Oh China, how have you hidden the great wonders of yourself from me? Being a first-time emigrant and consequently a first-time flier, the world seems to be so much larger and more bizarre than I had thought it would ever be. For that, I have the bustling city of Ya’an to thank. Being secluded to the US and the cultures we have, there were plenty of things I was ready to experience and ready to enjoy about going to China – and I’m still ready for what comes my way.
The city of Ya’an showcasing its many mountains, historical architecture on its mall bridge, and the Qingyi River.
There were more than a couple of things these past few weeks that took some time getting used to: the food, the language and its barriers, the customs, the city life, and the jet lag. But then again, the list of things I absolutely appreciate and love about the country and my transition here is largely the same: the food, the language, the customs, and the city life. I purposefully left out the barrier part of the language and the jet lag, because they both tended to accentuate the roughness of the move. I ended up having a connecting flight in Beijing be delayed twice, cancelled, uncancelled, and leave without me. Finding this out in an area in which my capabilities of language are essentially useless is equivalent to trying to catch a fly with a pair of chopsticks. Thankfully, the abundance of genuinely kind people in China is more than adequate. I was helped by fellow Chengdu travelers – two memorable characters, Shing and his wife – in my struggle with making sure I got a new flight, making sure my bags were transferred, and giving me peace of mind. I’ve been the beneficiary of many a kind act here already, and I’m not sure how I’ll ever repay some of the people if they keep it up.
Here’s Sen Bing and her way of zoning out as she gazes at you from her enclosure. She’s probably my favorite bear right now.
But to continue with my initial awe of the country, China really is beyond words. Unfortunately, I’ve got to find some sort of way to convey such an overwhelming feeling. From the use of hand gestures to make yourself somewhat sensible in everyday conversation, to being surprised by undeniably gorgeous views and landscapes at the turn of a corner, to being confronted on the regular by tourists wanting a picture of you just as much as wanting pictures of the pandas, the city of Ya’an is an interesting enigma.
Enough about me though, and onward to panda bears! People may have already gathered this from enjoying the multitude of pictures and videos out there, but pandas have personality. Because all of the bears have some sort of personality quirk that makes them real individuals, it doesn’t take long to acclimate to the 30 or so pandas here at Bifengxia. There’s Bai Yang with the sudden bursts of energy – today he climbed a tree just to steal a branch – Sen Bing with her intensely inquisitive nature, Yi Bao with an acutely developed sense of how to be casual, Qian Qian with a myriad of feeding poses, and so forth. I can only imagine what people would do if they spent extra time with some of the bears. Beyond the three hours of most tourists’ visits, there is not much opportunity to see just how eclectic an array of personalities these precocious animals present.
Mei Xi not being nearly the picky eater she usually is as she stops for a picture.
Giant pandas are perhaps the most charismatic and popular animals on the planet, and for good reason. This also provides them with the help necessary to replenish their status in the wild. People’s interest in pandas expands into the realm of much appreciated funding that provides the research necessary for their species. So whatever the reason may be for enjoying all things panda, and whether people like photos on the internet or purchase official panda merchandise, people contribute to the growing importance of the giant panda in many ways – not just as a symbol of a culture, but a symbol for hope.
Thanks for the posting, Daniel. We appreciate all the hard work.