Fu Bao, a young giant panda born in the Republic of Korea (ROK) who was recently brought back to China, is settling into her new surroundings and has now began exploring the outdoors after completing two weeks of quarantine since arriving in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Born in July 2020 to Le Bao and Ai Bao, two pandas China leased to South Korea in 2016, Fu Bao had received tons of love from locals at her previous home in Yongin, where she enjoyed celebrity status among her legions of South Korean fans.
On April 3, she was returned to China in accordance with agreements between the two countries and is now undergoing a month-long period of quarantine and careful monitoring at the Wolong Shenshuping Base in Sichuan.
Fu Bao -- whose name means “lucky treasure”-- has shown a good appetite as she adapts to her new environment and has been seen regularly munching away at the many bamboo shoots, steamed buns, carrots and apples which make up her menu.
The active panda has also started to explore the outdoor space in her special enclosure at the base, showing curiosity as she investigates the wooden climbing frames and toys around her personal playground.
Panda keepers at the base will also slowly begin interacting with the popular young panda to help her build up trust with her new human companions.
However, aside from the necessary tasks of feeding, cleaning and training, staff members will not interfere too much with the panda’s daily activities in order to create a "semi-wild" environment for Fu Bao.
ROK-born panda settling into new surroundings, ventures outdoors during quarantine
Zhang Zhijuan, a village doctor in southwest China's Yunnan Province has been awarded this year's May 1 Labor Medal, the nation's highest award for workers granted annually to honor their outstanding contributions.
Zhang lives in a remote village in Yangbi Yi Autonomous County of Yunnan. She has dedicated over 30 years of her life to guarding health of some 2,000 people in her village.
"When I was 13 years old, my father passed away due to illness, and our fellow villagers generously helped us, me and my two sisters. They helped with our daily needs, and even farm work. At that time, I decided to study medicine and then give back to the community," Zhang said.
Yangbi is home to diverse ethnic groups including the Bai, Yi and Hui. It is known for its walnut industry. The region didn't shake off extreme poverty until 2018.
Zhang faced significant challenges in her early years of practice.
"At that time, visiting patients involved traversing rugged mountain roads, without paved paths. I walked countless miles each year. In the busiest year, I wore out 13 pairs of shoes. Whether it was day or night, whenever a patient fell ill, I always responded to their call for help," Zhang said.
Back then, she assumed various roles, from surgeon to obstetrician. She still remembers how she rescued a newborn in danger due to hypoxia.
"The baby was in critical condition, resembling the color of an eggplant. Without hesitation or thinking whether it's clean or not, I just took a piece of gauze to cover her lips, cleared the mouth, and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Now, the child is working in a big city," Zhang said.
Today, the villagers can access better medical resources, yet Zhang's bonds with them remain close.
As most of the young people work away from home, she regularly visits the left-behind seniors, especially those with chronic diseases.
"Doctor Zhang is so kind to me. She gave me acupuncture treatment and helped me recover slowly. Now I can walk on my own and cook for myself when my children are not at home. I'm grateful to her," said Luo Jiafen, an elderly villager.
In recent years, Zhang has kept refining her skills, especially in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). She believes that many TCM therapies are especially suitable for people often engaged in farm work, and she would perform the therapies on them whenever and wherever they need, which she believes is her lifetime responsibility.
"I will do my best to serve the villagers as long as my health permits. Even if one day I retire, my passion for medicine will never fade," Zhang said.
Rural doctor in Yunnan dedicates life to guarding villagers' health
