成都 Chéng Dū

To start off it should be known that Cheng Du is not a city as developed as Beijing or Shanghai. However, Cheng Du along with Chong Qing have the most metropolitan feel of the region. There are some areas of the city that are very metropolitan, which gives Cheng Du the big city feel. At the same time there are other areas of the city that have a much more natural feel due to the rivers, mountains and greenery. The cost of living is not expensive in Cheng Du, which means that the cost of traveling in Cheng Du is also relatively cheap. So, getting a cab or booking a hostel/hotel in Cheng Du is much more affordable than one in Beijing or Shanghai.

Fun Fact: In most other parts of China they view people from Si Chuan Province as lazy. This would be the equivalent of Americans thinking that all New Yorkers are pushy and rude. There is not a lot of truth to it. The pace of the city of Cheng Du is a bit slower than other big cities. However, not being rushed doesn’t make you lazy in my opinion. In Si Chuan they are a bit more laid back but I see this as very refreshing. So, in the event that you hear the stereotype that all Si Chuan people are lazy just understand that this is just how other Chinese people view them and there is not much validity to the claim.

Local Cuisine

There are plenty of local dishes that you should try while in Si Chuan. They are most known for their spices and peppers though. So, if you like eating spicy food, then this is the place for you.

Here are two specific dishes that are recommend:

• Dan Dan Noodles 担担面
• Hot Pot 火锅

Must Do! The Panda Research Base 大熊猫繁育研究基地 （dà xióng māo fán yù yǎn jiǔ jī dì）

The Panda Research Base is the main attraction that draws people to Cheng Du from around the world. This is not one of your usual run of the mill zoos. These pandas are well taken care of well fed and well looked after. This is one of the few places one earth where you can see pandas and observe how they interact with one another. The Panda Research Base is one of those places that you’ll be anxious to go to and hate to leave. This place will make your trip and whatever expenses incurred worth it.

Be aware that pandas are not the only things that you’ll find in the Panda Research Base. There are also things like peacocks that roam around the area. They will walk right by you. They vigilantly patrol the premises, but not to worry they keep to themselves. It is not advisable to pet them or attempt to scare them off though.

What time should you go?

It is said that the best time to visit the Panda Research Base is in the morning. The reason is because the pandas are said to be more active in the morning than in the afternoon or evening. However, the adult pandas will be mostly inactive and lazy throughout the day. The main attraction will be the baby pandas and they are much more active during the morning.

There really is nothing quite like watching something as rare as pandas playing happily with one another. Being here is like stepping into an Animal Planet program, few people have seen pandas interact like this in person and that makes it all the more unique and superb of an experience.

The Red Pandas 小熊猫

The Red (or Lesser) Pandas are present in the Panda Research Base as well. They look more similar to red raccoons than pandas. Due to their small size they could be a bit more difficult to spot in their environment, however they will be the first to come out during feeding time. These animals are very rare, and honestly, before going here I didn’t even know they existed.

Side Story:

One of the funniest things that you could see while wandering around in the Panda Research Base are impatient visitors scolding the animals to “get up” and “move” or “do something”, so that they can get the picture that they want. One thing that you will come to realize about the nature and behavior of pandas is that they couldn’t care any less about any commands, insults or sounds that you direct at them. They spend most of their day sleeping and most of their waking hours eating…

…And there is nothing quite as funny as impatient tourists yelling at this guy (above) to “do something” and having him look them right in the eye right before eating another 20 bamboo shoots. Never have people had less of an influence on this animal’s behavior than those tourists.

The Infant Pandas

The research center focuses mainly around breeding the pandas to populate the species. There is a section where you can also see the new born infant pandas. They are about 3 inches in size and look very cute. There is not supposed to be any pictures taken of them due to their fragile state. This is the reason why there aren’t any pictures of these tiny sized pandas here. Be aware that these pandas are not in a cage they are swaddled in blankets in a facility that has a glass partition for the public to view.

The Scenery

The scenery here, much like the scenery in all of Si Chuan province is magnificent. It would be very easy to forget where you are and wander around enjoying all of the sights. The scenery makes the Panda Research base go from great to spectacular.

How much time should be spent here?

This depends on how much you’re enjoying the area. The Panda Research Base can be completed and thoroughly enjoyed in about 1/2 of a day. However, spending an entire day here would not be considered a waste of time by any means.

How to get here?

There are 2 main ways that you can get to the Panda Research Base. One is to take a bus. This is the cheap option that will not cost you more than 8 or 10 RMB. I am not sure what the number of the buses that you will need to take (being that there are several starting points depending on the location of your lodging). However, if you do take the bus you should be comfortable and confident in you’re ability to transfer buses. There is one transfer at a relatively large bus station.

The other option is to take a cab there. The Panda Research Base is located a bit far from the city center, thus making the ride more costly (even for Cheng Du). On the other hand, if you would like to save yourself the hassle of changing buses, then this might be your best bet.