Pandas

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Geo: 30.6679, 104.063

Today we visit the Panda Breeding Research Centre, then catch a fast train for the two-hour trip to Chongqing where we will join our Yangtze cruise. Hopefully WiFi will be available while on the river.

The panada experience was very good and the 20min video in the cinema told me all I wanted to know about them. As we've come to expect, the grounds were spotless and very imaginatively laid out.

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Photos

Feeding time
Pandas weigh up to 120kg and eat 30-60kg of bamboo per day. They can tolerate 40 of the 140 species of bamboo, but seem to like about 20 species. They are carnivores, but will only eat meat when there is nothing else.
There are about 300 pandas in captivity, and another 1,400 in the wild. This is much improved since their total numbers were estimated at about 800 in the mid-80s.

Frisky youngster
By the look of this attendant's right arm, the panda's teeth are sharp and this one doesn't have full control over his bite.

Fast Train to Chongqing
We were in this first carriage and the ride was very smooth and quiet. Top speed around 200kph but mostly we travelled at around 160.

Comments

[The Paramors]

Afternoon to you all. Have enjoyed your blog and photos. Just wondering would a lift from the airport to home be helpful? ETA Bne? Rosie and I could come out in two cars to pick you four up. Warm rgds MFP

[robselclark]

Thx Michael. I'll send you an email...

[Lowie]

I am very envious of your panda experience! Did you get to play with one?

[robselclark]

No such luck!