Hosts: 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.