ilovePandas

Chengdu city skyview

by night

Chengdu is the provincial capital and the largest city of the SICHUAN PROVINCE in southwest China. It is located on the edge of the fertile plains of the Red Basin. The Funan river bisects the city, although boat traffic, common until the 1960's has all but vanished.
It is home to more than 14 million people. Chengdu has the reputation as a "laid-back" city that emphasizes culture and relaxation and as a result of this and much green space is ranked one of the most livable mega-cities in China. It is credited with a good nightlife scene and contains many new western style buildings in the large city center.

We were fortunate to be "guests" of the Malaysian Winter Soltice HASH Run 2012 " which has picked Chengdu as their 2012 run site. At estimated 3C - 10C weather forecast at this time of the year, most of us will be attempting to complete the run. And as for me and my girls, i will probably do what the "locals" do...Zzzzz...zzz ( ie....the panda hibernate ya ? )

AirAsia flight to Chengdu.....sure crowded and noisy with chinese residents

she braved the noisy crowd and struggled her way to her seat ... at the back!!!! !

Leaving on the 6.30pm (abt 4 hr flight) AirAsia flight direct to Chengdu, we were many times advised to bring lots of warm and thermal wear. And true enough we were extremely glad we listened to our friends, its was not only just cold, it was freezing coooooldddddd !!! with temperatures at -5C nights to 5C daytime the lakes are frozen, our bus windows are iced up. Super warm gloves and thermals are reeeeeeely highly recommended if you are planning to go visit the UNESCO site of JIUZHAIKO during December month (winter).

This trip is all about PANDAs , BREATHTAKING SCENERY and AMAZING FOOD AND APHRODISIAC ....

" the Ice Age "

" me and my nut in Jiuzhaiko "

the majestic Pearl Shoal Waterfall in Jiuzhaiko - 310 meter wide curtain of water

....usually me and my two girls travel on our own ie to Sapa, Nepal, India etc but this is the first time that we "jump" on to the Hash ship to Chengdu. It is organised partly by a friend and its " free n easy" trip.We later found out that the Hash group is actually from all over South East Asia, mainly Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea ... but our friend has "sub organised " our own 23 people bus to tour Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou.

some of the Malaysian Hash members at Jiuzhaiko

taken in front of The Five Color Pond

along the road to Jiuzhaiko, tied to the railing...

the infamous YAK !... surprisingly this is a rare sighting !! A pure white Yak but to the local residents they call them " hairy cows " in chinese.