Written by: Naqsh-e-Zehra
Posted on: May 07, 2020 | 
| 中文
Giant Pandas at Chengdu Research Center of Giant Panda Breeding
You can never claim command of any foreign language unless you can use it to connect with locals and understand their culture. Such is also the case with Mandarin, no matter how daunting the task. Although lately there is an increase in Pakistani tourism in China, people should look into exploring different parts of the country, in order to holistically experience Chinese culture.
The Confucius Institute of Chinese Language is one institution which allows university students to experience visiting different parts of China, through exchange programs and summer camps. Based on academic merit, 30 students were selected for an international, 15-day excursion to Sichuan, a region rich in culture, nature, and cuisine.
The Ancient Town of Luodai, Close to Chengdu
Sichuan is the second largest province in China, located in South Western China. The province’s history stretches all the way to the period of early civilization, and has been pivotal to different eras of Chinese history. The region is home to bustling cities, mountains, tea gardens, majestic giant pandas, and strong flavours. Particularly, their local peppercorns have a flavour so strong that it gives our Pakistani spices a run for their money.
Fortunately, one summer I was given an opportunity to journey to this region. We set off to the capital, Chengdu, and were greeted by a “huanying” (welcome) by students of Sichuan Normal University, which our host for the trip. We began the next morning with an opening ceremony meant to welcome us, as well as students of other countries, to China. Every day had a class on language, art, or culture. After a brief lunch break (for which halal options were available), a bus would take us for our afternoon excursion to the selected “spot of the day”.
Calligraphy Class
We travelled past traditional buildings, through the carpeted roads of the city of the Hibiscus plant. Our first stop was the Chengdu Research Center of Giant Panda Breeding (also Chengdu Panda Base), established in 1987, and located 10 KM outside of the city centre. The large and welcoming entrance used minimalist architecture to pay tribute to China’s national animal, the Giant Panda.
Other than being home to 700 giant pandas, the center also holds black neck cranes, white storks, and baby pandas. The pandas are fed and bred in a well maintained ecological environment that spans over 92 acres of land, 96% of which is lush greenery. 10,000 clumps of bamboos and bushes have been cultivated to provide the pandas with a natural habitat. It was a truly remarkable sight to see these lovable and majestic creatures up-close.
The following day, we visited an ancient street in Luodai town known for its Hakka community, a special group of Han Chinese with their own special dialect. The vintage carved roofs and mesmerising architecture was an amazing example of traditional Chinese aesthetics. The streets were laden with shops and food stalls, which exemplify Hakka culture and design. Here, we were lucky enough to see the well-known dragon dance, performed at Chinese festivals to represent wealth, wisdom, and power.
The Gate to Luodai
Another equally interesting destination was the astonishing and picturesque city of Dujiangyang, 2 hours north from Chengdu. Dujiangyang is an ancient town and UNESCO Heritage site, known for its unique irrigation system. It was built around 256BC in the Qin Dynasty by Li Bing, an engineer, and administrator of the region. He crafted this system to protect against frequent floods from the Minjing River, the longest tributary of the Yangtze River. Walking across the beautiful Anlan cable bridge gave us a breath-taking panoramic view of the river.
Anlan Bridge
On our return, we visited Chunxi Lu, a vibrant and buzzing street akin to New York’s Times Square. This street was plastered with huge neon signs, which displayed a variety of boutiques and restaurants. The lights were as bright as the stars themselves, and the place was packed with tourists, passers-by, and street performers, who danced and performed magic tricks.
Chunxi Street at Night
I particularly enjoyed haggling with Chinese street vendors. Not only were they very charismatic but also extremely welcoming. When they discovered that I was from Pakistan, they would chant “Bajisitan ren women de peng you (Pakistanis are our friends).”
And how could we leave the Sichuan province without enjoying a scrumptious “huoguo” (hotpot)? Sichuan cuisine is world-renowned for its sizzling flavour and explosive taste. We were served massive boiling pots of spicy broths, one fitted on each table, along with ingredients like meat balls and vegetables. For the less adventurous, there were also jugs of lukewarm water to dip in the ingredients. There were Sichuan spices and nuts with which we could season our broth and boiled meat balls. To provide some relief to our scorching taste buds, watermelon slices were served as extras.
Sichuan Hotpot
This entire trip is a memory that I cherish dearly. It is difficult to express and fully appreciate the breadth and richness of this amazing culture. Perhaps the best way to pay tribute is to visit again, and encourage others to do so as well.
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