Panda power brings distinctive charm to university games

The giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Between July 28 and Aug 8, the 31st edition of the Summer World University Games will be held in Chengdu, Sichuan province. This highly anticipated event will display the captivating qualities of the renowned "Panda City" as well as offer a remarkable sports experience for participants and visitors from all corners of the world.

Southwest China's Sichuan is the hometown of giant pandas. The capital city of Chengdu is the only large metropolis in the world where captive and wild pandas can be found, with a resident population of more than 21 million and an area of 14,000 square kilometers.

Established in 1987, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has the largest captive panda population in the world. The base, home to more than 230 giant pandas, simulates their natural habitat, with lakes, streams, bamboo forests, and grasslands where visitors can appreciate pandas of different ages, from infancy to adulthood.

At the base, there is a giant panda named Zhima that has attracted more and more worldwide attention because of his unique identity and being considered as the authentic image of the Chengdu Universiade mascot Rongbao.

Zhima, a male giant panda who loves to climb trees, was selected as the actual image of Rongbao in August 2020 after a global vote.

Chengdu has two other panda bases in Dujiangyan city: the Panda Valley in Dujiangyan and the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.

As the habitat of giant pandas in the wild, the Chengdu section of the Giant Panda National Park is home to 73 wild giant pandas, according to the fourth national giant panda survey.

Pandas have deeply integrated into the cultural bloodstream of the city, becoming one of the most famous calling cards of Chengdu. During the Chengdu Universiade, the city will use pandas to fully demonstrate its unique cultural charms to the world, representing China's characteristics.

Chengdu is not only home to world heritage sites, including Qingcheng Mountain and Dujiangyan, but also giant panda habitats and attractions such as Jinsha Site Museum, Wuhou Temple, and the Du Fu Thatched Cottage. Profound intangible cultural heritages such as Sichuan Opera, lacquerware, and Shu embroidery also have a presence in the city.

As the "city of gastronomy" awarded by UNESCO, Chengdu is the birthplace of classic Sichuan dishes such as Kung Pao chicken and Mapo tofu. It is also famous for its spicy hot pot and exquisite and diverse snacks.

During the Universiade, an array of activities featuring China's intangible cultural heritage and traditional Chinese cultures will be held, said officials at the executive committee of the Chengdu Universiade.

Fifteen cultural exchange stations will also be set up, and 10 boutique experience routes will be launched, allowing global guests to appreciate Sichuan and Chengdu's long history, colorful culture, and beautiful scenery.