This morning we visited the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base where we were able to witness the conservation efforts being made to save this endangered species.

There are only around 1,000 pandas left in the world and 80% of them are found in the mountains in Sichuan.

The facility was set up 30yrs ago to help protect the panda and they now have the biggest number of Giant Pandas in the world living within the base, along with Red Pandas.

The pandas have over 600 acres of parkland to live in, and today we had the honour of getting up close and personal with these gorgeous animals.

We got to watch them play, eat bamboo and climb trees.

We saw a number of the young pandas in the nursery quarters taking their first steps and being fed by the park rangers.

With so many adorable pandas, it was hard not to just take endless photos of each one…

With a little restraint we managed to limit ourselves to a handful of pictures & videos in their comfortable captivity.

The pandas struggle with the Chengdu heat, with their natural habitat being high up in the mountains. In the base they are kept cool with air conditioning and the occasional large block of ice!

Due to the heat and their tendency to be dormitory, the pandas find it hard not to laze around and snooze when they are not eating.

Due to the large area of the breeding base, the best way to get around in the intense heat is by electric golf styled buggies.

With pandas love for eating and sleeping, the best way to coax them into moving around was by offering up bamboo, and then ice blocks to keep them cool. Both proved to be very successful and tempted the less inclined pandas to show their faces.

Watching the panda sit up and eat bamboo in a hammock styled bed was incredible and made us realise how intelligent and creative animals they are.

We did a fair share of walking between buildings and with little shade from the sun, it proved to be tiring work meaning a constant need for rehydration.

Some of the pandas made it known that they too were exhausted and laid down and snoozed.

With a little encouragement other pandas did get up and about and we watched them climb along raised walkways.

After seeing the Giant Pandas indoors, where the temperatures are controlled, we moved outside to see the Red Pandas. They tend to roam along the ground and then sleep up in the branches of the trees.

Red pandas look altogether different, with a more raccoon like appearance with long bushy tails and smaller fox like faces.

As it turns out they aren’t even pandas, emanating from a different species group to the larger more recognisable giant pandas.

We finished the tour of the base with a spot of souvenir shopping and the obligatory panda themed sculptures and photos.

After several enjoyable hours at the panda sanctuary, we headed back to the city and popped into a restaurant opposite our hotel for noodles.

This was no normal eatery, but one that commanded Michelin stars for the last 3yrs.

Having ordered veggie noodles and dumplings for two we were amazed to be told that it was just £3!

Late afternoon after a quick shower and change, we headed out for some culture and a visit to a traditional Sichuan Opera.

Along the way we walked through one of the oldest cultural parts of the city where numerous tea houses, opera houses and high end jewellery stores are located.

There were numerous stunning shops and restaurants selling to the wealthy residents.

The Opera proved to be more a variety show with different acts performing short 10min segments including acrobats, comedy, shadow puppetry and Bian Lian.

The latter is is an ancient Chinese dramatic art with the performers wearing brightly coloured costumes dancing to dramatic music. They depict well known characters from the opera, which they change from one face to another almost instantaneously with the swipe of a fan, a movement of the head, or wave of the hand. So impressive, and hard to fathom.

After the opera we had a wander around the beautiful park grounds with their heart shaped viewing deck over the lake.

As we have experienced elsewhere in South East Asia, the local residents love to get out in the evening and dance to keep fit. We came across a large group, all in uniform, marching in band formation around the central square.

With sunset approaching, we left the park and picked up a bus to make our way back to the hotel. The bus network is fantastic with a regular, inexpensive service making it easy to get around and a great opportunity to meet local residents.

After an enormously enjoyable evening at the opera, we met up with Simen and Julie from our tour group, to celebrate Simen’s 32nd birthday.

Fortunately there was a great bar close to our hotel selling craft beers.

The owners were so friendly and accommodating, offering us a tasting paddle and snacks before we made our choice of IPA and pale ales.

We ended up staying for a couple of hours and had a fun time toasting Simen’s birthday with a beer or two.

Tomorrow we are on the move again, this time by coach to Leshan to visit the world heritage listed Leshan Giant Buddha.