CHENGDU, China (AP) - The American women's World Cup team has stayed away from one local specialty in China's southwestern Sichuan province - the red-hot food.

The other local attraction, however, has been impossible to resist - the charming giant pandas.

"I never imagined them to be so adorable. They are short, fat and cuddly," said Hope Solo, the American goalkeeper who joined her teammates for a Saturday outing at the Giant Panda Breeding Center in the northern suburbs of Chengdu.

"I was surprised. I usually like them tall, dark and handsome," Solo quipped.

The trip helped get the pressure off the Americans, who are ranked No. 1 and favored to win their third World Cup when the tournament opens Monday in Shanghai. That game will feature defending champion Germany vs. Argentina.

The United States begins play on Tuesday in Group B, and it's not going to be easy. The Americans open with a politically charged match against North Korea and must also face Sweden and African champion Nigeria.

North Korea is ranked No. 5 and Sweden is No. 3, making Group B a nightmare for two strong teams who will fail to reach the quarterfinals. The finals are set for Sept. 30 in Shanghai.

The American women were smitten by the giant pandas. The breeding park has 68 in captivity, nine of which are babies ranging from a few weeks to a few months old. Only 1,600 giant pandas exist in the wild - all in China - with 200 more in captivity.

"Awesome," said American striker Kristine Lilly, leaning on a rail as several pandas munched bamboo and wrestled behind her in an open-air enclosure.

"They just have such a good time," Lilly said. "It's like being at recess all day. And they are very cute."

What makes them so adorable, she was asked.

"They flop around, they crawl on each other, and they've got no worries - and they are fluffy."

In fact, they are not so fluffy. Several women mentioned the coarse, prickly fur as they took turns petting a few.

Still, that did lessen their appeal.

"I just wanted to go up and give them a big hug," said defender Christie Rampone, who likened their play to her 2-year-old daughter Rylie. "They are just like kids wrestling around."

"This is something you study in school and think you will never get to experience. It's pretty surreal - it's amazing you can get that close to them."

Rampone said it might be the highlight of her trip, "or one of the main ones."

Solo, the goalkeeper, hedged on that.

"I hope it is not the highlight," she said. "I'm hoping winning the championship game will be the highlight."