Get up close with the rare gentle giants of China in Sichuan Province
Panda research base
Located around 10 kilometres from the northern suburb of Chengdu, the research base covers an area of 600 acres. Set up in a natural environment, the base is exquisitely designed with fresh air, luxuriant bamboo trees and flocks of wild birds flying around.
The base opened to the public only during 1995. It serves as a research station and a breeding ground for both giant pandas and lesser (red) pandas and is a home to nearly 40 or more pandas.
As advised, we reached the base early in the morning to coincide with feeding time for the pandas - around 9:30 am. Pandas are known to consume enormous amounts of food. Loads of fang cane and fountain bamboo were served. We watched merrily as the cute, cuddly, plump pandas were carefully and affectionately fed.
As we walked along the trail, our guide told us that after feeding, the pandas would return to their favourite pastime - snoozing. We visited the partially opened breeding centre and had the good fortune of seeing the pandas roaming around lazily.
We all enjoyed the "happy-go-lucky" attitude on their faces and the lack of concern for what was happening around.
The best part of this base tour was the visit to the nursery. The cuddly baby pandas crawled over each other, even climbing up artificial branches and sometimes rolling over each other playfully. It was great fun watching the cubs. Since these animals are very shy in general, we weren't encouraged to linger for long. There is also a fine museum at the base that has excellent exhibits on the evolution of the animal, its habitat, conservation efforts, results and much more.
Wolong Nature Reserve
Leaving the research base, we left for the Wolong Nature Reserve, about a 4-hour drive away. Both our driver and our guide suggested that en route we visit the famed Dujiangyan irrigation project that would give us an enthralling experience of Chinese engineering.
The mighty Min River caused severe floods in the area and droughts were also a threat. To solve this perpetual problem, a weir system was constructed that would split up the river and a canal was cut through the mountain which would eventually irrigate the entire plain of Chengdu. The taming of this mighty river has thus created a landmark in the history of irrigation.
