, had some instant noodles, much like we get here but as all the writing is in chinese it is hard to know what level of spicyness you are getting. I got BBQ seafood judging by the taste and pictures of prawns on the front. It was good. Then I read Little Women (one of my set texts for this year) and went back to sleep.

We arrived in the afternoon and had the option of a massage by a blind masseuse  and after the train journey it was eagerly welcomed. I did not quite realise how bad the tension in my shoulders was and how also how bad my leg muscles were. I have restless leg syndrome, which I know doesn't even sound real. We had a couple of hours to walk around some markets but not enough time to really explore. That's the only downside to a timetabled trip, yeah you can not do the options but then miss out on stuff. 

We only had one night here and we tried a famous Sichuan hot pot, known to be the spiciest of the spicy and it did not disappoint. Despite the drinking I had done I had not actually got really drunk until this night where I had my first taste of Bijiu, Chinese rice spirit. At around 80% I'm not surprised it burnt my oesophagus. 

Next day was panda day!  We had to get up early because they don't like the heat that comes with a typical Chinese summer. Me, Pat and Sally (our guide) also did vodka shots at one point the night before, so suffice to say I was not at my best, but I am very lucky in that my hangovers aren't really...hangovers? So we got on a bus to go to the Panda Breeding Research Centre, managed a few hours sleep and tad dah we arrived. I really cannot put into words how awesome it was just seeing pandas munching on bamboo and not really moving.

Then the four of us who wanted to meet the pandas went off to get our little nurse cards and watered some bamboo for them and then went to see one! It really sucks because whoever was taking my photos seemed to miss all the best parts, like I held it, kissed it etc. But at the end of the day. I held a frickin' panda. A PANDA and I don't care if no one else is excited.

After our panda expedition we made our way to the Giant Buddha of Leshan, something I had read about and was so happy to be going to. There were loads of temples along the way and then we had to queue but it was definitely worth it. Again pictures really do not capture the magnitude and size. :(

At the end of this crazy two days it was already time to move on to Xi'an, the walled city, the ancient capital of China.

LB