Chengdu

Chengdu

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, is a busy centre for goods manufacture and shows many contrasts between its modern city centre and the more traditional ways of life evident on its outskirts. This is the China that I wanted to see most of all. Chengdu's great claim to fame is the Panda Breeding and Research Centre for study and captive breeding of the endangered (black and white) Panda and the Red Panda. It was very interesting and well worth the visit. Also of interest were Sichuanese culture performances.

Sichuan is renowned for its spicy, chilli-laden cuisine. The food in the restaurants we dined in wasn't as hot as expected - we heard that the chefs took pity on our delicate Western constitutions and left a lot of the chilli out! A shame!

	Freshly cooked breakfast being eaten al fresco (or the Chinese equivalent) at the road side.
	Scooters are a popular form of transportation for all ages - head protection an optional extra!
	An outdoor meat stall. No refrigeration or insect proofing here.
	A tourist market outside one of the popular Buddhist monasteries.
	Another view of the market.
	On the way to see the Pandas at the Breeding and Research Centre.
	A fleeting glimpse of one (very hot) Panda on the move to air-conditioned quarters inside.
	A red Panda panting in the heat. An unusual (and unique) creature having physical characteristics of both bears and cats.
	The "Oil Lamp" play- a demanding wife requires her husband to perform various acrobatic tasks with a lit oil lamp on his head in order to prove his devotion to her. Here's a scene from the play during an enjoyable Dumpling and Sichuanese Culture Night.
	A scene from the colourful Sichuanese Opera showing players amid smoke and bubbles featured during the Dumpling and Cultural Night.