1,600 paper pandas are too cute — crowds rush to take photos of 40 “chipped” ones

The event organizer, the Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau, explained that as paper pandas are very fragile, to reduce damage, the pandas in the main exhibition area are not available for public touch. But considering those who wish to take photos with them, in addition to the 1,600 pandas in the main area, 20 are also placed daily in the “photo experience zone” for close-up shots. Nonetheless, the organizers urge the public to handle the pandas gently and with care, as they are very prone to breakage, and to follow on-site staff guidance when taking photos.

Zheng Feiwen, Creative Director of Da Yu International Design, pointed out that the pandas exhibited this time are primarily made from recycled materials such as newspaper, using waterproof paint, and are handcrafted one by one. The damaged pandas include those in seated and lying positions — for the seated ones, the most common damage areas are the face, nose, and ears, while the lying pandas tend to have injuries on their four legs and bottoms. Zheng demonstrated the three-step process for repairing a panda: first, sanding down any uneven or damaged areas with sandpaper; then applying a special mixture of “panda hyaluronic acid” filler and starch paste to mend the wounds; and finally, after sanding again, coating it with eco-friendly waterproof paint — almost like giving the panda a bit of Botox — restoring the chipped and damaged panda to its former glory.

Yu Shuhui, Deputy Secretary-General of the Tourism and Travel Bureau, said that after previous appeals, visitors have become more careful when taking photos in the experience area, and damage to the pandas on the second day was less than on the first. However, she reminded the public that because the pandas are fragile, they should still be handled with care during visits and photo sessions. In addition, to cope with weather conditions, a three-tier rain protection plan has been implemented: if there is light rain, paper hats will be placed on the pandas; for showers, transparent rain covers will be used; but in the case of heavy rain, some pandas will be moved into 3D display cases for viewing, while others will be temporarily stored away.