Giant panda Meng Meng plays in the snow at Beijing Zoo on February 21, 2024. /CFP
Beijing on Wednesday unveiled plans for a new giant panda conservation base in the capital's Fangshan District, with the aim of introducing 50 pandas to the public by 2025.
Authorities said the base will cover an area of about 133 hectares of the Qinglong Lake Forest Park in the southwest of the city.
Scheduled to open in 2025, the base is expected to become an important landmark in the development of Beijing's cultural tourism industry, providing a new attraction for tourists visiting the city.
A digital image shows an overview of Beijing's new giant panda conservation base. /CFP
During the construction process, the base's architects intend to maximize the space on the site to create a harmonious environment for the coexistence of humans, giant pandas and nature, while promoting the breeding and conservation of these precious mammals.
The first phase of the Beijing base is expected to see 40 giant pandas settle in along with other animals such as golden snub-nosed monkeys and red pandas. After the project is completed, the base will be able to accommodate 50 pandas.