The tourism and cultural industries of Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province are benefiting from the so-called "panda economy", as demand for panda-themed products and visits to local giant panda reserves has been growing over recent years.
Throughout the streets and alleys of Chengdu, a city known as the home of the giant panda, elements depicting the beloved bear have been seamlessly integrated into various aspects of daily life, ranging from urban landscapes to commercial products.
Data shows that more than 12 million tourists visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in 2024, while sales of panda-related cultural and creative products exceeded 210 million yuan (over 28 million U.S. dollars) during the year.
A range of items adorned with the unmistakable image of the giant panda are also enticing many visitors who are keen to snap up a memorable souvenir.
"I never thought that the image of pandas could be incorporated into all kinds of items. Here, the most distinctive feature is this stamp. Additionally, there is a stamp rally activity featuring various panda-shaped stamps. There are also small earrings and bookmarks. All of them are panda-themed," said a tourist.
The flourishing cultural and creative industry in Chengdu has also attracted talents and entrepreneurs keen to tap into the demand and there are already more than 10,000 enterprises across the city who are developing panda-themed products, according to data from the Sichuan Giant Panda National Park Cultural Innovation Alliance.
Among them is the Sichuan Hangwan Cultural Communication company, which specializes in life-like stuffed panda toys. These come in different shapes and sizes to accurately depict various ages, ranging from small newborn cubs up to fully-grown adult pandas.
In addition, the Chengdu-based brand GogoPanda has sought to spread the popularity by successfully holding over 300 events in more than 60 major cities around the world with its giant panda IP, attracting a total of over 10 million participants in these various global locations.
"We hope to create a truly giant panda (IP) that has rich culture, stories, engaging content and encourages interaction," explained Chen Guangyu, the founder of GogoPanda.
Power of "panda economy" drums up consumption in Chengdu
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
