Chengdu and the Panda's!

So we arrive in Chengdu and find our hostel...its a hostelling international but its really cool. It has a garden to sit out in and at this point its not too cold. The bar is really nice and was a good place to meet other people!The people that work there speak good english and we took part in a quiz again!We did better than the last time though,so that a bonus.

Next day we get up and head out to the Panda Research Base...i'm nervous and hope that its better than Beijing Zoo!  The bus drops us right outside and we head in.The Panda's have large enclosures that are full of natural habitat and there is plenty of activities for them to do to keep them occupied.Although they are pretty much all eating or sleeping....oh to be a panda lol! They seem really content and in good health.I'm happy! We even get to see some baby panda's that were born in August....the base had 6 new panda's born this year...thats a big achievement as Panda's are known for having no desire to mate.

We then walk a bit further to see the Red Panda enclosures...the first one is closed as it is being improved but the second is still open. It's not really an enclosure to be fair....its a massive open island surrounded by a moat and the Red Panda's can roam around, climbing the trees. It was very impressive. We didnt stay too long as Charlie was getting annoyed at the people who were feeding the animal...which you are not supposed to do...they are wild animals after all!
We are then randomly approached by a man who tells us many times ....'English.....i like Owen' and pretend to kick a football......very strange but amusing!
The Panda Research Base is a definate must see if you come to Chengdu....its really nice to see animals treated well and the success they are having bringing new Panda's into the world is great!!Big thumbs up for me!