Giant pandas have once again proven their universal appeal, becoming the unofficial mascots of the World Games in Chengdu. Athletes and participants from around the globe took breaks from competition to visit local panda bases, where the charismatic creatures inspired a wave of smartphone snapshots and souvenir shopping sprees.
"I've never seen anything like their calm energy," said Canadian volleyball player Emily Tran, clutching a panda plushie. "It's the perfect counterbalance to the intensity of the games."
The black-and-white ambassadors served as cultural connectors, with many visitors sharing their panda encounters on social media. This organic diplomacy through wildlife highlights China's growing emphasis on ecological conservation and soft power through its most iconic species.
