Chengdu has dozens of new millionaires, Asia's biggest building, and new fancy hotels. But for tourists like me, pandas are its top (attract)．
So it was a great honor to be invited backstage at the not for profit Panda Base, where ticket money helps pay for research. I (allow) to get close to these cute animals at the 600acre center. From tomorrow, I will be their UK ambassador. The title will be (official) given to me at a ceremony in London. But my connection with pandas goes back my days on a TV show in the mid1980s, I was the first Western TV reporter (permit) to film a special unit caring for pandas rescued from starvation in the wild. My ambassadorial duties will include (introduce) British visitors to the 120plus pandas at Chengdu and others at a research in the misty mountains of Bifengxia.
On my recent visit, I held a lively threemonthold twin that had been rejected by (it) mother. The nursery team switches him every few (day) with his sister so that while one is being bottle fed, other is with mom—she never suspects.
