just got back from Chengdu and visitor can hold the pandas

Really? I heard that visitors are not allowed to approach to the pandans in order to protect the pandas from being away from won't be any bacteria.

I sat with a giant panda (it was 14 months old and too big for my lap) 2 years ago and it was a fabulous experience, even though it cost £100 which I had to pay in local currency. We spent all day (9.30am to 4.30pm at the research centre in Chengdu. We saw about 30 giant pandas from newborns in incubators to adults. Most were really active, playing with each other, climbing trees, and eating, of course. The red pandas were also beautiful to watch. I learnt a lot about pandas but the real thrill was touching a panda which seemed quite happy about the whole experience. The scariest thing is that I almost left without holding once because I thought it too expensive. SO SO glad that I did it.

You must be in Chengdu before January 1. As I know, you have to donate at least CNY1,300 now at Chengdu Panda Base since then.

It's USD220 now.

£140