Hong Kong's panda twin cubs, An An and Ke Ke, made their public debut at Ocean Park on December 8, 2024, drawing hundreds of fans, including international visitors from Qatar and the United States [e5ec8173]. The pandas, both five years old, were gifted by Beijing to celebrate the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty. Their names carry positive meanings, with An An symbolizing a peaceful future and Ke Ke representing unlimited possibilities [e5ec8173].
As the cubs continue to thrive, they have shown remarkable growth, now weighing 5.3 kg for the Elder Sister and 5.5 kg for the Little Brother, which is approximately 40 times more than their birth weights of 122 grams and 112 grams, respectively [b2c7d5c4]. Visitors were allowed to see the pandas for only 10 minutes due to crowd control measures, but many took the opportunity to purchase souvenirs, with one local spending over HK$900 on panda-themed items [e5ec8173].
The cubs are live-streamed for two hours daily, allowing fans to follow their development closely. They are expected to start eating solid food at six months, marking another milestone in their growth [b2c7d5c4]. Recent research has revealed that panda teeth can regenerate, providing insights into their dental health and evolutionary adaptations [b2c7d5c4].
In anticipation of their 100th day on November 24, 2024, Ocean Park is preparing for special celebrations, including the first public appearance of their father, Le Le, since August [b7243db4]. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, is enthusiastic about developing panda-themed intellectual property to enhance the city's tourism appeal [b7243db4].
AllRightsReserved, a local studio, is launching a character IP called 'Panda Friends and Family' as part of the 'Panda Go! Fest HK' project, which aims to tap into the panda economy [fc401c2c]. This initiative includes exhibitions and merchandise featuring panda characters, reflecting the bears' traits and characteristics, and is expected to attract more visitors to Ocean Park [fc401c2c].
The panda economy is flourishing in Asia, with other regions like South Korea and Taiwan also capitalizing on panda-themed merchandise and branding [b7243db4]. As public interest in An An and Ke Ke grows, Hong Kong is poised to enhance its tourism and economy through its panda attractions, especially with the anticipated introduction of the cubs to the public around the Lunar New Year in 2025 [3c66c829].