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Adventures in China – Pandas!

September 25, 2011 By Heather Blackmon

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One of my favorite things we did in China was visit the Chengdu Panda Base of Giant Panda Breeding outside the city. This is a huge preserve about 45 minutes from downtown where most of the Pandas you see around the world come from. We were able to see Pandas of all ages – from newborn through Adult.

Chengdu Panda Base of Giant Panda Breeding

In case you thought this was just another zoo – look at this view! This was more Panda luxury resort than anything I’d ever seen before!

Newborns:

Some of the babies were so small there were in little incubators. Most Pandas are born (what we would consider) premature – with many births happening just 4 short months after conception. There is one recorded pregnancy that lasted almost a year, but most are closer to 4 months. That means that most of the tiny newborns don’t fare well in the wild.

Aren’t they adorable?!

Sub-Adult

This group (pack?) of Pandas were hilarious. They were shoving that bamboo in their mouths as quick as their pawscould move. Speaking of paws, look at the dexterity in those paws – see the guy in the front with his fingers curled around the bamboo?

They may not have thumbs, but they were still very skilled with those paws!

These guys were just lounging around and stuffing their faces. Sound like any kids you know? 🙂

Pandas seem to sleep in positions that look about as comfortable as the way Abbott & Zurie (our dogs) sleep sometimes. I guess it’s comfortable if you’re a panda?

And the most photogenic panda of the day- the adult showing off for the crowd. Or is he bored?!

And finally a quick shot of the Red Panda – which is much smaller and reminds me of a raccoon mixed with a lemur (or something like that)!

 

We watched a video/documentary about Pandas before heading out – very educational. Some of the things I thought were interesting:

  1. Apparently, the Panda species is well past the normal lifecycle for a species and we are lucky they are still around. This is one example of where human intervention may be beneficial!
  2. The newborn Pandas are separated from the mama Pandas at the beginning – to protect the newborns from injury. They are born naked (fur-less) and we saw the mama knocking around the newborn – she just didn’t realize how big she was.
  3. Newborns are 1/1000 of the size of adults!
  4. The Pandas aren’t breeding well naturally, there aren’t very many to choose from and they are naturally anti-social. Most pandas are born through artificial insemination (doesn’t sound nearly as fun!).
  5. This facility sends Pandas around the world – this is really where most Pandas live in the world today!
  6. Pandas are cute – wait, I already knew that! 🙂

And then it was time to head back to town, but not before a shot of the group next to the Giant Golden Panda:

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: China

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Hi! I’m Heather, a yoga & wellness teacher based in Colorado... Read More…

"Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleano "Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleanor Roosevelt

What scares me is probably different than what scares you.

I am admittedly a timid mountain biker - but getting better every day.

I'm afraid to face plant, but still working on crow pose in yoga.

⬇️ What is one thing that scares you & how are you working on it?
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Am I the only one still (basically) living in yoga Am I the only one still (basically) living in yoga clothes?

For at least part of the day, it's just easier to put on yoga pants, sports bra, and a "zoom-appropriate" top. Or a button-up layered over my workout tank. It makes it SO much easier to squeeze in a workout when I have time.

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Wait, should I look at the camera? 📸 But reall Wait, should I look at the camera? 📸

But really, keep your gaze straight ahead to keep your neck safe in bridge (or Setu Bandha Sarvangasana). It's rare that a version of this pose isn't included during cooldown in my classes.

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"Every ending is a beginning. We just don't know i "Every ending is a beginning. We just don't know it at the time." -Mitch Albom

Last Friday, we ventured to a trail near Carbondale for the most beautiful ride with huge wildflowers everywhere. It was a great trail with good climbing, plenty of flow in the middle, and A LOT of switchbacks on the descent. Our first 2 hour ride of the season and it was a blast!

I didn't know it at the time, but it was also the last ride on my Liv mountain bike - because I got a new bike on Sunday! ✨

If you're in Colorado & in the market for a new bike, I highly recommend Over The Edge in Fruita. I test rode 6 bikes & then took the Pivot Mach 5.5 out on the trail to be sure it was the right one. Great experience!!
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