In a simulated indoor garden, Xin Xin munched on bamboo leaves. She seemed unfazed by the crowd, albeit small at 10 in the morning.

Outside, Kai Kai is the same, although he seemed more playful than his friend.

We took the 26A bus from just across Hotel Lisboa to the Seac Pai Van Park in Coloane to visit a pair of pandas from Chengdu.  Set in the southernmost island, we’ve never been to this part of Macau, and thought we’d visit the city and spend a few hours in the park.  We started early and arrived at the park before it opened, so we hopped on another bus that dropped us off at the Coloane Village Square.

At 9 in the morning, the village was half awake.  We explored a bit of the area but didn’t reach the village center.

Right next to the square, however, as you walk toward the sea front promenade is Lord Stowe’s Bakery.

We walked in, bought ourselves a piece of their famous Portuguese egg tart

and devoured it while waiting for the bus to take us back to the park.

Nestled against the hillside with Alto do Coloane serving as backdrop, Seac Pai Van Park is designed around the terrain.

Found within the park is the Giant Panda Pavilion, the pair’s new home, simulating their natural habitat.

The multifunctional park, once a farm, is now considered as the largest natural green belt of Macau.

Besides the pavilion, the park has a mini zoo that houses a few animals from macaques to deers, a walkthrough aviary that has a few rare birds,

and a pond with a few flamingos and other waterfowl.

The 20-hectare lot is easy to explore in just a few hours. If you are into flora and fauna, this place may disappoint, but for the price (MOP$10) and the pandas, the park is worth the morning.

The village, I believe, though, is worth exploring… on my next visit.

But while in Macau check out the many good eats this island has to offer here, here, here and here.

Useful Info:

Seac Pai Van Park

Estrada de Seac Pai Van

Transport:  21A, 26A, 50

Hours:  9am-6pm (Tues-Sun); Aviary: 9am-5pm (Tues-Sun)