The Flora of Sichuan

According to the Wikipedia, the nominal GDP of Sichuan in 2011 was 2.15 trillion yuan (US$340 billion), equivalent to 17,380 RMB (US$2,545) per capita. In 2008, the per capita disposable income of the urbanites averaged 12,633 yuan (US$1,819), up 13.8% from 2007. With a total population of some 90 million and 114 million including the now independently controlled Chengdu, it's capital. It's one of the richest provinces of China. We were told by our tour guide that the one of favourite pastimes of the people is to go to a "tea house" where they can simply drink tea with some nuts and one or two good conversation partners. I think I know why. The province is haven for plants because of its abundant rain, which grow in great profusion all year round.

See what I mean? These are found at the Panda Research Centre, Chengdu, Sichuan.

The park is full of flowers everywhere

Look at how dense they are.



A close up of the lantanas

Some yellow flowers I found there

A chrysanthemum

a bud about to open

A pink peonia.

a pink and a white peonia growing side by side

Some unknown little white flowers

A small blue flower I found at the Centre

I have seen this kind of flower in HK many times but it's the first time I found one with petals so densely packed together and so bursting with life.

An orchid

A lake at the centre

Since it's a Panda Centre, how could there be no bamboos?

A bamboo covered path

It's really fun to stroll along such paths. You feel nature all around you as if you were cuddled and huddled like a child.

These old folks certainly would agree

The leaves there are really green

Yet, cheek by jowl, you find death staring you in your face but... also new life. 

Here you find the answer to its abundance

And here too, is further proof.

All thanks to the Panda.