Chengdu - Giant Panda Breeding Research Base

Guy making personal stamps in a shop on Jingli street.
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Chengdu looked like a nice city when we arrived and turned out to be a friendly, pleasant place to spend some time.  Our original visa was only for 30 days when we entered China so one of our tasks in the city was to get our visas extended so we could avoid paying a $100 per day penalty for over-staying.  We heard that the fastest office to get the extension was in a town a couple hours away where there also happened to be the world's largest Buddha statue.  So, we made the run and got our extensions without any difficulty and actually got great service.  China really is a good place to travel even with the language challenges.  The people are so nice!

The panda with his 'server' who pilled and dipped into honey his bamboo shoots for him.
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Chengdu also is home of the Giant Panda Breeding Research Center.  We were able to take a trip outside the city to visit the center and it was really worth the effort.  The opportunity to get such a close look at Pandas and baby pandas is pretty rare.  We weren't allowed to take pictures of the babies though because too many people leave their flashes on and disturb their sleep.  In addition to the typical pandas the center also has a large group of the Red Pandas which look more like a cross between a cat and a raccoon.  They have a strange habit of rubbing their butts on everything to leave their scent.  Makes them all look like they have terrible itches!

Stretch!
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The city also boast some great tea houses where locals hang out and socialize, slurp on tea, and oddly get their ears cleaned by guys wandering around with tuning forks and little brushes they use the forks to vibrate.  Neither of us was brave enough to try it!  Chengdu is also one of the pioneers of the Starbucks invasion.  We went to one and the manager was a really great guy.  They gave us free coffee and "Birthday Cake" celebrating the 35th anniversary of Starbucks.  Can't beat that!