Chongqing, Pandas and Old Town

We disembarked from the Yangtze Gold 3 at Chongqing.

Note the high speed train on the lower level of the bridge.  Trains passed by every couple of minutes.

And, upstream, a bridge being twinned.

Chongqing has a population of 6 million in the city centre, but the greater municipal area totals 33 million, making it the largest city in China, with a population equal to all of Canada.  Massive buildings everywhere and apartment buildings that go on for miles.

Chongqing was bombed by the Japanese for five and a half years.  Bomb shelters were built to protect the citizens.  They are now used in the summer as retreats from the heat - temperatures reach the mid 40s and it is very humid.  

The Liberation Monument, as late as the 1980s was the tallest building in Chongqing.

Our excursion target today is the Zoo.  Although it has a full complement of exotic animals we concentrated on the Panda exhibit.

The Pandas were very active (for a Panda) during our visit and the one below spent some time tumbling around having a good time.

Although Bamboo grows in the Chongqing area, the Pandas will only eat a variety that grows in the mountains.  Tons of Bamboo are brought to the zoo for their food - they spend almost as much time eating as sleeping.

What is called the Red Panda, is actually related to our Raccoon.

We then went on our way to lunch, passing the Golden Ladies store along the way.

We all shared the same look when we saw the whole Catfish on a plate.  Hmmmm!

Our day was completed with a visit to the old town market.

Rabbits, rats or other.  Not that hungry thanks.

This may be soy.

But, what is this.

This young man put on a real show as he prepared his food.

Tomorrow, we head for Xi'an.