The term “national treasure” refers to a precious asset of the country. The giant panda is a unique wild animal that is native to China, specifically found in certain regions of Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi. With a population of fewer than 2,000 wild giant pandas, they are considered rare.
From a scientific perspective, the giant panda is seen as a “divine beast” that has traversed from ancient times to the present. Its ancestors primarily consumed meat, but in response to environmental changes, modern giant pandas have evolved to nearly exclusively eat bamboo, earning them the title of “living fossil” in the animal kingdom. The way giant pandas reproduce is quite unique; although their embryos may experience delayed implantation, the cubs grow rapidly after birth. These distinctive biological characteristics have sparked significant research interest among scientists worldwide.
Additionally, the giant panda’s black-and-white coloration resembles the ancient Chinese Taiji (Yin-Yang) symbol. References to giant pandas can even be found in classic texts such as the “Book of Songs” and “Records of the Grand Historian,” indicating that they have been linked to Chinese culture for a long time. Many foreign friends have developed an interest in Chinese culture through the giant panda.
For these reasons, it is widely believed that the giant panda is a “national treasure” of China.