Visitors flock to Chengdu panda base amid Spring Festival holiday

As the Chinese Spring Festival approaches, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China has been adorned with festive decorations and equipped with new enrichment facilities for the pandas, creating a joyful atmosphere for both visitors and the beloved animals.

The Spring Festival, which falls on Feb 17 this year, marks the start of the Chinese New Year, the most important holiday in China. This year ushers in the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle.

The holiday spirit at the base has captivated many visitors from both home and abroad, with some expressing how their hearts were melted by the adorable charm of the fluffy creatures.

“It’s amazing. It’s very cute. They are very cute. They are really lovely animals. We had the chance to meet them. So it’s a really nice opportunity to watch them in their own environment,” said a foreign tourist.

A variety of giant panda companion animals such as raccoons and golden snub-nosed monkeys could also be seen at the base.

With enhanced protection efforts for giant pandas, more wild pandas have been observed in the Chengdu.

Recently, infrared cameras in the Chengdu area of the Giant Panda National Park captured a rare scene of a panda mother walking through the bamboo forest with her cub. The round, fluffy youngster followed closely behind as the mother glanced back from time to time, ensuring it kept pace.

China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and security, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

He made the remarks in response to a media query about Cuba’s ongoing fuel shortage crisis, which is expected to last until March 11 and has led to the suspension of international flights to the Caribbean nation.

“So far we have not received any report of Chinese citizens stranded in Cuba. China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and security and opposing external interference. China stands firmly against the inhumane actions that deprive the Cuban people of their right to subsistence and development. China will, as always, do our best to provide support and assistance to Cuba,” said Lin.