Chunsheng and Xiangguo Photo: Chen Zhongqiu
"Panda Bus" in Hangzhou Photo provided to Hangzhoufeel
Highlights
By Han Yifei
After nearly four years, the Hangzhou Zoo has joyfully introduced its latest residents to the public - the adorable pandas, "Chunsheng" and "Xiangguo".
Arriving from the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center, these chubby pandas made their grand debut on August 18. They are so heart-melting that a 200-meter long line of eager fans started to line up around 7 AM, an hour before the zoo opened.
It was not only their enchanting appearances that mesmerized, but their appetite had the spectators in stitches. Upon their arrival in Hangzhou, the pair showcased their strong preference for local bamboos, with workers joking about the pandas' voracious eating habits, "They love Hangzhou's bamboo leaves, chomping down in big bites. It's utterly therapeutic to watch!" With a diet that extends from bamboos to bamboo shoots, bread, apples, and so on, it's no wonder Xiangguo, who has a peculiar fondness for pumpkins, is receiving special treatment. As for telling the two apart, Xiangguo boasts a slightly fluffier face and rounder ears, while Chunsheng is more active and has brush-like ears.
Hangzhou's affection for pandas isn't a recent craze. Recalling about the pandas from 1975, 66-year-old Mrs. Cheng recalled her excitement when the first-generation pandas, Peipei and Yingying, were introduced to the city. "It feels like just yesterday when I was at the zoo with my son, watching them step out of the transport vehicle. Over 40 years have just flown by in a blink of eyes."
Panda enthusiasts have swarmed the reservation system, filling up all 15,000 available slots in just three days. To manage the panda-mania, the zoo is rationing visit time. But not to worry, these pandas are here to stay for three years!
There might be more for panda fans: Hangzhou has rolled out an adorable "Panda Bus". The No.4 bus route has been transformed with a panda theme. The bus design is absolutely charming, featuring panda eyes as wheels, fluffy 3D ears on the roof, and a heartwarming interior filled with panda decorations.