On Dec 14, China Radio International (CRI) awarded a delegation of foreign experts and scholars the National Friendship Award and asked them to visit Chengdu. With outstanding achievements in China’s social, economic and cultural development since 1993, these foreign friends were granted one of the highest national awards.

The guests were from Germany, India, Norway and other countries, and most of them were in Chengdu for the first time. After getting off the plane, they bound for the first stop - Chengdu Panda Base.

"I'm so glad that I can take a close look at the pandas," said Luenning from Germany as he snapped photos of them. It was his first visit to Chengdu during the past eight years of working in China. "Although I haven't been before, I'm no stranger to Chengdu and know a lot about the city through previous media reports."

Mohiuddin Taher (Chinese name: Mao Dahai) from Bangladesh was particularly active. He has lived in China for nearly a decade and he speaks fluent mandarin. "Chengdu is a dreaming place for me," he says admiring the beautiful scenery and gourmet food. Now he teaches Chinese in Bangladesh, "I will take notes and bring what I learned to my students so they will have a better understanding of Sichuan and Chengdu."

The trip lasted for five days. In addition to the Panda Base, they also visited Dujiang Dam, Tianfu New Area Planning Exhibition Hall, Tianfu Software Park and Eastern Music Park.