https://www.scmp.com/rss/325407/feed Giant pandas are native to south central China. There are only about 1,800 in the wild, according to conservation organisation WWF. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Once a neglected figure in ancient China’s folklore, literature and artefacts, the panda has become a national treasure and a defining symbol of the modern nation. How did this black-and-white creature, long overlooked, come to occupy such an iconic place in a country’s cultural imagination? Palaeontologists have discovered panda fossils across China, some dating back eight to nine million years. According to early human scholar Wei Guangbiao, many of these ancient specimens show butchery... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3351026/china-pandas-rise-unknown-status-become-palace-pets-then-national-symbols-treasures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3351026/china-pandas-rise-unknown-status-become-palace-pets-then-national-symbols-treasures?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Just weeks before US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing next month, China is sending two giant pandas to Atlanta in what observers describe as a “goodwill gesture” amid persistent tensions that range from trade to broader security issues. The China Wildlife Conservation Association said on Friday that male panda Ping Ping and female Fu Shuang would travel to the US under a 10-year conservation agreement signed with Zoo Atlanta last year. Chinese state media, including the Global... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351294/lead-trumps-beijing-visit-china-announces-2-pandas-are-headed-us-zoo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351294/lead-trumps-beijing-visit-china-announces-2-pandas-are-headed-us-zoo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:12:48 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Last week, a friend and I chatted about our children’s favourite art pieces after happening upon an auction house’s exhibition in a building in the heart of Hong Kong’s business district. We both recalled stopping to look at Yayoi Kusama’s Mount Fuji prints. “I pass by the space twice every day,” my friend said. She told me that my son’s pick – a piece by Sam Francis – was a new installation, replacing what had been a display of handbags. How often do we pause to notice art, or enjoy life in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348095/hong-kong-can-draw-art-marchs-success-keeping-it-authentic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348095/hong-kong-can-draw-art-marchs-success-keeping-it-authentic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:30:11 +0000 James Marsh James Marsh 3/5 stars It has been just over a year since Jackie Chan unleashed upon us the execrable ordeal that was Panda Plan, an abysmal family-focused caper centring on his efforts to save a shoddily rendered CGI panda from a gang of incompetent terrorists. Since then, the 71-year-old action star has stumbled into a surprisingly rich vein of form, with Karate Kid: Legends, The Shadow’s Edge and Unexpected Family all outshining much of his recent output. Continuing this unexpected trend, Panda Plan: The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3343714/panda-plan-magical-tribe-movie-review-jackie-chan-delivers-wholesome-family-fun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3343714/panda-plan-magical-tribe-movie-review-jackie-chan-delivers-wholesome-family-fun?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Fans gathered at a Tokyo zoo on Sunday to bid farewell to the last two giant pandas in the country, long a symbol of Sino-Japanese friendship, two days before they leave for China. The departure of Xiao Xiao and his sister, Lei Lei, will leave Japan without any pandas for the first time since 1972, when China gifted a pair to Japan following the normalisation of bilateral ties. Prospects for a new panda loan by China remain uncertain amid soured ties following remarks last year by Prime Minister... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3341153/fans-japan-jostle-final-glimpse-china-bound-twin-pandas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3341153/fans-japan-jostle-final-glimpse-china-bound-twin-pandas?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 07:41:18 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma The last two giant pandas in Japan are set to leave for China on January 27, one month ahead of schedule as bilateral tensions continue to worsen. The return of the twins, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, marks the first time in about half a century that Japan will be without any pandas. Beijing first sent two of the animals to Tokyo to mark the normalisation of diplomatic relations in 1972. The four-year-olds were born at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo but technically all giant pandas and their offspring in overseas... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340574/japans-last-2-giant-pandas-set-early-trip-home-china-tensions-spiral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340574/japans-last-2-giant-pandas-set-early-trip-home-china-tensions-spiral?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:35:26 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai For more than half a century, giant pandas have helped serve as ambassadors for China around the world, but their time in Japan appears to be drawing to a close with the last two in the country set to return next month. Hopes of receiving new ones soon appear dim given the tensions between the two countries. Tokyo’s metropolitan government has reportedly been in talks with China about receiving new pandas, but there is no sign of agreement in the wake of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337150/bearly-any-time-left-japans-panda-lovers-row-china-threatens-loan-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337150/bearly-any-time-left-japans-panda-lovers-row-china-threatens-loan-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 06:00:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The first giant panda cub born in Indonesia is noisy, nursing well and showing other signs of good health, the conservation park where he was born said on Sunday. Indonesian Safari Park released video and photos showing the fuzzy newborn in an incubator and squirming and squealing while being cuddled by his mother. The mother, 15-year-old Hu Chun, gave birth to Satrio Wiratama - nicknamed Rio - on November 27 at the park in Cisarua, West Java province. The name symbolises the hope, resilience,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3335587/meet-rio-first-giant-panda-cub-born-indonesia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3335587/meet-rio-first-giant-panda-cub-born-indonesia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:37:55 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof What first appeared to be an act of vandalism by a Chinese tourist at a Unesco-listed heritage site in Malaysia has turned out to be a sanctioned artistic collaboration that has nonetheless sparked a fierce public debate over cultural preservation and creative freedom. The controversy began when a tourist, known as “Shi Shi” on the Chinese social media platform RedNote, uploaded a video of herself painting a panda on a well-known street mural at Chew Jetty in Penang’s George Town on October 15,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3332367/panda-monium-malaysia-foreign-street-artist-paints-over-penang-heritage-mural?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3332367/panda-monium-malaysia-foreign-street-artist-paints-over-penang-heritage-mural?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:20:59 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The expanded giant panda family at Ocean Park has done more than bring people joy and warmth. But while it is good that the beloved furry friends continue to draw more visitors from near and far and boost revenues for the cash-strapped theme park, it will take more than the so-called panda economy to save the declining tourism attraction in the longer term. The 48-year-old brand attracted 10 per cent more visitors year on year, reaching 3.46 million in 2024-25. Locals accounted for most of the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330167/pandas-alone-wont-save-hong-kongs-ocean-park-long-term?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330167/pandas-alone-wont-save-hong-kongs-ocean-park-long-term?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 22:45:07 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang The fervour for giant pandas and their cubs in Hong Kong brought in more visitors and revenue to Ocean Park, their home, but other expenses ate into its financial health and worsened its deficit last year. The theme park’s deficit widened to HK$274.7 million (US$35.3 million) in the 12 months to June 30 from HK$71.6 million in the same period a year earlier, due to higher expenses such as depreciation, at HK$414 million, according to a document it submitted to the Legislative Council on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329837/pandas-give-hong-kongs-ocean-park-boost-deficit-worsens-hk275-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329837/pandas-give-hong-kongs-ocean-park-boost-deficit-worsens-hk275-million?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 03:00:28 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A documentary about Hong Kong’s twin panda cubs is set to hit screens next year, while two new enclosures will be built for them by 2027, Ocean Park has said on the pair’s first birthday. The theme park in Wong Chuk Hang was buzzing with excitement on Friday morning as around 300 fans of “Jia Jia” and “De De” showed up to celebrate the cubs’ birthday. A parade featuring inflatable pandas and slices of cake kicked off the party, while balloon twisters entertained the guests who were selected... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322022/hong-kongs-ocean-park-reveals-panda-film-works-twin-cubs-turn-1?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322022/hong-kongs-ocean-park-reveals-panda-film-works-twin-cubs-turn-1?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:54:36 +0000 Vanessa Cai,Laura Zhou Vanessa Cai,Laura Zhou Pandas and table tennis are two of China’s most beloved national symbols, but the behaviour of some of their admirers has prompted concerns about extreme online fandom. In a rare open letter issued last month, the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in the southwestern province of Sichuan condemned what it called toxic fan culture and online abuse targeting panda keepers. “Recently, it has been deeply disheartening to see certain individuals inciting and manipulating... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3321316/pandas-and-table-tennis-chinas-national-icons-fall-victim-toxic-fan-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3321316/pandas-and-table-tennis-chinas-national-icons-fall-victim-toxic-fan-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Aug 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Timon Johnson Timon Johnson Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh has become the latest celebrity to take part in a Hong Kong tourism drive after sharing a fun social media picture with a Labubu doll specially made to mark the first birthday of the city’s panda twins later this month. The star on Monday shared a photo on Instagram of her holding up the Labubu doll, which is cradling the twin pandas in its arms, above a bucket of popcorn. “Celebrating Hong Kong-born panda twins’ first birthday (and my birthday too) with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320652/michelle-yeoh-takes-shine-labubu-made-hong-kong-panda-cubs-birthday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320652/michelle-yeoh-takes-shine-labubu-made-hong-kong-panda-cubs-birthday?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 06:18:21 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Panda diplomacy is back in play as Japan seeks to charm visiting Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng with hopes of securing one or two of the endangered bears on loan. The gesture could help soothe bilateral ties and signal regional unity amid growing unease over US trade policy under President Donald Trump, analysts have said. He, a close adviser to President Xi Jinping, is scheduled to attend the World Expo in Osaka for “national pavilion day” at the Chinese pavilion on Friday. The Yomiuri... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317256/panda-diplomacy-boost-china-japan-ties-amid-us-tariff-anxiety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317256/panda-diplomacy-boost-china-japan-ties-amid-us-tariff-anxiety?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo All four giant pandas on loan to a western Japan zoo left for China on Saturday, ahead of the expiration of their lease agreement. The 24-year-old Rauhin and her offspring – Yuihin, Saihin and Fuhin – left Adventure World amusement park in Shirahama, Wakayama prefecture, for the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China’s Sichuan Province, according to the zoo operator. Their departure means that only two giant pandas remain in Japan. Both are at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3316196/4-pandas-leave-japan-china-leaving-only-2-country?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3316196/4-pandas-leave-japan-china-leaving-only-2-country?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 04:16:33 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong “Panda fever” has translated into a significant boost in business for Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, with the debut of several new bears leading to a 19 per cent surge in attendance year on year since their debut, according to the city’s tourism minister. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui also said in a written reply on Wednesday to lawmakers’ questions that an additional HK$121 million (US$15.4 million) had been secured from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314029/panda-fever-created-19-attendance-boost-hong-kongs-ocean-park-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314029/panda-fever-created-19-attendance-boost-hong-kongs-ocean-park-official?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:08:56 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The twin giant panda cubs born in Hong Kong last August are cute as buttons and have now been officially named with monikers that will appeal to their vast army of fans. Their official naming also marks what many hope will be a boost to the so-called panda economy. Affectionately nicknamed “Elder Sister” and “Younger Brother”, a traditional way of addressing siblings in a Chinese family, the nine-month-old twins were yesterday formally given the names Jia Jia and De De, respectively. “Jia Jia”... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3312035/tonic-hong-kong-panda-cubs-named?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3312035/tonic-hong-kong-panda-cubs-named?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 May 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s nine-month-old twin panda cubs, previously known only as “Elder Sister” and “Younger Brother”, have been named Jia Jia and De De, respectively, conveying the Cantonese slang term for encouragement “add oil” and the notion of virtue. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui revealed on Tuesday the results of the panda naming contest, which received more than 35,700 entries from members of the public since submissions opened in February. “All suggestions reflected... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3311912/jia-jia-and-de-de-chosen-names-hong-kongs-twin-panda-cubs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3311912/jia-jia-and-de-de-chosen-names-hong-kongs-twin-panda-cubs?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 May 2025 03:45:37 +0000 Hadi Azmi Hadi Azmi As pandas Fu Wa and Feng Yi return to China after more than a decade in Malaysia, the public is questioning the cost of hosting a fresh pair of the endangered bears – money which could be spent instead on protecting endangered local wildlife and supporting the beleaguered national zoo. Malaysia, home to an estimated 170,000 species across its ancient rainforests, rivers and seas, is one of only 17 “megadiverse countries” labelled as such by US-based environmental organisation Conservation... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3311192/chinese-pandas-over-malaysian-wildlife-malaysians-debate-cost-hosting-new-pair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3311192/chinese-pandas-over-malaysian-wildlife-malaysians-debate-cost-hosting-new-pair?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 06:58:59 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Despite the scorching heat, giant pandas Suhail and Thuraya have found a comfortable home in Qatar, thanks in part to the care of a Hongkonger who has brought her Ocean Park skills and experience to the Gulf country. Cissy Kou Wing-sze became the curator at Qatar Panda House in 2022, where she now looks after the bears also known as Jing Jing and Si Hai, one of whom is a descendant of Ocean Park’s late panda Jia Jia. “One day I wanted to look up the bloodline of Si Hai, and to my surprise, she... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310821/pandas-qatar-meet-hongkonger-helping-chinese-national-treasures-thrive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310821/pandas-qatar-meet-hongkonger-helping-chinese-national-treasures-thrive?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 May 2025 10:48:11 +0000 The Star The Star Around 40 panda lovers gathered at Zoo Negara in the early hours of Sunday morning to bid a heartfelt farewell to Fu Wa and Feng Yi, who are returning to China after spending 11 years in Malaysia. Despite the lack of an official farewell ceremony, devoted fans – some travelling from as far as Seremban, as well as from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor – arrived as early as 5am. With heavy hearts, they waited quietly for the pandas’ departure to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where the pair would... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3310789/malaysian-panda-fans-bid-emotional-farewell-fu-wa-and-feng-yi-after-11-years-stay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3310789/malaysian-panda-fans-bid-emotional-farewell-fu-wa-and-feng-yi-after-11-years-stay?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 May 2025 03:31:08 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall The impending return of four of the last six pandas in Japan to China this summer has sparked an outpouring of sorrow among animal lovers, alongside accusations that Beijing is wielding “panda politics” as a subtle form of diplomatic pressure on Tokyo. Adventure World, a theme park in Shirahama, Wakayama prefecture, confirmed on April 24 that all four of its giant pandas would return to China in late June. Although the loan agreement for the pandas does not expire until August, their early... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3308359/sorrow-japan-4-pandas-prepare-china-return-amid-panda-politics-accusations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3308359/sorrow-japan-4-pandas-prepare-china-return-amid-panda-politics-accusations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:30:13 +0000 Giant pandas Fu Wa and Feng Yi will be repatriated to China next month as Malaysia prepares to welcome a new pair under a fresh 10-year conservation agreement. The new agreement was signed on April 16 in conjunction with the three-day state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Malaysia last week. It allowed Malaysia to host another pair of giant pandas from 2025 to 2035, continuing the long-standing International Cooperation Project on Giant Panda Conservation with China, the Natural... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3307202/malaysia-bids-farewell-chinese-pandas-new-conservation-deal-begins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3307202/malaysia-bids-farewell-chinese-pandas-new-conservation-deal-begins?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Apr 2025 04:17:15 +0000 Wynna Wong,Harvey Kong,Connor Mycroft Wynna Wong,Harvey Kong,Connor Mycroft YouTube star IShowSpeed’s visit to Hong Kong has drawn crowds of fans and resulted in the occasional moment of chaos, with the American live-streaming as he met the pandas at Ocean Park, rode a tram in Sheung Wan and bought snacks on Temple Street. The 20-year-old streamer, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jnr, was in Sheung Wan on Friday afternoon. The famous Cristiano Ronaldo fan even hopped onto a tram advertising the football superstar’s coming museum in Hong Kong. But he appeared... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3305178/ishowspeed-hong-kong-youtube-star-meets-pandas-fans-flock-selfies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3305178/ishowspeed-hong-kong-youtube-star-meets-pandas-fans-flock-selfies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:57:32 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong Ocean Park has allayed concerns over patches of hair loss on giant panda Le Le’s back, saying the spots were shaved for a regular ultrasound check. The three bald patches were seen in footage of the 19-year-old giant panda, whose daily activities have been live-streamed from 10am to 3pm daily since Wednesday. “Le Le recently underwent a routine body check. The bald spot on his back is the area that was shaved for an ultrasound exam,” the park said in a social media post on the same day... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3303471/panda-le-les-bald-patches-hong-kong-ocean-park-explains-whats-behind-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3303471/panda-le-les-bald-patches-hong-kong-ocean-park-explains-whats-behind-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Mar 2025 11:05:36 +0000 Twin panda cubs “Elder Sister” and “Younger Brother” greeted visitors in the company of their mother, Ying Ying, at Ocean Park’s giant panda adventure enclosure for the first time on Friday. The twins were born on August 15 of last year, and are making their first public appearance together with their mother after more than seven months. The babies were unveiled to park patrons on February 16, and have since attracted a lot of local and international visitors. The park has said it plans to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3303315/hong-kongs-panda-cubs-making-first-public-appearance-mother-ying-ying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3303315/hong-kongs-panda-cubs-making-first-public-appearance-mother-ying-ying?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Mar 2025 07:50:46 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Ocean Park has launched a fan club for Hong Kong’s first locally born panda cubs, with singers Keung To and Ian Chan Cheuk-yin of the boy band Mirror joining the group for an inaugural private visit next month. The theme park said on Friday that panda enthusiasts would have to pay HK$880 (US$113) to join the club. Members will have priority booking access for programmes and workshops, such as those for making paper from panda excrement and preparing steamed cornbread for the bears. A welcome... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3302442/hk880-be-panda-pal-hong-kongs-ocean-park-launches-fan-club-twin-cubs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3302442/hk880-be-panda-pal-hong-kongs-ocean-park-launches-fan-club-twin-cubs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Mar 2025 10:49:47 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin One of Hong Kong’s giant panda cubs has sustained a minor eyelid injury while playing “too energetically” with her sibling, but caretakers from Ocean Park have assured the public she is recovering well. The park revealed late on Monday night that the right eyelid of the almost seven-month-old “Elder Sister” had turned red after a playful scrap with her twin brother, “Younger Brother”. “Rest assured, the caretakers have been closely monitoring her condition. After a thorough examination, it was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3301886/hong-kong-panda-cub-injures-right-eyelid-after-playing-too-energetically?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3301886/hong-kong-panda-cub-injures-right-eyelid-after-playing-too-energetically?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Mar 2025 04:40:07 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau A naming contest for Hong Kong’s giant panda twin cubs drew more than 35,700 entries before the period for submissions closed on Friday. Ocean Park said on Saturday that it was “blown away” by the “overwhelming” number of name suggestions received. “Your care and excitement for these locally born panda cubs truly warmed our hearts,” the park said. Results of the competition will be announced in the first half of this year, with winners notified in due course. Ocean Park added the nicknames... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3301624/naming-contest-hong-kongs-panda-twin-cubs-draws-35700-entries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3301624/naming-contest-hong-kongs-panda-twin-cubs-draws-35700-entries?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Mar 2025 08:50:59 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification I refer to the op-ed, “Hong Kong’s tourist attractions are all around us” (February 13). The observation that a strong Hong Kong dollar and the diminished allure of luxury brands for tourists have... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3299995/when-tourists-come-hong-kong-theyre-not-panda-hunting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3299995/when-tourists-come-hong-kong-theyre-not-panda-hunting?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:30:09 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s Ocean Park is considering extending visiting hours for the giant panda cubs’ enclosure later this year, its chairman has said, after thousands of excited fans flocked there for the locally born twins’ public debut. Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee said on Sunday that while the number of visitors was set to increase after the cubs’ debut that day, the duo was still sensitive to excessive noise and human scents. “Perhaps in the second half of this year, or next year, we can extend the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3298865/panda-monium-ocean-park-crowds-flock-see-hong-kongs-twin-cubs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3298865/panda-monium-ocean-park-crowds-flock-see-hong-kongs-twin-cubs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Feb 2025 03:59:19 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong launched a naming contest for the city’s giant panda cubs on Saturday, a day before they make their public debut at Ocean Park. At a ceremony to launch the contest, park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee said the facility had also seen a 30 per cent year-on-year increase in income over the Christmas period since two Beijing-gifted bears, An An and Ke Ke, made their own debut earlier in December. He hoped the park would enjoy a further boost in business with the unveiling of the two... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3298821/hong-kong-launches-naming-contest-citys-two-giant-panda-cubs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3298821/hong-kong-launches-naming-contest-citys-two-giant-panda-cubs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Feb 2025 07:27:27 +0000 Hong Kong has been buzzing with excitement over the imminent public debut of twin panda cubs, which is now just days away. The fuzzy pair known as “Elder Sister” and “Younger Brother” are due to meet the public on Sunday, a day after they turn six months old. While the excitement around their first appearance is palpable, the notion that they and the four adult pandas at Ocean Park can significantly spur tourism appears questionable. It is not for lack of trying. Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3298601/hong-kongs-panda-economy-not-all-black-and-white?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3298601/hong-kongs-panda-economy-not-all-black-and-white?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:45:08 +0000 Pandas have dominated Hong Kong’s latest festival season. The excitement began in early December when giant pandas An An and Ke Ke, given to the city by Beijing, made their first public appearance at Ocean Park. A pop-up exhibition of 2,500 panda sculptures, including at the Avenue of Stars and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, also attracted crowds. Through Christmas and the Lunar New Year, panda fever soared as Hong Kong officials hinted at debut dates for the public to meet the giant panda twins... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3298391/panda-fever-great-hong-kong-needs-its-own-cultural-icon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3298391/panda-fever-great-hong-kong-needs-its-own-cultural-icon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Feb 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Sammy Heung Sammy Heung Hong Kong’s Ocean Park has removed a HK$36,000 (US$4,615) panda-themed luxury watch from sale a day after its launch following an outcry over its alligator leather strap. The theme park apologised on its social media page on Thursday for a lack of sensitivity and pledged to conduct a comprehensive internal review. “Ocean Park appreciates the public’s concerns and expresses apologies for the team’s lack of sensitivity in launching an IP product that did not align with the core conservation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3297679/hong-kongs-ocean-park-halts-sale-luxury-watch-after-alligator-strap-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3297679/hong-kongs-ocean-park-halts-sale-luxury-watch-after-alligator-strap-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:51:11 +0000 Even with a new administration only a few days old, Washington’s newest stars from China stole the spotlight on Friday when a pair of three-year-old giant pandas made their public debut at the National Zoo. Since October, when the male Bao Li, whose name means “precious vigour”, and the female Qing Bao, which means “green treasure”, were the first new pandas to arrive in the US capital in 24 years, they have been settling in and adjusting to their new home. Their move signalled the revival of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3296234/new-pandas-china-make-their-debut-national-zoo-washington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3296234/new-pandas-china-make-their-debut-national-zoo-washington?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jan 2025 16:20:06 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong’s twin panda cubs will make their first public appearance on February 16, the city’s leader has revealed, saying an event to name the bears will be held. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Tuesday that “Elder Sister” and “Younger Brother” would meet the public on the third Sunday in February at Ocean Park, where four other pandas also live. The debut will take place just a day after the cubs turn six months old. “Starting on Sunday, February 16, the public will be able to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3295608/hong-kongs-twin-panda-cubs-meet-public-february-16-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3295608/hong-kongs-twin-panda-cubs-meet-public-february-16-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jan 2025 05:50:41 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Panda Watch is a blog by the Post that tracks the latest on the baby panda twins – the first to be born in Hong Kong – until they are ready to meet the public. To read our previous blog entries, click here. Hong Kong’s giant panda twin cubs will finally make their debut public appearance in February, the city leader has announced, around six months after the bears were born. “Elder Sister” and “Younger Brother”, born to giant panda Ying Ying, would be ready to greet visitors at their home in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3295058/panda-watch-hong-kongs-twin-cubs-make-public-debut-after-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3295058/panda-watch-hong-kongs-twin-cubs-make-public-debut-after-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jan 2025 03:00:07 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Panda Watch is a blog by the Post that tracks the latest on the baby panda twins – the first to be born in Hong Kong – until they are ready to meet the public. To read our previous blog entries, click here. Hong Kong panda mum Ying Ying has cared for her newborn cubs together for the first time ahead of their public debut, which is expected to be after Lunar New Year. A video released by Ocean Park showed Ying Ying playing with her cubs, licking and cuddling “Elder Sister” and “Younger... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3293185/panda-watch-hong-kongs-ying-ying-cares-twin-cubs-together-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3293185/panda-watch-hong-kongs-ying-ying-cares-twin-cubs-together-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jan 2025 03:00:19 +0000 Panda lovers may be able to meet the Hong Kong-born twin cubs as soon as the Lantern Festival in February, Ocean Park’s chairman has said, while dismissing calls to sell cheaper tickets just to visit the bears. Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee said on Saturday that the panda twins – born in August – might be ready to meet the public around Lunar New Year. “Our experts think that it’s a safer and a more appropriate time for the public to meet the cubs at the six-month mark. It will depend on how... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3291837/hong-kong-public-may-get-see-panda-cubs-february-ocean-park-boss-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3291837/hong-kong-public-may-get-see-panda-cubs-february-ocean-park-boss-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Dec 2024 09:48:31 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested a visitor for allegedly stealing a model panda from an installation in Kwun Tong, while officers are still hunting for another suspect who snatched a second bear from the site. The models were among 80 items, ranging from half a metre to three metres (1.6 feet to 9.8 feet) in height, on display at the Urban Renewal Authority’s “Free Space” in Kwun Tong as part of Christmas celebrations. The authority’s managing director, Wai Chi-sing, said on his blog on Sunday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3290896/panda-poachers-hong-kong-police-arrest-visitor-over-theft-bear-installation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3290896/panda-poachers-hong-kong-police-arrest-visitor-over-theft-bear-installation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2024 12:39:17 +0000 Lisa Lim Lisa Lim It’s pandamonium in Hong Kong. The city is now home to the largest number of giant pandas outside mainland China, with a pair recently gifted by Beijing, the third since Hong Kong’s 1997 return to Chinese sovereignty, taking the total to six of the creatures, all at Ocean Park. Thematic festivities include panda sculptures blending intangible cultural heritage with contemporary design at Cheung Sha Wan Promenade, and 2,500 sculptures of pandas at various landmarks. These pop-ups all feature... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3290682/how-did-giant-panda-eclipse-true-panda-red-one-dont-get-panda-eyed-wondering-why?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3290682/how-did-giant-panda-eclipse-true-panda-red-one-dont-get-panda-eyed-wondering-why?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:15:07 +0000 Sammy Heung Sammy Heung A lifelike panda mascot and 700 sculptures delighted visitors to Hong Kong’s Ngong Ping 360 cable car attraction on Saturday, as fans stopped to interact and snap photos. But some said the city could do more than pop-up events to promote the bears and boost the panda economy. The attraction is hosting the second stop of the “Panda Go! Fest HK” exhibition, organised by local art studio AllRightsReserved, with themed cabins being used for the coming two weeks and 700 panda sculptures calling Ngong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3290815/adorable-hong-kong-panda-mascot-700-sculptures-delight-cable-car-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3290815/adorable-hong-kong-panda-mascot-700-sculptures-delight-cable-car-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Dec 2024 11:08:20 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Just ahead of the public debut of the two giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong by the central government, it was announced that the bears would retain their original names, An An and Ke Ke. This was the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3289961/old-names-hong-kongs-new-pandas-suit-them-best?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3289961/old-names-hong-kongs-new-pandas-suit-them-best?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Dec 2024 06:30:08 +0000 Edith Lin,Johnny Wan Edith Lin,Johnny Wan Hundreds of early birds queued outside Ocean Park’s giant panda enclosure on Sunday morning to meet the two bears gifted to Hong Kong by Beijing, with the pair’s public debut even attracting fans from around the world. Male bear An An and his female counterpart, Ke Ke, enjoyed a warm reception from visitors stopping by their home at the park’s Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures enclosure. The crowd waved at the duo and used their phones and cameras to capture the bears’ every move, as Ke Ke... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3289855/ocean-park-debut-hong-kong-pandas-ke-ke-draws-fans-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3289855/ocean-park-debut-hong-kong-pandas-ke-ke-draws-fans-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Dec 2024 04:20:03 +0000 Edith Lin,Fan Chen Edith Lin,Fan Chen Two adult giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong by Beijing will keep their existing names in a move officials have said signifies the city’s stability and unlimited possibilities, with the pair set to meet the public for the first time on Sunday. The unchanged names – “An An” for the male and “Ke Ke” for the female – were announced at a ceremony attended by hundreds of VIPs including mainland Chinese and local officials on Saturday. “An An” denotes a peaceful and stable future for Hong Kong while “Ke... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3289835/hong-kong-sticks-names-and-ke-ke-beijing-gifted-pandas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3289835/hong-kong-sticks-names-and-ke-ke-beijing-gifted-pandas?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Dec 2024 15:36:48 +0000 Germany’s new panda twins now have names – or rather, two names apiece. The two female cubs, born at the Berlin Zoo on August 22, were introduced on Friday as Meng Hao and Meng Tian (“good dream” and “sweet dream.”) Alternatively, they also answer to the very Berlin names of Leni and Lotti. The pair, who lay on their bellies on a mattress and peered at photographers as the Chinese ambassador to Germany and Berlin’s mayor unveiled their names, are the second pair of giant pandas born in... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3289770/berlin-names-new-panda-twins-leni-and-lotti-or-meng-hao-and-meng-tian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3289770/berlin-names-new-panda-twins-leni-and-lotti-or-meng-hao-and-meng-tian?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:30:41 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Panda Watch is a blog by the Post that tracks the latest on the baby panda twins – the first to be born in Hong Kong – until they are ready to meet the public. As the twin cubs have passed their most critical 100 days after birth, the blog will be updated once every two weeks starting from this issue. To read our previous blog entries, click here. Hong Kong’s giant panda cubs are 16 weeks old and have grown in weight by over 40 times since birth. Ocean Park shared that “Elder Sister” had gone... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3289602/panda-watch-hong-kongs-twin-cubs-weigh-40-times-more-birth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3289602/panda-watch-hong-kongs-twin-cubs-weigh-40-times-more-birth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 03:24:36 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen The “Ferrari” of all giant panda costumes will join 2,500 bear sculptures on the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui on Saturday, interacting with visitors and helping to promote the real deal at Ocean Park. The outfit even managed to catch some experts by surprise when it made its debut alongside the sculptures at Hong Kong airport on Monday. Its maker, Japan-based art studio Zeppet said the cost of making the suit amounted to the price of the “cheapest model of a Ferrari”. The outfit also... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3289553/japanese-studio-creates-ferrari-panda-costumes-help-promote-hong-kongs-bears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3289553/japanese-studio-creates-ferrari-panda-costumes-help-promote-hong-kongs-bears?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 01:30:16 +0000