Chengdu to you too

Steve poses in front of a Chengdu bus
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Highlights of Chengdu.

Was a system shock to arrive back in a Chinese metropolis of 13 million people after spending time in the barren Tibetan plains.

If you want to see pandas, read on...

Highlight of Chengdu was the International Panda Research Institute. Scientists are attempting to rejuvenate the endangered panda population. It is believed the pandas were originally carnivorous, but have "de-volved" back to eating bamboo. The picky pandas eat only eat 20 types of bamboo (out of aproximately 200 varieties). They also don't like reproducing, preferring to sit around eating. Not surprisingly, the species is not faring well.

The Pandas at the Research Institute
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The institute was a little dissapointing. Groups of pandas were confined in small cells, huddled next to air conditioning vents. Chengdu is a warm sub-tropical climate, but the pandas live in the hills alond the snow line. However, we did get to see two week-old panda cubs - a truly amazing sight.

The surprise highlight was seeing the "red pandas". These little raccoon-like creatures, supposedly a distant and endangered cousin of the giant pandas, were bundles of activities and loved posing for photos.

A red panda poses for the camera
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From Chengdu we flew across the foothills of the Himalayas to Lhasa.