Introduction at the beginning
Chinese pandas abroad are not only hairy “diplomats”, but also the first window for foreign tourists to know China. When you see the “sweet” Postcard under Edinburgh Castle, these cute figures are quietly telling you: if you want to understand contemporary China, you might as well go to see the overseas Chinese Panda.
Why can a Chinese panda travel?
Before 1,982, China presented pandas in the form of “national gifts”; It was changed to a short-term lease from 1984; After 1,994, it was upgraded to scientific research cooperation. Now, all Chinese pandas and their cubs in foreign countries still belong to the Chinese side. The lease term is usually 10 years, and the annual rent is about $1 million, which is used for field protection (Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 2,023). This mode not only meets the needs of scientific research and viewing in various countries, but also raises an average annual conservation fund of 300 million for the Sichuan habitat (State Forestry Administration, 2,022).
Punch list of 19 countries in the world
Popular sites in Asia
- South Korea – Aibao paradise “Lebao & Aibao” and twin “Ruibao & Huibao” born in 2023
- Singapore – River Ecological Park “Kaikai & Jiajia”, the park will build 200 million panda houses in 2022
European cultural landmark
- France – Bovalle Zoo “dream” returned to Chengdu in July 2023, 5 years in France, to attract 8 million tourists (panda.org.cn, 2,023)
- Belgium – 5 pandas in Paradise Zoo, the occupancy rate of surrounding hotels increased by 38% after staying in 2014 (Visit Flanders, 2,021)
- Austria – Panda House, Schloss Schoenbrunn, Vienna, produced the first European twin “Fubao & Fufeng” in 2022
North America and the southern hemisphere
- us – the Smithsonian Institute National Zoo “little miracle” was born in 2020, and the number of live viewers exceeded 120 million (Smithsonian, 2,021)
- Mexico – the 32-year-old “Xinxin” of Chaptepek zoo is the only non-Chinese Panda in the world. Its grandparents were given away in 1975, and future generations are free to return (People’s Daily, 2,023)
- Australia – Adelaide Panda “Network & Funi” was extended for 5 years in 2019, driving the GDP growth of Nan’ao tourism by 0.7% (Tourism SA, 2,022)
How does Chinese panda live abroad?
The foreign party shall provide:
- Each panda ≥ 20 kg of fresh bamboo per day, airlifted from Holland or local planting
- An indoor pavilion with a constant temperature of 18 – 22°c and a humidity of 50 – 70% and an outdoor playground of more than 300 square meters
- 1 veterinarian + 1 breeder dispatched by the Chinese side to supervise the whole process, and submit the behavior log every month
Taking Malaysia’s national zoo as an example, in 2015, the special expansion of 1.6 hectares of “panda conservation center”, and the introduction of Sichuan bamboo trial base, to ensure the localization of “rations” (Malaysia Zoological Society, 2,021).
5 things you need to know before you go to see Panda
- booking in advance on the official website: popular parks such as Washington is limited to 6,000 people per day, and holiday tickets need to be booked 2 to 4 weeks in advance
- The best time: 8:30 – 10:30 am Panda is the most active, and most of them sleep in the afternoon
- photography rules: turn off the flashlight, keep a distance of 1.5 meters from the glass, and do not knock on the glass
- Chinese services: Ueno, Boval, Vienna, and other parks provide a Chinese voice guide and Alipay/WeChat Pay.
- extended itinerary: connect the panda museum with the nearby Chinese cultural center and Sichuan cuisine restaurant, experience Kung Fu, calligraphy, and Hot Pot, and form a one-day tour of “panda + culture.”
Beyond the Chinese Panda: deep play of Chinese culture
- Stay in Chengdu – after watching the panda base, stroll along the road to Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley, and Jinli Street, experience the Gaiwan tea and Sichuan Opera Face Changing
- panda postmark – in the overseas China Panda Museum, there are more “panda commemorative medals”, which can send a postcard with a panda postmark in French, German back home
- panda volunteers – some parks open 1 to 3 days of “breeder experience”, clean the cage, prepare bamboo food, need English communication, the cost is 300 to 500 US dollars / person
- panda theme G-Series High-Speed Train – the trains from Chengdu to Xi’an and Chongqing are covered with panda color paintings, and the code can be scanned to listen to Panda science audio, forming a trans provincial “Panda Corridor.”
Conclusion: next stop, to see the hometown of the Chinese panda
The Chinese Panda abroad is an invitation to move. It allows children to learn to say “hello” in Chinese, couples in Paris to take wedding photos in the panda museum, and global tourists to write “go to Sichuan” into their life list. When you’ve seen the sprouting of overseas pandas, you might as well book a ticket to Chengdu, walk into the mist-filled Wolong Canyon, and complete a journey from “fans” to “guardians” in the rustle of bamboo leaves – because the real China is hidden between the green bamboo sea and pandas’ eyes.
References
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (2023). International cooperation. https://www.panda.org.cn/cn/cooperate/international/
- Malaysia Zoological Society. (2021). Annual report 2021: Giant panda conservation center. https://www.zoo.gov.my
- People’s Daily. (2023, March 17). The only “foreign” giant panda, Xinxin, is in Mexico. https://m.mp.oeeee.com/a/BAAFRD000020230317773717.html
- Smithsonian National Zoo. (2021). Panda cam: Xiao Qi Ji’s first year. https://nationalzoo.si.edu
- State Forestry Administration. (2022). China giant panda conservation and research annual statistics. China Forestry Publishing House.
- UNWTO. (2022). Panda tourism and local economic impact. World Tourism Organization. https://www.unwto.org
- Visit Flanders. (2022). Pairi Daiza panda effect on Belgian tourism 2014–2022. https://www.toerismevlaanderen.be
