16 June 2010

Sichuan, China: CHENGDU (May 2010)




Now I am free from Chinese censorship, I am back in the real world (of Facebook and blogging-that is real is it not?!)...So I can update some highlights from my recent China tour.

We began in "the biggest city no one has ever heard" of, CHENGDU. With perhaps as many as 11 million people in it, that is quite an achievement! We ventured first into the Panda Breeding Center, our only real chance at seeing Giant Pandas, that were of course crunching on fresh sticks of bamboo (bottom photo). Birds in the grounds included the extravagant Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, "subdued" Oriental Greenfinch, odd Rufous-faced Warbler, and a mixed flock of very cute Vinous-throated and Ashy-throated Parrotbills. That included these sweet juvenile Vinous-throateds (top photo).

An afternoon trip to the former home of a famous Tang Dynasty poet,
Du Fu's Thatched Cottage, brought us crowds of amorous lovers around the lakeside, some interesting signs (middle photo), and a hulking Chinese Grosbeak.

6 comments:

Barbara Rudolph Fine Art said...

Great Pics! So glad your back to posting you have such wonderful info and pictures.

Dave said...

So, did you fall into the water carefully?
By the way, welcome back to the "real" world!
Dave

john said...

I was wondering what happened to you. I really look forward to reading about your exploits, and look forward to learning a lot more about your China trip. Those parrotbills are wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Glad to see you back on line with great pics as usual.

Hilke Breder said...

Nice post, love the pics! There must be something in the Chinese syntax to give rise to these funny translations. The NY Times had a slide show on funny Chinese signs: A Sampling of Chinglish, apropos the Shanghai Expo.

Larry said...

Looks like a great trip. Looking forward to more photos (and more informative signs!)