15
0Hosts: Zongnan & Jialin
Producer: Liu Chang
As Japan bids farewell to a beloved panda family returning to China, we unpack the global obsession with pandas — and the story behind their soft fur and soft power. From economic impact and zoo booms to conservation science and cultural symbolism, pandas are more than cute: they’re international players.
🕒Timestamps:
00:00 – News story
Japan says goodbye to Liang Bang and her cubs. Why do people cry over pandas?
00:44 – Panda Fever
Pandas drive massive crowds — in Tokyo, Qatar, Finland, and beyond.
02:38 – Pop Culture Pandas
From Olympic mascots to Kung Fu Panda, how pandas became icons.
03:02 – How did these all start
Gifts and then cooperation
03:48 – When the Pandas Go Home
What happens to zoos (and the bears) after pandas leave?
04:26 – Why Pandas
Their appeal, fragility, and emotional pull — why no other animal compares.
05:46 – Soft Power & Symbolism
Pandas as peace icons, yin-yang symbols, and “friendship ambassadors.”
06:40 – Bigger Than Bamboo
The money, the criticism, and the future of panda conservation.
📌 Mentioned in this episode:
- Panda Farewell Clip: YouTube Short
- Finnish Choir Mid-Autumn Performance: YouTube
🌍 World Beat is your quick, sharp, global news fix — with heart.
