OMG! I will forever be jealous of you for being able to hug a panda! THIS is such a great picture! It looks like the panda is hugging you back. :) My panda experiences are limited to the San Diego Zoo. While still cool, we only get to see the pandas from several feet away, but we have to always keep the long line moving.

What an incredibly detailed trip report with plenty of photos (extra bonus points for the photo links!!) Thank you for sharing!