Two giant pandas, Baoyuan and Derui, have captivated visitors at Urumqi’s Water Park Panda Pavilion in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, marking their public debut just days before the Lunar New Year celebrations. The pair arrived from Sichuan Province’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, bringing a touch of Sichuan’s charm to northwest China.
Baoyuan, a 4-year-old panda known for her square face and calm demeanor, and Derui, a playful 5-year-old with glossy fur, are already drawing crowds. Their temperature-controlled habitat, stocked with fresh bamboo air-shipped daily from Sichuan, replicates their native environment. Local caretakers, trained at the Giant Panda Conservation Center, ensure the pandas adapt smoothly to their new home at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains.
The arrival underscores cross-regional collaboration in wildlife conservation while offering residents and tourists a unique Spring Festival attraction. Families lined up early to witness the pandas’ antics, with many calling the exhibit a "symbol of harmony and prosperity" for the year ahead.
