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Fran Lu

A panda in China which would not let go of a mobile phone a tourist accidentally dropped into his enclosure has been dubbed a ‘smartphone addict’ by online observers.
On February 22, a visitor accidentally dropped their mobile phone while filming the giant panda, Qingling, at the Dujiangyan Panda Base in southwestern China’s Sichuan province.
The three-year-old panda grabbed the phone as if it were his new toy.
He played around with it and even held it in a way that looked like he was taking a selfie.

Using carrots as bait, zoo staff tried to snatch the phone from Qingling’s hand with an extension grabber but failed.
Qingling managed to enjoy some extra food without giving up the phone.
Eventually, staff retrieved the phone after the panda lost interest in it.
“It looks as if the panda became addicted to the smartphone like we do,” said one online observer.
Others feared the bear might eat it and fall ill.
“This is not fun. It can be dangerous for the panda. People should be educated not to throw or drop anything into animals’ enclosures,” said another person.
Piglet saves his bacon

Mainland social media has been impressed not only that a performing piglet could spin a hoop on the end of its nose, but that the porker’s trick saved it from the Chinese New Year dinner table.
It is a tradition in the countryside across China to kill pigs and cook pork dishes to celebrate the Spring Festival.
In a village in northern China’s Hebei province, a piglet escaped its fate by learning the hoop-spinning trick.
The piglet’s owner, a farmer, posted a film of the animal performing the trick with dozens of other piglets behind it.
He had been posting videos of him teaching his pigs tricks for years, with captions like ‘We will not eat you in the New Year”.
One online observer said that the pig had taught him that ‘skills change destiny’.
Gold rush-lite

As gold jewellery becomes increasingly unaffordable, Chinese youngsters are turning to lightweight gold foil to satisfy their shopping mania.
With the price of gold at over 1,100 yuan (US$160) per gram, having grown by almost 70 per cent compared with February last year, young people are turning to a cheaper alternative that costs just 100 yuan per piece.
The foil is pure gold but only weighs between 0.01 and 0.02 grams and is often painted with auspicious messages.
Online shops sell gold-foil stickers that can be attached to phones.
Many buy them for good luck; others buy the foil as gifts for friends.
Xie Zhaohan, a researcher at Ningbo University’s Business School, said gold foils satisfy people’s need for happiness simply by the act of buying real gold.


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Trending in China

Quirky China: panda won’t return phone, talented piglet spared from dinner, affordable gold rush

Quirky China: A zoo panda refuses to return a phone that was dropped into its enclosure, a talented piglet known for its ability to spin a plastic ring has been spared from becoming dinner and an affordable gold rush among country’s youth. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin/Weibo

The stubborn panda holds onto the mobile phone after zoo staff threw a carrot into its enclosure in a bid to distract it. Photo: WEVIDEO

With the help of its farmer owner, the piglet has perfected a hoop-spinning trick. Photo: seehua

Young people are snapping up ultralight, and cheap slithers of gold foil. Photo: ishikawatravel.jp

Why this ancient custom requires children to ‘sell ignorance’ on Chinese New Year’s Eve

During the Song dynasty, children had a playful tradition on Chinese New Year’s Eve called “selling ignorance”, in which they would run around and shout to free themselves from foolishness and welcome wisdom. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

A trio of children having fun in a park. The ancient ritual involved a lot of running. Photo: Shutterstock 

A Chinese baby girl and boy dressed up in traditional outfits for the annual festivities. Photo: Getty Images

A little girl wearing an auspicious red dress carries a lantern while walking hand in hand with a boy. Photo: Getty Images

A festive red dragon above a busy street in Chongqing, southwestern China. Photo: Shutterstock

China boss offers US$26 million bonus; staff can take as many bills as possible within set time

A factory owner in China distributed a US$26 million bonus to 7,000 workers, allowing them to collect as many banknotes as they could count within a set time during an event. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo

The company event saw rows of tables laid out which were covered with cash. Photo: Elephant News

Employees were allowed to keep however many banknotes they could pick up in an allotted time. Photo: Elephant News

Company employees pictured carrying stacks of cash to be distributed. Photo: Elephant News

Company boss Cui Peijun says he understands the financial struggles his workers face. Photo: Elephant News

China scenic spot faces outcry over real horse carousel ride, raising animal welfare concerns

A scenic spot in China has stirred outrage for featuring real horses in a carousel ride, raising concerns about animal welfare and public safety. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

Videos shared on social media reveal six horses secured to a metal carousel frame, each placed around one metre apart. Photo: YouTube

A park staff member noted that the ride gained popularity, with most time slots fully booked. Photo: YouTube

Carousels are cherished, classic staples in amusement parks globally, serving as visually captivating high-capacity attractions that appeal to visitors of all ages. Photo: Shutterstock

Ancient Chinese process of bringing cat home to raise as pet was similar to marital contract

In ancient China, the process of bringing a cat home to raise as a pet was similar to marriage and required a formal betrothal. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Baidu

In a recreated scene from ancient times, a man holds a cat as it is stroked. Photo: RedNote

A photograph of an old-style “contract” which was required to welcome a cat home. Photo: RedNote

A recreated scenario shows that in those days gifts would also be handed over to welcome a cat into the household. Photo: RedNote

Chopsticks, above, were used to mark the spot where felines in ancient times could relieve themselves. Photo: RedNote

A recreated scenario shows that cats were held in such high regard centuries ago that even royalty used to hold and pet them. Photo: RedNote

Self-styled China doctors nabbed for performing ‘bloodletting therapy’ to ‘remove’ evil energy

The Chinese authorities have cracked down on self-proclaimed doctors who have been performing “bloodletting therapy”, claiming it can remove evil energy. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Zhihu

The male patient, above, is seen lying on a bed before the procedure began. Photo: Weibo

Seconds after the “treatment” gets under way, blood can be seen dripping from the man’s arm. Photo: Weibo

One of the so-called doctors, above, can be seen “treating” the man while wearing ordinary clothes. Photo: Weibo

A police officer is pictured going into the unlicensed “clinic” to detain the so-called doctors. Photo: Weibo

News

People & Culture

From a baby porker who saves its own bacon to a gold-rush lite among the country’s youth, the SCMP takes a sideways look at the news


From a baby porker who saves its own bacon to a gold-rush lite among the country’s youth, the SCMP takes a sideways look at the news.


Pets

Quirky China: panda won’t return phone, talented piglet spared from dinner, affordable gold rush

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From a baby porker who saves its own bacon to a gold-rush lite among the country’s youth, the SCMP takes a sideways look at the news

From a baby porker who saves its own bacon to a gold-rush lite among the country’s youth, the SCMP takes a sideways look at the news