Latest news with #pandas
Times
17 hours ago
- Times
Is it time to hang up on these great red relics?
I n Parliament Square this week, I had to jostle to pass a queue. Reaching the front, I saw what it was for: a red telephone box. But no one was actually making calls. Instead each tourist took their turn, leaning against Gilbert Scott's design classic while a friend snapped a picture with Big Ben in the background. This is, I suppose, why this particular telephone box remains. But it was an empty shell. It didn't even bear the once traditional central London wallpaper of escort calling cards to save its dignity. Presumably that business has gone on to mobile phones too. It had all the melancholic pointlessness of a giant panda being played sexy music by its keepers in the hope it will finally reproduce, or some new scheme to shore up Venice. Sometimes even the noblest of heritage cannot be saved. Just let them die in dignity.
CNA
7 days ago
- Business
- CNA
There's more to Chengdu than just pandas: How to have a chic getaway in this Sichuan city
At first glance, Chengdu seems to run entirely on the panda economy and to some extent, it does. As the capital of Sichuan province and home to major panda conservation and research centres, the city has fully embraced its status as the spiritual home of China's most beloved furball. No wonder the city is overflowing with panda-themed everything. From panda-shaped ice cream to black-and-white bubble tea, exclusive merch (even from collectible chain Pop Mart) and plushies galore. It is cute, kitsch and completely unavoidable. But Chengdu has also been quietly upping its style game. In recent years, luxury fashion houses like Bottega Veneta, Loewe and Dior have launched striking flagships and exclusive concepts. Louis Vuitton, for example, opened its third China Maison here, featuring The Hall – its first restaurant in China – inside the century-old Guangdong Hall. This understated cool is embodied by locals: designer handbags slung over relaxed silhouettes, vintage touches and sneakers with attitude. No wonder coveted French label and champion of quiet luxury Lemaire recently opened its inaugural store in China at the unique Taikoo Li development, which features the adaptive reuse of Qing dynasty courtyard houses and traditional architecture for luxury retail and F&B concepts. To immerse in this heritage-meets-contemporary vibe, check into The Temple House, arguably the most distinctive of Swire Hotels' three House Collective properties, alongside hotels in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Designed by architectural firm Make Architects and adjacent to Taikoo Li, Temple House, which features 100 hotel rooms and 42 serviced apartments, is part of the city government's conservation project to preserve the heritage buildings in the vicinity. Named after the 1,600-year-old Daci Temple on whose grounds it now stands, the hotel draws on a rich past. This storied sanctuary has welcomed emperors, poets and seekers of wisdom including the monk Xuanzang, whose epic pilgrimage inspired Journey to the West. Today, the main temple complex still stands in the middle of Taikoo Li, offering an interesting counterpoint to the sleek storefronts and buzzy eateries surrounding it. This essence of cultural depth is echoed in The Temple House, which thoughtfully incorporates its reverence for history with a modern, minimalist sensibility. The entrance is set in a painstakingly restored hundred-year-old Qing Dynasty Chinese courtyard building, once home to scholars who had travelled to study in Chengdu. It is a humble, historic entryway that sets the tone for the hotel's quietly memorable hospitality. Checking into my chic Deluxe Temple Suite, a blend of dark timber accents and sunlit tones of white and oak, I am welcomed with playful local touches – a dessert platter styled like hotpot, freshly brewed tea and a cuddly panda plushie for company. If Taikoo Li is where Chengdu shows off its polished, Prada-wearing side, then Dong Jiao Memory Cultural and Creative Park is its artsy counterpart who listens to vinyl and thrift shops for upcycled secondhand finds. Just two metro stops or a 15 minute drive from The Temple House, this former factory site has been transformed into a sprawling creative park, while still preserving its industrial facade. Sprawling factories have been transformed into indie retail outlets, cool cafes like popular chain Manner and bubble tea joints abound and there are art installations, galleries and live music gigs to uncover. This is also where the Xiaohongshu-famous brick wall bearing the Chinese characters Chengdu is located. Get in line to snap a selfie but know everyone takes their sweet time perfecting their shot. Of course, no trip to Chengdu is complete without feasting on its signature culinary highlights, chief among them, the obligatory communal, tongue-numbing Sichuan hotpot. For an over-the-top experience, head to The Way of the Dragon, a theatrical hotpot restaurant tucked along Kuan Zhai Alley, one of the city's best-preserved historic streets, now buzzing with shops, street snacks and teahouses. It's a full-blown spectacle, with servers presenting platters of meats, mushrooms and offal (if you dare) on dragon- or boat-shaped vessels. There is also a nightly show with classic Sichuan acts including musical recitals, kung fu demonstrations and the crowd-pleasing bian lian (face changing) opera performance. After all that spice and spectacle, Chengdu's teahouse culture, popular among locals as a place for relaxation and socialising, is a welcome palate cleanser. The Temple House's Mi Xun Teahouse – also where the hotel's excellent spa is located – is situated within a standalone courtyard building next to the hotel and elevates this concept to an artform. The Michelin Green Star teahouse offers a refined vegan menu inspired by the healthful dishes once served at Daci Temple with delicious meatless versions of Sichuan specialties such as dan dan mian noodles and mapo tofu. Both were layered with such bold, satisfying flavours that not a single soul at the table missed the meat. The menu also celebrates the seasons with elegant, farm-to-table dishes crafted from locally sourced produce, offering a lighter perspective to Sichuanese cuisine. Naturally, there is a broad selection of tea varieties to pair with the food. Alternatively, head sommelier Cederic Yao will happily share his recommendations for highly rated and rare Chinese wines. Tip: When the weather is good, ask for a table in the red lantern-lit courtyard for an atmospheric meal. The Temple House is also home to Tivano, a Michelin-listed Italian spot led by chef Riccardo Baronchelli (ex-Mandarin Oriental Singapore), known for its open kitchen, wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas. Afterwards, head to cocktail bar Jing, where Boston Baijiu Bar alum Nick Lappen serves globally inspired drinks in a sultry, low-lit setting. Just beyond the hotel, alleys brim with eateries, including stalls selling the classic Chengdu snack of stewed rabbit heads. Locals swear by them but I chickened out. I had better luck at the one Michelin-starred Ma's Kitchen, a Chengdu institution that began as a humble eatery in 1923. It is famed for elevated versions of comfort dishes like kung pao prawns with eggplant, twice-cooked pork and cold chicken in green Sichuan pepper and every bite was wiped clean. Pro tip: they do not take reservations, so go early or expect a queue. For those who are game for a day trip that is off the well-trodden panda path, visit the Sanxingdui Museum, about an hour's drive away. This fascinating museum houses one of China's most intriguing archaeological finds - the remains of a mysterious Bronze Age civilisation that thrived over 3,000 years ago and then disappeared without a trace or any form of writing. A new extension by Chinese architecture firm CSWADI opened in 2023, more than doubling the exhibition space and bringing renewed attention to Sanxingdui's mind-boggling discoveries. There are a staggering array of artefacts including delicate gold sceptres, an intricate bronze tree of life, and countless ceremonial masks with wide, staring eyes and razor-sharp geometric features. These objects are so otherworldly they have sparked countless theories of time travel, alien contact or lost advanced civilisations. I was mesmerised by how strangely modern many of them appear. A stone stele had engravings that looked like they were made by laser and the masks looked like they belonged in a superhero movie. The piercing gazes of the bronze masks lingered in my mind long after I left the museum.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
‘Panda fever' created 19% attendance boost at Hong Kong's Ocean Park: official
'Panda fever' has translated into a significant boost in business for Hong Kong's Ocean Park, with the debut of several new bears leading to a 19 per cent surge in attendance year on year since their debut, according to the city's tourism minister. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui also said in a written reply on Wednesday to lawmakers' questions that an additional HK$121 million (US$15.4 million) had been secured from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to upgrade the pandas' enclosures. The move would help solidify Hong Kong's status as a premier panda tourism destination, she added. Hong Kong is home to six giant pandas, who comprise Ying Ying and Le Le, their twin cubs, Jia Jia and De De, and An An and Ke Ke, who were gifted to the city by Beijing to celebrate the 27th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty. An An and Ke Ke made their debut in December 2024, and cubs Jia Jia and De De were unveiled to the public in February of this year. 'They have been well received by both locals and visitors, and Ocean Park's attendance has since then increased by around 19 per cent over the same period last year,' Law said.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Everyone can see the number 876 but only those with a high IQ can spot 879 in under 8 seconds
KEEP reading to see a challenging brain teaser that could test your IQ. In the photo below, viewers are asked to spot the number 879 amid a group of pandas displaying 876. 2 If you're able to find the anomaly within eight seconds, it might be a sign of a high IQ. The adorable pandas are arranged neatly in rows and columns, making it more challenging to spot the odd one out. Among the 54 pandas there is just one holding up the number 879. The image is just one of many optical illusions which can be used to train your brain. While our brains instinctively assume the image to be the same throughout, it's important to train your brain to recognise the anomaly. The 879 is able to blend in due to the identical font, layout and panda graphics. But vigilant viewers will be able to quickly spot the 879. So set yourself a timer and see how long it takes you to spot the odd one out - if you get it in less than eight seconds, you might have a high IQ. This particularly optical illusion tricks the brain in a number of ways. The bright yellow background acts as a visual distraction making it more difficult to focus on specific detail within the image. Everyone can see the pearls, but you need the eyes of a hawk to spot the diamond in less than 10 seconds Meanwhile, we tend to view images from the centre outwards, meaning our periphery can be neglected, particularly when focusing on intricate details. In order to solve the visual puzzle, it's important to slow down and be methodical. This might mean going through the image row by row, or making sure you change your perspective to look at the wider image rather than just the centre. 2 For those of you who didn't find it in the original image, I can reveal that the number 879 can be found three from the left on the top row. Optical illusions can be a great way to train your brain to be more observant. Those that do well in these kinds of puzzles might have a background in data entry or analysis, as they are trained to look for numbers. How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me? Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions. Some benefits include: Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility. Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function. Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes. Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus. Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief. If you want to continue to challenge your brain further, you can find a range of optical illusions on our website. Different images can test different parts of your brain. This image of pearls might be a good way to test your eyesight, while this maths puzzle helps improve your critical thinking.
Washington Post
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Hong Kong's baby pandas finally get names. Meet Jia Jia and De De
HONG KONG — Hong Kong's first locally born giant panda have finally been named and introduced as Jia Jia and De De. The names of the cubs, affectionately known as 'Elder Sister' and 'Little Brother,' were announced Tuesday in a ceremony at Ocean Park, the theme park housing them, their parents and two other giant pandas that arrived from mainland China last year.
