Celebration of 30 Years of Giant Panda Breeding Cooperation between China and Japan Held in Wakayama

Recently, a series of events celebrating the 30th anniversary of giant panda breeding cooperation between China and Japan was held at Adventure World in Wakayama, Japan.

The event was attended by Deputy Consul General Wei Youmei from the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka, Director Ma Xiaocheng of the China National Tourism Office in Osaka, Wakayama Prefectural Vice Governor Shimo Hiroshi, Adventure World Director Imaizumi Koji, Deputy Mayor of Shirahama Town Aizu Yasumitsu, and over 2,000 panda fans.

Celebration Of 30 Years Of Giant Panda Breeding Cooperation Between China And Japan Held In Wakayama

The China National Tourism Office in Osaka set up several experience and exhibition areas at the event. Attendees could DIY paint the Sichuan cultural tourism mascot—a cozy panda doll—and taste panda-shaped mooncakes, immersing themselves in the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere of “At this moment, we share the same moon.”

The event also featured the “Hua Hua” doll created in collaboration with the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, CCTV’s iPanda Panda Channel, and the Panda Factory, along with promotional materials about Sichuan tourism and payment convenience, allowing the Japanese public to learn more about the customs and culture of the panda’s hometown. This aimed to attract them to visit Sichuan, China, stroll through the streets of Chengdu, and experience its delicious cuisine, beautiful scenery, and laid-back lifestyle, while also getting a close-up view of pandas with diverse personalities.

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In addition to the experience and exhibition areas, a video vividly showcased the history of cooperation between China and Japan in the field of giant panda breeding. On September 6, 1994, giant pandas “Yongming” and “Rongbang” traveled from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to Adventure World in Wakayama, pioneering international collaboration in panda conservation and breeding. Over the past 30 years, “Yongming” and his partner have successfully bred several healthy panda cubs, becoming core contributors to the China-Japan cooperative panda breeding project and earning the title of “Friendship Ambassador” between the two countries.

Since several “Bang” family pandas, including “Yongming,” returned to China, panda fans in Wakayama have been concerned about their well-being. To commemorate this year’s event, CCTV’s iPanda Panda Channel created a special video featuring “Yongming” and the “Bang” family during the Mid-Autumn Festival reunion. The video showed “Yongming,” “Yingbang,” “Taobang,” “Xiongbang,” “Xingbang,” “Yongbang,” and “Aibang” living in the Chengdu Panda Base, as well as “Meibang” at Tangshan Zoo, “Youbang” at Suzhou Wildlife Park in Anhui Province, and “Mingbang” at Liuzhou Zoo in Guangxi. The growth of the “Bang” family over the past 30 years of joint breeding has been a precious achievement. Some were happily munching on bamboo shoots while others played leisurely. Seeing them healthy, happy, and full of energy moved the panda fans present, with many audience members shedding tears of joy.

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During the event, a lottery segment heightened the atmosphere, featuring prizes such as the star panda “Hua Hua” doll from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, round-trip tickets from Japan to Chengdu on Sichuan Airlines, and a special grand prize of a trip to visit the “Bang” family in Sichuan provided by Adventure World.