1,600 paper pandas make their debut on February 28; enhanced version allows closer public interaction

▲Starting February 28, 1,600 paper pandas are officially meeting the public in front of Taipei City Hall. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

After making pop-up appearances at places such as Riverside Park, Bopiliao, Da’an Forest Park, and the National Theater, the "1600 Pandas World Tour – Taipei" officially launched its public exhibition on February 28 and will continue until March 9 at the Civic Plaza in front of Taipei City Hall.

%Naiū (left) and Paulo Grangeon (left 7) jointly inaugurated the event. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government)

The paper panda exhibition has been held in nearly 30 major European cities since 2008, and the number 1,600 represents the current global population of wild giant pandas. The organizers hope that through this public art display, more people will pay attention to the importance of ecological conservation.

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-pin said during the opening ceremony that aside from adding 200 paper-mache Formosan black bears to highlight Taiwan’s endangered species issue, the event also includes an “enhanced version of the paper pandas,” offering the public an opportunity for close encounters.

Since the majority of the paper pandas, except for those in the enhanced version, are quite fragile and strictly not to be touched, the Taipei City Government has also prepared emergency response and evacuation plans for rainy weather. Hau added that according to the weather forecast, the 228 holiday period is expected to have good weather, and he encouraged the public to take the opportunity to visit the exhibition.

▲During the event, large enhanced paper pandas are also on display, allowing visitors to take close-up photos. (Photo by reporter Chen Ruizhong)

After the exhibition at Taipei City Hall concludes on March 9, it will move to the Plaza of the National Theater and Concert Hall at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall from March 14 to March 30, followed by plans for exhibitions in other counties and cities, aiming to spread the concept of animal conservation. After the touring exhibition, a charity sale will also be held, with proceeds donated to conservation-related organizations to further support ecological preservation efforts.