A giant panda cub was recently captured being thoroughly spoiled at a breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province, with the chubby cub seen laying on its back while receiving a succession of snacks from its caretaker.
The footage shows the young panda in a blissful state of contentment as he lounges on the ground while being fed a series of treats by his dedicated carer.
The cub is one of a pair of twins born to a mother panda named Pan Wang through a wild breeding program. He now lives in the Shuangnan Park in the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center (CCRCGP) for the Giant Panda in Sichuan.
The CCRCGP is a world-leading institution for the breeding and conservation of one of China's national treasures. The center has also established a global platform for promoting international cooperation and exchanges involving 18 zoos from 16 countries and regions, as well as 39 domestic animal breeding institutions and more than 10 scientific research institutes.
Chubby panda cub enjoys succession of snacks at Sichuan base
Bakers in San Francisco's Chinatown have been adding some new twists to traditional Chinese mooncakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept 17 this year.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the night when the moon reaches its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar. Sharing mooncakes, a classic Chinese baked pastry that symbolizes family reunions during the harvest season, with loved ones is an important part of the festival celebrations.
The iCake Bakery in the heart of the city's Chinatown is especially busy at this time of year. This year, the bakery owner Hannah Zhang invited Judy Lee, the vice president of the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce, to make mooncakes.
"So we have here a black sesame filling. It's one of the most unique flavors we have at iCafe. And now we're going to put in an egg yolk," said Lee, translating for Zhang.
Just around the corner at the AA Cafe, owner Henry Chen has also been experimenting with some new twists on the classic treat.
"We have a lot of different [flavors], like the date, melon, pineapple, strawberry, mango and seasoned nuts," said Chen.
Visitors to San Francisco's Chinatown can find all sorts of mooncakes, especially in the months leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Whether it is a traditional or modern variety, it is a way to connect with a tradition that stretches back more than a thousand years and to remind people what the historic Chinatown community has to offer.
"In the spirit of the Moon Festival, it gives us another reason to gather with our friends and family to attract people who've never been to San Francisco's Chinatown and see why there's so much preservation here. It is the oldest Chinatown in the nation still," said Lee.
Bakers in San Francisco offer new treats for mooncake lovers for Mid-Autumn Festival
