WILD LINKS CHINA

Following the earthquake in Sichuan Province on 12th May 2008, the usual base at the Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Centre was largely destroyed. The China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas has been relocated to Ya'an, where you can observe them in semi-captive conditions or like me be a volunteer for a short while, hand feed & bath them!! The more adventurous can search for pandas in the Qinling Mountains at both Foping and Laoxiancheng nature reserves.

Giant Panda from Exotica Collection

In China if you want to see the Red Panda go to Yele Nature Reserve, 70km north of Mianning in Liangshan, Sichuan. At a breeding centre on the edge of the reserve you can see pandas roaming freely in a semi-wild enclosure. From the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding you can see both pandas and the biggest panda nursery in the world!

Panda nursery


Red Panda from Exotica Collection

Other things to do in China is hike along the Great Wall and walk Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing. Visit the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an and cycle along the top of the city walls. In Yangshou hop onto a bicycle and head off the beaten track for a ride into the stunning countryside, which is like cycling through a traditional Chinese painting with mountains, rivers, bamboo, water lilies, rice paddies and water buffalos! A short drive into the countryside takes you to Longsheng, the incredible 'Dragon's Backbone' rice terraces. The steep hills have been transformed into thousands of terraces, often no more than a metre wide. Walking along the paddies, the incredible colors and man made patterns will take your breathe away and visit one of the beautiful villages of the local Zhuang or Yao minority people.