Da Bears

At the Panda Center near Chengdu

Fortunately, there's a deep moat between us and this guy

Vicki at the Panda Center

Mao presiding over Tianfu Square

Waving at the Cartier's and other fine shppping...

Wednesday in Chengdu we went to the Panda Breeding Center. We saw 3 babies in incubators each about 1 month old. While we were there the nurse took one baby out and took it next door for the mother to nurse. Only at that point were we allowed to take pictures. The babies were just getting their fur. They are born completely hairless and blind—-all pink skin looking a little like rats—hard to describe. There were also 3 cubs about 2 months old sleeping in a large wooden playpen structure. At two months they have a full set of fur with all the panda markings.Their eyes are still developing so no pictures of them allowed either. It was terrific to see the babies—-bad part was that since babies are only born 2 months of the year, there were none old enough to hold. They have a program that allows you to hold a cub if you contribute a healthy sum to the breeding program. I had been looking forward to it. Next time. Vicki

The Panda Center was interesting for a range of reasons. Here's a poor animal that can't and won't adapt. It eats only bamboo and breeds like other bears--rarely and with low survival prospects. The Chinese are taking extraordinary measures to ensure its survival, but at great cost. Yes, they are adorable, although I think we've all been conditioned from childhood to think of them as cute and cuddly. They're big, though hardly giant, and have really nasty-looking claws and teeth and doubtless can do some damage when provoked. The center is a typically well run, organized, signed (in English) affair. It is strictly about research and breeding--not a zoo. And only a few dollars admission.

The taxi ride back to Chengdu center was our most harrowing yet. A bit of freeway, then miles of back streets, frantically dodging pedestrians, hand-carts, bicycles, scooters, cars, buses, etc. The driver got through one squeeze-play with a violent maneuver, no more than a couple inches' clearance on either side.

In the afternoon we ventured back to Tianfu Square to see the masses luxuriating in the National Day. Throngs on the square, fountain displays, music, but no program nor speeches. Oh well. We explored a variety of stores, alleys, etc.

Tuesday night we did eat Sichuan, pork and chicken dishes (only 1 chili in spiciness), soup, fruit, and a very interesting cream of peanut soup for dessert. (Vicki said it tasted like Jif and honey). Yum. The Sichuan provide a large spoon with chopsticks, in addition to the ceramic soup spoon. Interesting. Leftovers Wednesday. Mark