PANDAS!!!…and other things in Chengdu

Yes, the Panda is real. And yes, that’s me with the panda.

Chengdu is Panda central.  When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by a dancing panda.

Even the manhole covers have pandas on them.

So, here is some cuteness overload…

Too lazy to sit up and eat.

And just in case you don’t believe the first picture from this post, here are a few more of me and the panda.

To get your photo opp with the panda, you have to don a lovely blue jumpsuit, gloves and shoe covers.  This is not for your protection, but for Panda’s.  The panda really could not care less if you are there or not.  He is busy eating bamboo.  He is a juvenile, about 18 months old.  You are given about 30 seconds with the panda.

Now, Chengdu is not ALL about pandas.  There is a lovely people’s park and interesting tea houses.  But after looking at all the cuteness above, nothing else can compare.

Next stop…the Yangtze (or Yangzi) river and the Three Gorge (apparently Yangzi is the preferred spelling).