Up close with giant pandas in Chengdu

CHENGDU, CHINA: The Sarawak media trip to Chengdu, China, organised by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, began with a visit to the most significant tourist attraction here, namely, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

The 10 media personnel from Sarawak were taken to see one of the world’s cutest and adorable animals, namely, the panda. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has been created to imitate the natural habitat of giant pandas so that the animals will have the best possible environment for growing and breeding.

The giant pandas are not only Chinese national treasures but also beloved by people all over the world. The animals are found only in China’s Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. In total, there are fewer than 2,000 giant pandas in the world and 70% of them are found in Sichuan province.

Therefore, when visitors from China and abroad come to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, one of their main objectives is to see the lovely animals for themselves. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding also cares for other rare and endangered wild animals on its 92 acres of land. Giant pandas, lesser pandas, black-necked cranes, white storks as well as over 20 species of rare animals are fed and bred there.

Verdant bamboo, bright flowers, fresh air, a natural hill scene and a beautiful artificial view are merged ingeniously at the base. The necessary facilities that have been completed include a fodder room, sleeping quarters and a medical station. Besides a museum, there are research laboratories and a training centre. Many plants and as many as 10,000 clumps of bamboo and bushes have been cultivated to provide for the giant pandas’ diet and habitat.

There is plan to expand the base by another 500 acres in order to prepare the giant pandas for release into the wild. After the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breedin, the second destination for the Sarawak media group was the Wide and Narrow Alley in Chengdu. Covering a total length of about 500m, the area is typical of traditional housing areas in Chengdu. It consists of three parallel lanes, one wide, one narrow and one hatch-shaped, with courtyard compounds.

The Wide Lane is for leisure while the Narrow Lane is for hip living and has world-class retailers and fashion outlets. In the Jingxiangzi or hatchshaped lane, attractions for young people include a new bar area. Wide and Narrow Alleys, which are large ancient streets built in the Qing Dynasty, are protected streets in the famous cultural and historical city of Chengdu.

Wi th att ract ions l ike Daci Temple and Wenshu Monastery, Wide and Narrow Alley consists of old-fashioned parallel streets (Kuanxiangzi Alley, Zhaixiangzi Alley, and Jingxiangzi Alley). Renovated in 2008, the area has been transformed into composite- type cultural and commercial streets oriented by tourism and relaxation with distinctive regional features and profound Ba-Shu cultures.

Wide (Kuanxiangzi ) Al ley offers a glimpse of life in ancient Chengdu. Walking in the alley, you can experience life in ancient Chengdu, local conditions and customs and some almost lost folk life scenes in ancient Chengdu. In the quadrangle courtyards, you can drink “Gaiwancha”, tea from a covered cup, and taste authentic Si chuan cuisine.

Kuanxiangzi Alley arouses cordial memories of people in ancient Chengdu. Narrow (Zhaixiangzi) Alley is a “slow life” area and offers you a glimpse of the “slow life” in ancient Chengdu. Jingxiangzi Alley is a “new life” area with fashion and youth themes. The bar area in the new life area of Chengdu, it is the busiest place at night in the city.

The Sarawak media personnel concluded their first day of tour in China by watching the Sichuan Opera. The opera is known for its three distinct features, namely, Changing Faces, Spitting Fire and Rolling Light. Changing Faces is a unique skill of Sichuan Opera, appear ing almost magical to enthralled audiences.

During the performances, the performers switch masks lightning fast to portray different characteristics and personalities of the characters. Spitting Fire, another distinctive feature of the Sichuan Opera, is performed flawlessly in the “Legend of White Snake”, a key story that is a cornerstone of the opera.

The skill is hard to master, but when perfected, is both entertaining and astonishing. The best place to see the Sichuan Opera is Shufengyayun Operatic Circle, located in Chengdu Culture Park on Qingtai Road. This stage is inside Green-Ram Abbey, the famous Taoist temple. In keeping with the Old West Shu style, the building is of primitive simplicity.

The hall, which has functioned for over 100 years, now attracts distinguished performers from across Sichuan Province who hold China Sichuan Opera performances every evening. The daily shows continue to promote the traditional art to a new generation and keep the historic culture alive.