Chengdu Panda Base
Chengdu used to be a biking city back in the 80s, now the
best way to get around is by taxi or metro.
Within the city, an interesting place to visit is the Taoist
Wenshu Monastery 文殊院 (wén shū yuàn). Here, the family
can join the monks in their morning meditations and chants.
The monastery also has a famous vegetarian restaurant where
you can have your lunch, as prepared by the monks. Also in
the city is the old town, called Jing Li 锦里古镇 (jǐn lǐ gǔ zhèn).
Completely rebuilt to look like it did hundreds of years ago, Jing
Li has old shop houses, traditional teahouses and shops selling
traditional crafts, which kids will love running in and out of.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding 成
都大熊貓繁育基地 (xiong mao ji di), also known as Panda
Base, was founded in 1987. It started with six giant pandas
that were rescued from the wild and now is home to nearly 80
giant pandas. Try to visit in the morning, when the pandas are
most active. Feeding takes place around opening time at 8am,
although you’ll see them eating in the late afternoon, too. They
spend most of their afternoons sleeping, particularly during the
height of mid-summer, when they sometimes disappear into
their (air-conditioned) living quarters. You need about a half-day
to explore the Panda Base.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed Leshan
Giant Buddha 乐山大佛 (lè shān dà fó) makes for a good
day trip from Chengdu. This Buddha, which took almost 90
years to build and stands 71 metres tall, is carved out of the
mountain. You can climb up the foot of the Buddha or take a
river trip to see it in its entirety. It is highly recommended to go
with a guide.
Ermei Mountain 峨眉山 (é méi shān) is another beautiful
day trip. It is a holy Buddhist mountain that is famous for its
sunrise. Again, this is a destination to visit with a guide, and you
should spend the night. There is a range of accommodation
available, from guesthouse to five-star hotels. You can take a
cable car up to the mountain. Don’t be tempted to feed the
monkeys that flourish here.
June 2017
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