CHINA

Probably not the first place you think of when you hear China. It’s actually the Sichuan Province capital city. It has gorgeous architecture, incredible food (puts the American version of Sichuan to shame! Their hot pots dining was exceptional), so much history and (drumroll) one of the largest populations of Giant Pandas visible to the public.

Downtown Shopping District:

This area was beautiful with wooden buildings adorned with red laterns and lights. The streets were narrow and full of people and vendors. Wearing littles will be your best bet as you could probably use a stroller but the headache of it would not be worth it. Toddlers will be a challenge because there are so many fascinating things to look at that keeping them on point will be no easy task and it would be easy for them to slip away in the crowd. The food vendors were amazing, every variety and almost all in Chinese only (not much English spoken here). The sugar pulled candy came in all shapes and was fascinating to watch the food artists create their mini masterpieces that kids devoured in 60-seconds.  Bathrooms were not easily available so planning accordingly will avoid accidents.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Pandas:

This was hands down the most incredible place. The sanctuary was large and you were able to explore the numerous exhibits that featured these remarkable animals. Unlike US Zoos where there are 1 or 2 Giant Pandas on loan, this breeding sanctuary had dozens of pandas from newborn to senior. It was amazing to see them play and interact with each other. While crowded, it was easy to find a sightline as all of the habitats had extensive viewing areas, many being 360 so you could walk around and admire these amazing creatures. There was one area where you had to walk through, no stopping, and this was the newborn area where teeny, tiny pandas were in incubators, nurseries and finally with others. It was incredible to see the different sizes and how quickly these animals grow after being born. I would HIGHLY recommend this location to see the conservation and breeding efforts around preserving the Giant Panda. Learn More

Theater:

An open-air theater treats guests to an amazing experience of cultural dance and song. After trying on the costumes and getting to go backstage where there were robes, hats, fans and other items, we went to the main performance area to enjoy the show. The seating is standard dining chairs of sorts (not a fixed auditorium) and littles will likely need to sit on laps to see as everyone is on the same level. The show was very entertaining, featuring costumed dancers, musicians, and extensive shadow hand performances throughout.

Temples/Culture:

The city is historic and right in the heart lies gorgeous temples with ornate statues and decorations inside. The large elephant and pagoda greet you as you enter and you offer a stick of incense to show respect for the place. It is almost entirely in Chinese and was very crowded. Strollers would be a bumpy ride on the cobblestone streets.

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