Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
East your heart out
When you take a whistle-stop tour of China’s numerous wonders, the hits just keep on coming
While China’s many sights don’t come more wondrous than the giant panda, the biggest wonder of all is that this species is still here. The efforts going into keeping it alive know no bounds.
It seems designed for extinction. Its only food, bamboo, is so low in nutrients an adult needs 30lb of the stuff a day, and that doesn’t leave a lot of time or energy for sex.
Pandas aren’t much bothered, because they are not very keen on it. At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, scientists have even made a panda porn film to get its buttoned-up bears in the mood.
When they do manage to make babies, survival is far from a given. Newborns weigh about 4oz and are hairless and blind. They need so much care, when twins are born in the wild the mother leaves the weakest to die.
But the devoted team at Chengdu, in China’s Sichuan Province, trick them into raising both by distracting Mum, then swapping the twins.
It’s so exciting to watch the pandas at every stage of development, from tiny babies in the nursery through to mature adults.
And gradually, a few bears at a time, the base is releasing its success stories into the wild. It’s an inspiring story of science and nature working together, but it was a very different inspirational story that made Chengdu my favourite destination on our 16-day Wonders of China tour.
The People’s Park, a large green space in the city centre, has been a community hub since it opened in 1911. A boating lake, framed in welltended gardens, overlooks the 100-year-old Heming Teahouse. There’s a funfair and playground, but elderly people seemed to be the park’s most enthusiastic users.
A live band played as pensioners, dressed to the nines, took it in turns to grab the mic and sing their hearts out.
In another corner, another band played as more pensioners showed off their Strictly dance moves.
Most mornings, they can also be seen in action at a tai chi class.
At the teahouse, we saw games of mahjong attracting groups of observers, chipping in with advice, wanted or not.
Others waited patiently for their turn in the ear cleaners’ chair. Easily identified by their head torches, they wield menacing long, thin instruments to scoop out earwax.
It’s safer than it looks, apparently. The ear cleaners undergo intensive training to steady their hands and are licensed by the local authority. And to be fair, their customers looked pretty relaxed.
But the most bizarre sight in the People’s Park is undoubtedly matchmakers’ corner. As I strolled towards it, I imagined a few pinboards with cards of lonely heart messages. WLTM doctor/lawyer/accountant. GSOH. That sort of thing.
Oh no. Hundreds of parents, desperate to marry off their offspring, had set up shop with giant posters of sons and daughters, setting out every detail, we were told, from shoe size to salary.
Hundreds more were inspecting the merchandise, examining photos,
So that’s it – the shelves are stacked...the Christmas songs are on repeat...the battle of the car park spaces has commenced...yes the countdown to December 25 has officially begun. Let the games begin. It’s the most wonderful time of the year the say...well THEY are a bunch of liars.
I always find the entire month of November whizzes by in a blur of stress, stress and more stress.
From December 1 to December 24, we literally don’t have the time to be stressed so we bottle it all up and prepare for it to explode around about the time the third prosecco explodes – at approximately 5.07pm on December 25.
At that time, everyone is fed and watered, all the presents are open, the crackers have cracked, and you’re about to crack too.
It’s round about now you realise, after almost two months of running around like a headless turkey,
you have nothing to do. So the only thing for it is to release all that pent-up stress on those closest to you – both physically and metaphorically. The most wonderful time of the year indeed.
I know the feeling all too well as I have been there, and witnessed it, many times myself.
So today, I attempt to ease your stress a little. My advice is, in order to free up some time, when you’re searching for your annual winter coat, Christmas
Day outfit and party dress look no further than the place you will be finding yourself in most over the coming weeks – the supermarket.
F&F at Tesco, TU at Sainsbury’s and George at Asda have yet again given the high street a run for their money as regards style and, er, actual money.
So at least when you do finally crack on Christmas, you will look cracking while doing so.
Everyone is fed, the gifts are open, the crackers have cracked, and you’re about to crack too