Chengdu is synonymous with Giant Pandas. On this trip, fulfilling my wish to visit the Research Base was a top priority. The absolute superstar of the base is undoubtedly “Hua Hua.” To catch a glimpse of her, I queued up at the gates as early as 6:00 AM. Even with such dedication, the popularity of this panda meant viewing times were strictly limited to just two minutes per visitor.
Initially, luck was not on my side. Although I was in the very first wave of visitors, Hua Hua decided to be elusive, hiding in the back of her enclosure and offering no photo opportunities. I had to leave her villa with a sense of resignation to visit the other pandas.
However, the day was far from a loss. I was treated to the sight of numerous panda cubs, whose clumsy and adorable antics were incredibly healing.
Just as I was about to leave the base, the trip took a serendipitous turn. I discovered a hidden vantage point. Utilizing the reach of my telephoto lens, I managed to capture a clear shot of Hua Hua from a distance! This unexpected success turned a moment of regret into a perfect conclusion for my visit.
