The panda sculptures will be displayed at different locations throughout Hong Kong. AP Photo
Starting this weekend, thousands of giant panda sculptures will be on display across Hong Kong, offering residents and tourists a chance to enjoy the city’s largest-ever panda-themed exhibition. The excitement surrounding pandas in the city has been growing ever since two cubs were born at a local theme park, making these lovable bears even more of a star attraction.
The PANDA GO! FEST HK exhibition, which features 2,500 panda sculptures, was officially launched on Monday at Hong Kong’s airport. The event marked the beginning of a citywide display of these sculptures, which will first be set up at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, a well-known shopping area. In the following weeks, the sculptures will move to three other locations across the city.
One of the key spots for the exhibition is Ocean Park, home to the two panda cubs, their parents, and two other pandas that were recently gifted to Hong Kong by Beijing. The pandas are part of a long-running international loan program between China and zoos worldwide, which aims to promote China's soft power. Six of the sculptures in the exhibition were inspired by these pandas, crafted from recycled materials such as rubber barrels and resins.
Panda sculptures were showcased at Hong Kong International Airport during the opening ceremony of the "Panda Go!" exhibition on Monday, December 2, 2024. CNN
The panda cubs, born in August, have already captured the hearts of many. Their mother, Ying Ying, made history as the world’s oldest first-time panda mom. The cubs are expected to meet the public early next year, adding to the excitement surrounding the exhibition. At a media preview event on Monday, the newly arrived pair of pandas, An An and Ke Ke, seemed to settle in well at Ocean Park. An An was seen munching on bamboo, while Ke Ke explored the surroundings.
The introduction of the panda sculptures is part of Hong Kong’s efforts to boost its tourism industry, which has been recovering after the pandemic. The city aims to attract more visitors by capitalizing on the growing panda craze. Pandas, known as China’s unofficial national mascot, are seen as a valuable asset to promote tourism. Officials hope the presence of six pandas in the city will attract more tourists, despite the high costs involved in caring for them.
To further engage the public, the organizers of the exhibition have invited well-known figures like musician Pharrell Williams to design special-edition panda sculptures. These unique pieces will be auctioned online, with all proceeds going to support the conservation of giant pandas at Ocean Park.
Pandas were photographed during the event on Monday. CNN
Ying Ying and the father of her cubs, Le Le, are the second pair of pandas to be gifted to Hong Kong by Beijing since the region's return to China in 1997. The first pair, An An and Jia Jia, arrived in 1999. Jia Jia, who lived to be 38, holds the record as the longest-living panda in captivity. Pandas in the wild typically live 14 to 20 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 30 years.
As Hong Kong celebrates its beloved pandas with this massive sculpture exhibition, the city hopes to not only boost tourism but also raise awareness for panda conservation.
