Traveling the World

We took a van from the train station to the Dragon Town Hostel that blatantly overcharged us 50rmb when it should have been about 15rmb, so the hostel reimbursed us because they were supposed to pick us up and didn’t. We decided on privacy over price and got 2 rooms, each with 2 beds. The front desk service was great, the staff spoke good English and always gave good recommendations for activities and restaurants. On the down side, the internet and computers were very slow and the bathrooms smelled, but the beds were comfortable.

People's Park

Tai Chi

The next morning we got up super early and went out to the Panda research base 10km from the hostel. It cost 58rmb to get in. To play with the small black and white Pandas cost 1000rmb, and the small red raccoon like pandas cost 100rmb. Alfred and Richard paid the 1000rmb for me because I couldn’t afford it and they wanted me to do it with them. I was really appreciative, even if I didn’t express it in words.

After seeing the pandas in their natural habitat for several minutes, I got in line and waited for what seemed like forever. As the clock struck 9:30am, they opened the doors and we rushed in. They put robes on us and asked us to wait. Several minutes later, I’m sitting down on the bench with my heart racing, when I see the door open and a big ol’ Panda bear squirming about in the arms of a caretaker. They gently lay it on my lap, and wow it’s heavy! My guess is it weighed about 45 pounds (22kg)!

One of the other people waiting to play with the panda asked how heavy it was, to which I replied “about 45 pounds, but that’s nothing because my girlfriend weighs twice that and I’ve had no problems with her!” The Panda was insanely cute, and I hugged it. It sniffed my face, as if trying to kiss me hello. It felt so good to tick off one of my things to do in life, but at the same time I was a bit scared because they have been known to get aggressive for no reason. Just last year, an idiot climbed into a Panda habitat to “pet” it, and got mauled to death.

Sorry to end this post on a bad note, but it’s the truth! In reality, these Pandas are very docile and loving, but one thing we should all learn is never to enter THEIR habitat, always let them enter YOURS. I hope you have the opportunity to come to China and hold these majestic creatures, even if it DOES cost 1000rmb for 2 minutes ($145).

Many people who come to China do so for a few reasons: to see the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, to hold a Panda, to adopt a baby, or to start/expand a business. I came here for none of those reasons, but in this instance when my friends were here, holding a Panda became essential to my life’s mission.

I was nervous. Would the Panda like me? Would it try to bite my head off? We have always been taught that they are big, clumsy, playful, and docile creatures, but is that the truth? We so often make assumptions about animals, but we fail to remember that they aren’t human, and thus it’s impossible to predict their behavior. Just last year, a man entered a Panda habitat in an attempt to “pet” it, but the Panda slashed him to death.

As we arrived at the Panda reserve, I began to shake with excitement. We spend our entire lives watching about Pandas on Discovery Channel, yet only a small percentage of us have the great fortune to come face-to-face with them. Our first stop was at the breeding center, where the tiniest of babies were sleeping or being fed milk from a bottle. They were cuter than I had expected. We spent a few moments “ooohhing” and “aaahhhing,” before we moved on.

Then came the red “pandas,” which are basically off-colored raccoons. Those were annoying and fidgety, so we moved on to the real Pandas. These Pandas were sitting around, sleeping, eating breakfast, or playing with each other.

More to come next time…