Giant pandas
Giant pandas have survived on Earth for at least 8 million years, honored as "living fossils" and "China's national treasure (the national animal)", serving as the flagship species for global biodiversity conservation and the mascot of the World Wildlife Fund. As of January 2024, the wild population in China has grown to nearly 1,900 individuals, with 63 pandas residing overseas as of October 2023.
Visitors can observe these iconic creatures up close and learn about panda conservation at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (The Panda Base).
The Panda Base serves as the world's preeminent institution for giant panda ex-situ conservation, scientific research and breeding, popular science education, and cultural tourism. The Panda Base, as a beautiful garden, is China's worst-kept secret - "the natural paradise of the national treasure and our Xanadu".
The Giant Pandas of Chengdu Research Base
Top 10 Interesting Facts About Giant Pandas
Here are 10 fascinating facts about giant pandas, Learn about the giant panda, a vulnerable species that lives in the temperate forests of southwest China and feeds mainly on bamboo.
1. Born Extremely Nearsighted
Giant pandas have very poor vision, with natural nearsightedness equivalent to 800-degree myopia. They rely heavily on smell and hearing to navigate, but uniquely possess ultraviolet vision to detect fresh bamboo shoots.
2. Sixth "Finger" for Grip
Their front paws feature a "pseudo-thumb" - a modified wrist bone that acts like a sixth digit. This adaptation helps them grip and strip bamboo efficiently.
3. Massive Appetite, Weak Digestion
Pandas eat 12–38 kg (26–84 lbs) of bamboo daily (15–40% of their body weight). However, their carnivore-like digestive system processes bamboo poorly, leading to 40+ droppings a day, some reaching 15 cm (6 inches) in diameter.
4. Tiny Newborns
Panda cubs weigh just100–200 grams (3.5–7 oz) at birth - 1/1000th of their mother's weight. They're born hairless, blind, and depend entirely on their mother for 6 months before trying bamboo.
5. Longevity Contrast
Wild pandas live around 26 years, while those in captivity often exceed 30 years. The oldest recorded panda, Xin Xing, lived to 38 (equivalent to 110 human years).
6. Solitary "Introverts"
Pandas live alone except during brief mating periods. Males mark territory by spreading scent via handstands, maximizing urine coverage to attract females.
7. Pseudo-Pregnancy Mystery
Female pandas may exhibit false pregnancy behaviors (e.g., appetite shifts, nest-building) even if unfertilized - a quirk complicating breeding programs.
8. Eco-Friendly Droppings
Their bamboo-rich feces are odorless and have been recycled into picture frames and bookmarks. Scientists also use droppings to track wild pandas.
9. Carnivore Turned Herbivore
Despite having teeth and a digestive system suited for meat, pandas evolved to eat 99% bamboo. They rarely consume small animals or carrion as supplements.
10. Living Fossils with Legendary Names
Pandas diverged from other bears 11 million years ago, with fossils traced to prehistoric Spain. Ancient Chinese texts called them "Pi Xiu" (mythical creature) and "iron-eating beast" due to their habit of chewing metal tools!
These traits highlight the panda's extraordinary adaptations, blending evolutionary quirks with cultural charm, making them one of nature's most iconic survivors.