In Southwestern China, there is an agricultural province of Sichuan with its 110 million inhabitants. Its capital city is CHENGDU and it has over 8 million inhabitants. Sichuan is known for its spicy food, traditional and unique opera, Giant Buddha of LESHAN (on the UNESCO list) sculpted in the rock mountain and…… Giant Panda natural reserve.
A few kilometers away from the capital city of Chengdu, we find the only Giant Panda research station in the world, built back in the 80’s. Today there are about 20 Giant pandas that live in the area of 100 hectares with all facilities available – personal kitchen, panda “kinder-garden” etc.
What do you know about PANDAS?
• Pandas eat a lot and then sleep a lot but they also play, roll around, climb on trees from which they sometimes fall down! We got the chance to admire one during an afternoon and it truly was an unforgettable experience to observe they playing around.
• Pandas love bamboo….and more bamboo! Each Panda savors about 15-30kg of bamboo shoots a day…
• And what about pandas’ private life? In nature, they often live as loners. This is because panda is a very COMPLICATED animal, especially when it gets to the choice of her partner! That is one of the reasons why they have such a low birth rate in addition to the already restricted fertility period that happens only once a year.
• Panda baby does really fit into one’s palm! It weighs only 100g. Nonetheless, an adult panda can still weight up to 200kg! The mother takes care of its child until it is 3 years old, then hurray into the wild.
WHERE DO PANDAS LIVE? The only place where you can find pandas living in the wild nature is China. They still belong to endangered species! Today, it is estimated that there are about 1200 Giant Pandas in the wild and that they live up to the age of 25 in average.
Sichuan is not only known for pandas, equally famous is its special CUISINE. Neatly everyone knows the famous recipe of Kung Pao Chicken, prepared in different ways! Local cuisine is very very spicy – probably most famous is local HOT POT. A large pot filled with oil and hundreds of chilli peppers in which you dip and cook various meats and vegetables. The most magical moment comes when you move a mushroom for instance, towards your mouth and realize that you’re probably dying suffocated, your eyes are wet and you definitely need a glass of water. It basically burns like hell.
We spent one long beautiful weekend in Sichuan and have lots of memories from this trip! Giant Buddha was as impressive (the biggest carved stone Buddha in the world) as performance of Sichuan opera where the actors change 10 masks in less than 20 seconds – unforgettable! We observed the Giant Pandas in real nature park and finally, we bought one PANDA as well! And it wasn’t even expensive – in a local souvenir shop, we bought a little soft plush toy in memory of this extraordinary TRIP!
Finally, let us go and try cook (my TIP) – FLOWER CHICKEN – together – quick, light, beautifully colored and a bit SPICY! WHAT DO WE NEED? ½ of a sweet red pepper, ½ of a sweet green pepper, 1 pack of chicken breasts, 1 tsp of cooking wine, 2tbsp soy sauce, 1tbsp white blended pepper, 1tsp of sesame oil, 1tbsp of thinly sliced garlic and ginger, 1tbsp of peanuts, 1 lettuce for decoration..
WE CUT, cut, cut everything into tiny pieces. We heat up the oil in the wok pan, we add the ginger + garlic and mix for 1min. Then we add the chicken and mix for 2-3min until it gets soft- possibly, we can also add a bit of water or cooking wine. Finally, we add the spoon of peanuts into the wok, we mix it and serve with rice on plates with prepared lettuce. Time of preparation approx. 25 min.
EXTRA TIPS – As always, I am careful with the seasonings. This recipe is great with freshly sliced ginger that is very cheap in China. The cooking wine is not that important but the sesame oil is a true necessity. Have fun!
YellowCable
Very interesting place!
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Kamila Pala
Agree with you! You must be there and then you can sense different noises, smells, colors… 🙂
Bye. K.
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Daniel Scott
We live on the east coast in Qingdao, and I’ve concluded that Sichuan food is my favorite. Sooooo good!
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Kamila Pala
Oh la la! Good to hear this! And the combination Sichuan food with Qingdao beer must be great!!! 🙂 We lived in Shanghai… Have a nice weekend. Kamila
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katpegimana
The pandas are just adorable!
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Kamila Pala
Oh yes! There was really good opportunity observed them all day… 🙂 Bye. Have a nice weekend. Kamila
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bebs1
It seems like a beautiful place. I love the photos too. The Flower Chicken’s ingredients are like kung pao. Sounds delicious.
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Kamila Pala
Thank you! That is real China…very special 🙂 and you are right about the recipe… similar like Kung Pao. You could try 🙂 Bye and have a nice weekend. Kamila
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Amy
What a wonderful adventure! I envy you, Kamila! Oh… Pandas! Food looks delicious 🙂
Btw, you might want to try to link your gravatar with your blog URL. This will allow readers to find you by clicking your gravatar.
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Kamila Pala
Thank you, Amy for your kind words and really good advise 🙂 I really appreciate. Pandas was unforgettable experience. And about the local food – I loved! Bye and have a nice weekend. K.
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megtraveling
The pandas are really cute! 🙂
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Kamila Pala
Yes, especially small pandas nicely played… 🙂 K.
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Sue Slaght
What a wonderful gallery Kamila but my favorites are those amazing pandas. How lovely !
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Kamila Pala
Thanks Sue! Maybe, in another life, I would like to be panda – so cool life?! 🙂 K.
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Linda Arthur Tejera
This had to be an amazing trip! Your photos are wonderful. Of course, like most everyone else, the Pandas are my all-time favorites! So adorable! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Kamila Pala
Thank you Linda! Yes, it was so amazing and original trip and so far…”somewhere” in the middle of China. I loved the section with small pandas – nursery school – so cute 🙂 Bye and have a nice weekend. Kamila
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Olivia May
You are so lucky to see the in nature park. I like Sichuan food too, hot hot hot 🙂
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Olivia May
to see the Panda 🙂
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Kamila Pala
Agree with you Olivia, Hot hot hot – especially – local Hot Pot 🙂 and about the nature park..it was really great chance to visit something like this! Have a nice Sunday. Kamila
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jalal michael sabbagh.http://gravatar.com/jmsabbagh86@gmail.com
Fascinating post,the travel ,the pictures and the beauty of nature.Thank you for following my blog.Best regards.
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Kamila Pala
Many thanks. Glad that you liked the post! Bye. K.
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Bams Triwoko
Great adventure… beautiful gallery.. 🙂
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Kamila Pala
Thank you! 🙂 Bye. Kamila
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chris13jkt
Thank you for bringing me there via your post, Kamila. And you know what? Kung Pao is one of my favorite dish 🙂
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Kamila Pala
You are welcome, Chris! And nice surprise – Kung Pao – is really good recipe. 🙂 K.
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Packing my Suitcase
Awnnnn I pandas, I would to see some of them, I guess I have to visit Sichuan soon 🙂
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Kamila Pala
I really recommend you this very special province of China! 🙂
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lolaWi
lovely photos Kamila! i would love to see pandas! they look adorable. the good looks yummm! 🙂
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Kamila Pala
Thank you! Glad that you liked the post 🙂 K.
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lolaWi
i mean “food” 🙂
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Kamila Pala
🙂 Yes, I understood. You have really big spectrum of local delicious food…for example I like also recipe from tofu or vegetables. Bye. Kamila
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Sartenada
Great set of very beautiful photos. In addition to Pandas I love Your rock formation photos.
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Kamila Pala
I am pleased if you enjoyed this post! And many many thanks for your opinion about “formation” 🙂 I like this style, also. Bye. And looking forward to share our next experiences. K.
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Candia
Hi! Have just written 2 satirical posts about pandas- the Edinburgh one who is/isn’t pregnant. You might enjoy them….
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Kamila Pala
Oh yes! I know…I liked your post 🙂
Bye. K
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colibrist
15-30kg of bamboo a day, was! Very interesting post and nice pictures 🙂
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Kamila Pala
Thank you! Yes, panda is happy and eat a lot 🙂 Bye. K.
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Dalo 2013
Great post…Sichuan is such a great, lively place ~ your photos & description of the pandas and food makes me happy 🙂
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Kamila Pala
Thanks a lot! I try to combine my travel experience and interesting facts 🙂 K.
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m.lever
eating hot pot with my brother for our christmas dinner in chongqing was an experience…:) one not to be repeated lol
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prior
loved this post – I really need to get caught up over here at spicy road – so thanks for dropping by my blog so I could remember to come here – the food photos are my fav of the post – but all was good – and loved learning about the pandas – who knew?!@! well you did – and it was nice to learn a bit – have a great week. 🙂 ❤
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Kamila Pala
Oh la la! Pleased you liked that. Thanks for nice comment 🙂 Every time I try combine local travel experiences with “educative” news… 🙂 Have a nice rest of week. Kamila
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julia streetstyle
Great post, love the pandas 😉
Have a nice day,
Julia 😉
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dilipnaidu
Fantastic pictures and the information. Panda’s are so cute wonder we can get to cuddle a baby panda :)!
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Kamila Pala
Thanks for nice comment 🙂 Bye. K.
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dilip
Came back just to hug the cute Panda 🙂
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restlessjo
Your photo of the pandas rolling about is quite adorable 🙂 And you’ve got me feeling quite hungry!
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Kamila Pala
Thank you! It was so exiting and interesting adventure 🙂 BTW I love chinese cuisine and I cook also a lot other recipes at my home – for my friends. Bye. Kamila
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Margaret Lynette Sharp
Amazing! Tweeted 🙂
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Kamila Pala
Thanks, Margaret! Have a nice day. K
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cosenostre
I love the wonder of tenderness 🙂
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smartswiat.wordpress.com
China is on my To-Do list….. cant wait
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Kamila Pala
I wish you very nice TRIP and interesting experiences 🙂 Bye. Kamila
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Sketchuniverse
What envy, see the pandas in their natural environment. Beautiful pictures. Congrats!
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Kamila Pala
Thanks for kind words! It was unbelievable!
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LaVagabonde
Great photos, Kamila. Beautiful pandas. I love Sichuan food, but it doesn’t like me… 😳
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Kamila Pala
🙂 Thanks for kind words…Sichuan food is really very famous in the world, I love it…but for somebody could be to spicy? 🙂 Have a nice rest of Sunday. K
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