Wuhou Memorial Temple in Chengdu

Wuhou Temple is a large complex, with a shrine, the tomb of Liu Bei, founding emperor of the Kingdom of Shu, and memorial halls honoring other ministers.  The shrine was originally built in 223 AD, in commemoration of Zhuge Liang, prime minister of the Shu State during the Three Kingdoms (220-280) and, in the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was merged with the Zhaolie Temple in commemoration of Liu Bei.  The temple now covers an area of about 150,000 square meters (37 acres), with numerous halls, gardens, historical relics, and statues of the administrative staff of the Kingdom of Shu.

I confess that my knowledge of the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese History is limited, but I can enjoy the sites of the temple.

 Entrance to the temple

Just inside, beautiful walkways

As I stroll through the buildings in the complex, I come across enclosed statues and rows of administrators and warriors for Lui Bei.

 Statues

Staff

 Typical inscriptions read:

"Jian Wong, also named Xianhe, came from Zhuo Shire (now Zhuoxian county of Hebei Province).  He was an early follower of Lui Bei who often represented his lord on diplomatic missions.  When Lui Bei attacked Chengdu, he convinced Liu Zhang to surrender.  He was characterized as being humorous and casual."

"Fei Wi, also named Wenwei, came from Jiangxiameng (now Loushan of Henan Province).  He was a Shu envoy to Eastern Wu, where he was praised by Wu Lord Sun Quan for his eloquence.  Following Jing Wan's death, he succeeded as the Shu prime minister in charge of both administrative and military affairs.  He was assassinated by a surrendered soldier of the Wei Kingdom.  He was posthumously honored as Marquis of Jing."

 Serious people!

The complex is building after building of beautiful architecture, statues, paths, and gardens.

 Temple buildings and walkways

Paths and gardens

On one side of the temple is garden after interconnected garden of bonzai trees and plants.

 Bonzai gardens

I follow the Bonzai gardens out along the side of the temple buildings, back to the entrance and take leave of this enchanting place.

Pandas! Pandas! Pandas!

The Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding is on the outskirts of Chengdu, about 1/2 hour taxi ride (65-75 RMB, $10-12 USD) from the center of town.  The park has numerous areas of bamboo groves and native panda habitat.  The website also includes a link to a 24-hour Panda cam.

 Panda

I head out and spend 1/2 day wandering around, just looking and enjoying.

 Entrance to the park

 Park layout and pathway

 Wandering involves walking up and down hills between the various habitat areas for the pandas.  And, views of the pandas are my reward.

Giant pandas

After wandering through the habitats and watching the giant (black & white) pandas do what they do (mostly eat), I head over to the other side of the park where the red pandas live, looking like a cross between a panda and a fox. The red pandas share habitat with the giant pandas in Tibet, Yunnan Province of China, the north of India, Nepal, Myanmar, and the kingdom of Bhutan.

 Red pandas

Signs near the compound note that red pandas are very territorial and that we should not extend our hands into the compound if we wish to keep them.  A good thing to know, because, as I'm learning, pandas spend their day eating.  The giant pandas eat all parts of the bamboo, which has so little nutritional value that they have to eat a lot of it.  The red pandas are more picky, eating only the tender young leaves of the bamboo and supplementing that diet with fruit, nuts, lichens, birds, eggs, insects, and small rodents (and, apparently, the fingers of curious tourists).

At the entrance (and exit) of the park is a small lake with black swans and snack shops in case we get hungry watching all the pandas eat.  Even a panda breeding base must have beautiful spaces!

Gardens

Lake

 Fish and swans

 But, now I leave this fantastic park and head back into the center of town for more adventures.