Hong Kong's plan to lure back visitors? It's black and white and eats bamboo
The Chinese territory of Hong Kong, which now has more giant pandas than anywhere outside mainland China, hopes they will help revive tourism.
HONG KONG — In Hong Kong, it’s pandas, pandas, everywhere.
About 2,500 giant panda sculptures are on display around Hong Kong as the Chinese territory hopes to capitalize on its growing panda population to regain its position as one of the top travel destinations in Asia.
Hong Kong has struggled to attract tourists in their previous numbers after three years of pandemic border restrictions and a crackdown on dissent following 2019 antigovernment protests tarnished the city’s international image.
Hong Kong currently has six pandas. Its reigning pair, Ying Ying and Le Le, had twins in August, when Ying Ying become the world’s oldest first-time panda mother after years of failed breeding efforts. The cubs could make their public debut in February.
In September, Hong Kong also welcomed a pair of 5-year-old pandas that were sent by Beijing, giving it the largest population of giant pandas outside mainland China.
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