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Pandas

Pandas
Giant pandas are native to south central China. There are only about 1,800 in the wild, according to conservation organisation WWF.
Stuffed panda dolls inspired by Hua Hua, the most popular panda living at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China, are displayed at a gift shop at the research base. Photo: The Korea Times
Asia travel

Inside the black-and-white panda-monium in Chengdu, China’s panda capital

Chengdu thrives on panda tourism, with the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding at its heart attracting millions of tourists a year.

China travel

Panda and pet services: China plans over 160 tourist trains to boost consumption

Trending in China

China pandas rise from unknown status to palace pets, national symbols, treasures

US-China relations

In lead-up to Trump’s Beijing visit, China announces 2 pandas are set for US zoo

Foreign ministry says deal will aid protection of pandas and other threatened species and help global biodiversity conservation efforts.

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Fu Shuang will head to Atlanta under a new 10-year deal. She will be accompanied by Ping Ping. Photo: QQ.com
Hong Kong culture

Opinion | Hong Kong can draw on Art March’s success by keeping it authentic

Tourism officials are finally seeing that supporting organic cultural growth, rather than ticking boxes, is what makes the city attractive.

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Review | Jackie Chan’s hot streak continues with Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe

Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe manages to overcome its previous instalment’s failings to become a fun, wholesome family adventure.

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Japan

Video | Panda fans in Japan bid farewell to popular pair

Online applications for panda viewing lottery slots were 25 times the available 4,400 places.

FILE PHOTO: Visitors flock to see four-year-old female giant panda Lei Lei at Ueno Zoo during the last viewing day before the planned return of twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei to China, in Tokyo, Japan, January 25, 2026. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo
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Japan

‘They were cute’: Japan fans jostle for final glimpse of China-bound pandas

The departure of Xiao Xiao and his sister, Lei Lei, will leave Japan without any pandas for the first time since 1972.

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China-Japan relations

Japan’s last 2 giant pandas set for early trip home to China as tensions spiral

Return of twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei to mark first time Japan will be without any pandas since normalisation of diplomatic ties in 1972.

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China-Japan relations

Bearly any time left for Japan’s panda lovers? Row with China threatens to end loans

A 50-year tradition of panda diplomacy appears to be reaching its end with the last pair set to leave amid heightened diplomatic tensions.

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Visitors take pictures of giant panda Xiao Xiao at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. Photo: EPA
Japan

Video | Japan to be without pandas for first time in 50 years

While the twin pandas were born in Japan, they belong to China under a loan agreement and are set to return by February 2026.

Giant panda Lei Lei eats bamboo at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, a day after Japan announced the pandas will be returned to China in January 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
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Indonesia

Meet ‘Rio’, the first giant panda cub born in Indonesia

The newborn is stable and showing healthy early signs such as strong vocalisation, effective nursing and steady weight gain.

Malaysia

Panda-monium in Penang as foreign artist paints over Malaysian heritage mural

The twist in the tale? It was an artistic collaboration between the Chinese tourist and the Malaysian painter.

Ocean Park

Editorial | Pandas alone won’t save Hong Kong’s Ocean Park in the long term

The 48-year-old theme park recorded another deficit despite increased visitor numbers. It will have to reinvent itself to survive.

Visitors look at giant pandas Jia Jia (left) and De De at Ocean Park on October 22. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong economy

Pandas give Hong Kong’s Ocean Park boost but deficit worsens to HK$275 million

Park attracted more visitors and revenue grew by 9 per cent, but Water World attraction, depreciation and other expenses hit bottom line.

A family decked out in panda merchandise poses for a picture at Ocean Park. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong’s pandas

Video | Hong Kong’s first giant panda twins turn one

Hong Kong’s first giant panda cubs, twins Jia Jia and De De, are celebrating their first birthday on August 15, 2025.

Hong Kong’s pandas

Hong Kong’s Ocean Park reveals panda film in works as twin cubs turn 1

Theme park buzzing with excitement as 300 fans of twin cubs ‘Jia Jia’ and ‘De De’ show up to celebrate birthday.

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Mainland China

Pandas and table tennis: China’s national icons fall victim to toxic fan culture

Panda conservation centre and table tennis star speak out about cyberbullying, internet rumours and the dark side of online fandom.

Chinese table tennis star Fan Zhendong says he suffered “significant psychological trauma” after a fan broke into his hotel room in 2023. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong tourism

Michelle Yeoh takes a shine to Labubu made for Hong Kong panda cubs’ birthday

Oscar-winning actress among celebrities sent unique Labubu dolls as part of campaign by creator and Hong Kong tourism authorities.

Japan

With US tariffs looming, China’s panda diplomacy returns as Japan seeks new loan

Panda loans can be a ‘bargaining chip’ to make bilateral ties stronger and allow China to show it can be a regional leader, analysts say.

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Japan

‘Sad that they leave Japan all at once’: panda fans bid farewell to beloved 4

The remaining two giant pandas are also due to return to China next February.

Giant panda Rauhin at the Adventure World amusement park in Shirahama, Japan, on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong tourism

‘Panda fever’ created 19% attendance boost at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park: official

Tourism minister Rosanna Law says HK$121 million has been secured from Jockey Club Charities Trust to upgrade panda enclosure.

A minister has said the debut of the park’s new pandas has been “well received by both locals and visitors”. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong society

Editorial | Tonic for Hong Kong as panda cubs named

Jia Jia and De De will continue to be huge draws for years to come and, with the right strategy, can boost the city’s economy in multiple ways.

Hong Kong’s pandas

Jia Jia and De De chosen as names for Hong Kong’s twin panda cubs

Names convey Cantonese slang term for encouragement ‘add oil’ and notion of virtue.

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Malaysia

Malaysians debate cost of protecting Chinese pandas over native wildlife

Pandas Fu Wa and Feng Yi, who returned to China on Sunday, cost Malaysia millions of ringgit in maintenance in their 11 years’ stay.

People pose for photos at the panda habitat in Kuala Lumpur’s National Zoo on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong’s pandas

Pandas in Qatar? Meet the Hongkonger helping Chinese national treasures thrive

Giant pandas Suhail and Thuraya live in one of world’s largest air-conditioned enclosures under care of former Ocean Park worker Cissy Kou.

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Si Hai (pictured), also known as Thuraya, is a descendant of Ocean Park’s late panda Jia Jia. Photo: Xinhua
Malaysia

‘Goodbye Fu Wa and Feng Yi!’: Malaysian panda fans bid an emotional farewell

The panda pair arrived in 2014 to mark 40 years of Malaysia-China relations and produced three offspring during their stay at Zoo Negara.

Japan

‘Panda politics’: sorrow and suspicion in Japan as China recalls 4 pandas

With the animals’ return in June before the expiry of a loan agreement, Japan will be left with just two pandas at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo.

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