Advice re packing for China next month

[JK2]

I'm off to Shanghai, Yangtze cruise & Woolong to hug a panda on 11th November. Research I've done suggests that weather will be 60 - 64 degrees, that Shanghai is damp & that weather could get colder. Therefore I'm thinking leather jacket over sweater with jeans & layers so I can add or reduce. Also something a bit dressier for the evening - particularly for dinner in Shanghai & on the Yangtze boat (not too dressy though).

Has anyone been in this particular area in November & can tell me if I've got it right? Really looking forward to it.

[jno]

I was in Shanghai in February and that was about right - mild in the daytime, really quite nippy at night (chill winds along the river). The boat will probably be well heated, so leather jacket and shirt/blouse would probably be dressy enough. Layers are always good, wherever. Not sure whether you're supposed to dress in black and white to meet a panda...

[JK2]

I'm told it is �68 to hug a panda for 7 minutes. Not sure why they settled on that length of time!

[marabout]

my sister lives in shanghi...works at the uni...will email her and get back to you on the weather temp" there...i do remeber her saying that the kids have stopped swimming...catch up with you soon...

[jno]

not only that, they charge the pandas 100 renminbi for the privilege of hugging a foreigner...

[bucko74]

I was at the Wolong Panda research centre near Chengdu in Feb of this year and had my photo taken holding a young Panda. It costa about �55 to hold and have one photo taken with your own camera which is expensive but i'm sure you'll agree is well worth it. Please be aware that they don't allow you to use a digital camera to take the photo, it must be a film camera. I asked my translator why this was and she said it was because people had deleted the photo by mistake and came back wanting it done again which they wouldn't allow. You also have to wear protective plastic outfit and gloves which they provide to stop you contaminating the pandas fur with the oils within your skin. Its a bit of a palava but great fun. Enjoy your trip.