A group of panda cubs born this year are thriving at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, with their first public debut in August. Among the newborns is "Cheng Shi," a rare white-and-grey male whose distinctive coloring results from a unique distribution of sparse black hair. Researchers say that Cheng Shi will gradually develop the classic black-and-white coat typical of giant pandas by the time he turns one year old. The Chengdu base is a leading center for panda conservation, research and tourism.