Bet You'll
COLIN SIMPSON
Macau Giant Panda Pavilion
3/5
IT’S a hot, lazy, high-summer morning as I turn up at the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion – and the idle mood extends to the stars of the show. Stepping into the indoor enclosure, I see two large, hairy mounds of black-and-white fur lying immobile on raised platforms, and the sight of the sleeping pandas makes me fear I’ve made a wasted journey.
You don’t expect zoo animals to perform tricks, but a little activity and a chance to see them properly are always welcome. After a while, though, half of one of the mounds slowly comes to life. This is Kang Kang, one of twin pandas born in Macau in June 2016. He’d been sharing the platform with his brother Jian Jian, who remains fast asleep as he left and began to amble about, stopping from time to time to munch bamboo stalks that lay scattered around the enclosure.
There are four giant pandas at the large, airy and light pavilion, which is divided into two by a wall, with Kang Kang and Jian Jian occupying one half. The other two, a male and a female, were shipped over from the panda base at Chengdu in the mainland province of Sichuan in late 2016. They are displayed separately in the other half, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. A staff member explained that the animals would fight if they were all kept together.
Pandas are of course not the main reason people visit Macau, a former Portuguese colony that was returned to China in 1999. It’s the world’s biggest gambling centre, with glitzy casinos whose revenues dwarf those of Las Vegas.
Kang Kang continues on his way, stopping at the back of the pavilion before moving forward, where he settles with his bamboo behind the glass barrier as delighted parents take phone snaps with their kids in the foreground. At one point, apparently seeking company, he climbs back up to the platform and tries to wake Jian Jian up, but without success.
The atmosphere is relaxed, with the guard on duty intervening only when over-excited youngsters start tapping on the glass. There are instructive posters and books on display for those wishing to learn more about pandas, though a display of the animals’ poo may have been a case of too much information.
Apparently each adult produces 10 kilograms per day, equivalent – according to the novel unit of comparison used in the pavilion – to the weight of 66 apples. Pandas like to keep cool, and the pavilion is kept at around 20C. Construction work was under way in an open-air area next door where the animals will be displayed in the winter.
The pandas look healthy and well-kept, as do the other animals at the site in Seac Pai Van Park. There are red pandas, small cousins of the giant panda that to me always look underwhelming in comparison, plus monkeys, lemurs, parrots and flamingos.
An information centre allows visitors to learn more about the gestation, birth and development of Jian Jian and Kang Kang. Pandas enter the world as small, hairless pink cubs, and the transformation into the familiar black-and-white adults is remarkable.
Verdict: Great place to see these fabulously endearing creatures, providing a respite from the bustle and glitz of Macau’s casinos.
Top tips: The pavilion is a short bus or taxi hop from the Taipa ferry terminal and the Cotai Strip. The ferry crossing from Hong Kong’s Central district takes about an hour. Many taxi drivers don’t speak English, so downloading a couple of photos of the pavilion or park, or a giant panda, onto your phone beforehand to show the driver may smooth your way.
When planning your day, note that the pavilion closes for lunch from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is cheap, but the timed tickets allow entry in hour-long segments, from 10 a.m to 11 a.m., etc. This was not enforced on the quiet day I visited, no one was asked to leave at the turn of the hour, but it could be in busy periods – Macau is packed with visitors from the Chinese mainland during the two week-long national holidays known as Golden Weeks.
Updated December 2019
GALLERY
other placeS to see giant pandas
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, China
GREAT place to see pandas, and the emphasis on breeding means there’s a good chance you’ll see some cute cubs. As with most attractions in China you can expect large crowds, and the guards who usher visitors past the cubs and back outside introduce an unfortunate aggressive and authoritarian note.
beijing zoo, china
YOU’D expect China’s capital to offer a state-of-the-art visit for those wishing to see the country’s emblematic national animal, but I found it underwhelming. The Panda Hall, built in 1989, is looking a bit tired.
edinburgh zoo, UK
THE only giant pandas in the UK are a pair that have been at Edinburgh Zoo since 2011. Repeated breeding attempts have failed, and – as is often the case in Edinburgh – there have been complaints about the cost. The zoo pays China $1 million a year for the pair, and accommodation and the breeding programme account for a further £2 million ($2.6 million) annually. Photo: RZSS.
...AND ONE WHERE YOU CAN'T
San Diego Zoo, United states
THIS superb zoo in Southern California offered a memorable panda experience. Large numbers of visitors could enjoy a close-up look at the animals in a relaxed atmosphere. Bai Yun (left) gave birth to six cubs after arriving at the zoo in 1996. In May, however, the pandas were recalled to China, reportedly because of trade war tensions.
MORE INFO
MACAU GIANT PANDA PAVILION official site – details of the pandas and other attractions, opening hours and more. CLICK HERE
RELATED
CALIFORNIA’S AMAZING WILDLIFE: Humpback whales, dolphins, sea-lions, elephant seals, seahorses and elk are among the animals featured in this dazzling gallery. CLICK HERE
WATCHING PINK DOLPHINS: Yes, there really are pink dolphins, and they can be seen from boats that head out from Hong Kong. CLICK HERE
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TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE
LET'S STAY IN TOUCH!
Bet You'll Love Macau's Pandas
COLIN SIMPSON
Macau Giant Panda Pavilion
3/5
IT’S a hot, lazy, high-summer morning as I turn up at the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion – and the idle mood extends to the stars of the show. Stepping into the indoor enclosure, I see two large, hairy mounds of black-and-white fur lying immobile on raised platforms, and the sight of the sleeping pandas makes me fear I’ve made a wasted journey.
You don’t expect zoo animals to perform tricks, but a little activity and a chance to see them properly are always welcome. After a while, though, half of one of the mounds slowly comes to life. This is Kang Kang, one of twin pandas born in Macau in June 2016. He’d been sharing the platform with his brother Jian Jian, who remains fast asleep as he left and began to amble about, stopping from time to time to munch bamboo stalks that lay scattered around the enclosure.
There are four giant pandas at the large, airy and light pavilion, which is divided into two by a wall, with Kang Kang and Jian Jian occupying one half. The other two, a male and a female, were shipped over from the panda base at Chengdu in the mainland province of Sichuan in late 2016. They are displayed separately in the other half, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. A staff member explained that the animals would fight if they were all kept together.
Pandas are of course not the main reason people visit Macau, a former Portuguese colony that was returned to China in 1999. It’s the world’s biggest gambling centre, with glitzy casinos whose revenues dwarf those of Las Vegas.
Kang Kang continues on his way, stopping at the back of the pavilion before moving forward, where he settles with his bamboo behind the glass barrier as delighted parents take phone snaps with their kids in the foreground. At one point, apparently seeking company, he climbs back up to the platform and tries to wake Jian Jian up, but without success.
The atmosphere is relaxed, with the guard on duty intervening only when over-excited youngsters start tapping on the glass. There are instructive posters and books on display for those wishing to learn more about pandas, though a display of the animals’ poo may have been a case of too much information.
Apparently each adult produces 10 kilograms per day, equivalent – according to the novel unit of comparison used in the pavilion – to the weight of 66 apples. Pandas like to keep cool, and the pavilion is kept at around 20C. Construction work was under way in an open-air area next door where the animals will be displayed in the winter.
The pandas look healthy and well-kept, as do the other animals at the site in Seac Pai Van Park. There are red pandas, small cousins of the giant panda that to me always look underwhelming in comparison, plus monkeys, lemurs, parrots and flamingos.
An information centre allows visitors to learn more about the gestation, birth and development of Jian Jian and Kang Kang. Pandas enter the world as small, hairless pink cubs, and the transformation into the familiar black-and-white adults is remarkable.
Verdict: Great place to see these fabulously endearing creatures, providing a respite from the bustle and glitz of Macau’s casinos.
Top tips: The pavilion is a short bus or taxi hop from the Taipa ferry terminal and the Cotai Strip. The ferry crossing from Hong Kong’s Central district takes about an hour. Many taxi drivers don’t speak English, so downloading a couple of photos of the pavilion or park, or a giant panda, onto your phone beforehand to show the driver may smooth your way.
When planning your day, note that the pavilion closes for lunch from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is cheap, but the timed tickets allow entry in hour-long segments, from 10 a.m to 11 a.m., etc. This was not enforced on the quiet day I visited, no one was asked to leave at the turn of the hour, but it could be in busy periods – Macau is packed with visitors from the Chinese mainland during the two week-long national holidays known as Golden Weeks.
Updated December 2019
GALLERY
other placeS to see giant pandas
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, China
GREAT place to see pandas, and the emphasis on breeding means there’s a good chance you’ll see some cute cubs. As with most attractions in China you can expect large crowds, and the guards who usher visitors past the cubs and back outside introduce an unfortunate aggressive and authoritarian note.
beijing zoo, china
YOU’D expect China’s capital to offer a state-of-the-art visit for those wishing to see the country’s emblematic national animal, but I found it underwhelming. The Panda Hall, built in 1989, is looking a bit tired.
edinburgh zoo, UK
THE only giant pandas in the UK are a pair that have been at Edinburgh Zoo since 2011. Repeated breeding attempts have failed, and – as is often the case in Edinburgh – there have been complaints about the cost. The zoo pays China $1 million a year for the pair, and accommodation and the breeding programme account for a further £2 million ($2.6 million) annually. Photo: RZSS.
...AND ONE WHERE YOU CAN'T
San Diego Zoo, United states
THIS superb zoo in Southern California offered a memorable panda experience. Large numbers of visitors could enjoy a close-up look at the animals in a relaxed atmosphere. Bai Yun (left) gave birth to six cubs after arriving at the zoo in 1996. In May, however, the pandas were recalled to China, reportedly because of trade war tensions.
MORE INFO
MACAU GIANT PANDA PAVILION official site – details of the pandas and other attractions, opening hours and more. CLICK HERE
RELATED
CALIFORNIA’S AMAZING WILDLIFE: Humpback whales, dolphins, sea-lions, elephant seals, seahorses and elk are among the animals featured in this dazzling gallery. CLICK HERE
WATCHING PINK DOLPHINS: Yes, there really are pink dolphins, and they can be seen from boats that head out from Hong Kong. CLICK HERE
RECOMMENDED
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 VIRTUAL ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our up-to-the-minute guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE
LET'S STAY IN TOUCH!
Bet You'll Love Macau's Pandas
COLIN SIMPSON
Macau Giant Panda Pavilion
3/5
IT’S a hot, lazy, high-summer morning as I turn up at the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion – and the idle mood extends to the stars of the show.
Stepping into the indoor enclosure, I see two large, hairy mounds of black-and-white fur lying immobile on raised platforms, and the sight of the sleeping pandas makes me fear I’ve made a wasted journey.
You don’t expect zoo animals to perform tricks, but a little activity and a chance to see them properly are always welcome. After a while, though, half of one of the mounds slowly comes to life. This is Kang Kang, one of twin pandas born in Macau in June 2016.
He’d been sharing the platform with his brother Jian Jian, who remains fast asleep as he left and began to amble about, stopping from time to time to munch bamboo stalks that lay scattered around the enclosure.
There are four giant pandas at the large, airy and light pavilion, which is divided into two by a wall, with Kang Kang and Jian Jian occupying one half.
The other two, a male and a female, were shipped over from the panda base at Chengdu in the mainland province of Sichuan in late 2016. They are displayed separately in the other half, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. A staff member explained that the animals would fight if they were all kept together.
Pandas are of course not the main reason people visit Macau, a former Portuguese colony that was returned to China in 1999. It’s the world’s biggest gambling centre, with glitzy casinos whose revenues dwarf those of Las Vegas.
Kang Kang continues on his way, stopping at the back of the pavilion before moving forward, where he settles with his bamboo behind the glass barrier as delighted parents take phone snaps with their kids in the foreground. At one point, apparently seeking company, he climbs back up to the platform and tries to wake Jian Jian up, but without success.
The atmosphere is relaxed, with the guard on duty intervening only when over-excited youngsters start tapping on the glass. There are instructive posters and books on display for those wishing to learn more about pandas, though a display of the animals’ poo may have been a case of too much information.
Apparently each adult produces 10 kilograms per day, equivalent – according to the novel unit of comparison used in the pavilion – to the weight of 66 apples. Pandas like to keep cool, and the pavilion is kept at around 20C. Construction work was under way in an open-air area next door where the animals will be displayed in the winter.
The pandas look healthy and well-kept, as do the other animals at the site in Seac Pai Van Park. There are red pandas, small cousins of the giant panda that to me always look underwhelming in comparison, plus monkeys, lemurs, parrots and flamingos.
An information centre allows visitors to learn more about the gestation, birth and development of Jian Jian and Kang Kang. Pandas enter the world as small, hairless pink cubs, and the transformation into the familiar black-and-white adults is remarkable.
Verdict: Great place to see these fabulously endearing creatures, providing a respite from the bustle and glitz of Macau’s casinos.
Top tips: The pavilion is a short bus or taxi hop from the Taipa ferry terminal and the Cotai Strip. The ferry crossing from Hong Kong’s Central district takes about an hour.
Many taxi drivers don’t speak English, so downloading a couple of photos of the pavilion or park, or a giant panda, onto your phone beforehand to show the driver may smooth your way.
When planning your day, note that the pavilion closes for lunch from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is cheap, but the timed tickets allow entry in hour-long segments, from 10 a.m to 11 a.m., etc.
This was not enforced on the quiet day I visited, no one was asked to leave at the turn of the hour, but it could be in busy periods – Macau is packed with visitors from the Chinese mainland during the two week-long national holidays known as Golden Weeks.
Updated December 2019
GALLERY
Other Places to See Giant Pandas
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, China
GREAT place to see pandas, and the emphasis on breeding means there’s a good chance you’ll see some cute cubs. As with most attractions in China you can expect large crowds, and the guards who usher visitors past the cubs and back outside introduce an unfortunate aggressive and authoritarian note.
beijing zoo, china
YOU’D expect China’s capital to offer a state-of-the-art visit for those wishing to see the country’s emblematic national animal, but I found it underwhelming. The Panda Hall, built in 1989, is looking a bit tired.
edinburgh zoo, UK
THE only giant pandas in the UK are a pair that have been at Edinburgh Zoo since 2011. Repeated breeding attempts have failed, and – as is often the case in Edinburgh – there have been complaints about the cost. The zoo pays China $1 million a year for the pair, and accommodation and the breeding programme account for a further £2 million ($2.6 million) annually. Photo: RZSS.
...And One Where You Can't
San Diego Zoo, United states
THIS superb zoo in Southern California offered a memorable panda experience. Large numbers of visitors could enjoy a close-up look at the animals in a relaxed atmosphere. Bai Yun (left) gave birth to six cubs after arriving at the zoo in 1996. In May, however, the pandas were recalled to China, reportedly because of trade war tensions.
MORE INFO
MACAU GIANT PANDA PAVILION official site – details of the pandas and other attractions, opening hours and more. CLICK HERE
RELATED
CALIFORNIA’S AMAZING WILDLIFE: Humpback whales, dolphins, sea-lions, elephant seals, seahorses and elk are among the animals featured in this dazzling gallery. CLICK HERE
WATCHING PINK DOLPHINS: Yes, there really are pink dolphins, and they can be seen from boats that head out from Hong Kong. CLICK HERE
RECOMMENDED
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 VIRTUAL ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our up-to-the-minute guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE