Months-old giant panda cubs are enjoying leisurely lives at a research base in Chengdu City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, where they wriggle their round bodies, climb trees, savor bamboo and doze off on tree branches, attracting a constant stream of visitors from around the world.
On a recent morning, as morning sunlight filtered through a bamboo forest, three panda cubs each selected their favorite spots. One sat upright, hugging a bamboo pole, while another lay sprawled on a bamboo frame, lost in thought. The third climbed a tall tree and hung limp upon a branch.
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a world-renowned institution for the ex-situ conservation of giant pandas, scientific research and breeding, public education and tourism, has become a must-visit site for panda fans from all over the world.
"This place is very amazing. We're really enjoying the pandas. I love the pandas," said a tourist from overseas.
About one hour later, the sleepy panda cub awoke from its nap, but another two were quick to snatch a place on the tree.
"Look at that panda! It was sleeping just now, and it seems like it was gathering energy. Suddenly, it started moving. How cute!" said a visitor.
According to keepers at the base, there are currently five newborn pandas meeting visitors. Their daily routine includes eating, sleeping, and learning to climb trees and identify food.
Giant panda cubs enjoy leisurely playtime at Chengdu research base
China's two major power grid operators -- the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and China Southern Power Grid (CSG) -- reported a surge in investment in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring efforts to strengthen infrastructure construction and support high-quality socioeconomic development in China.
The State Grid said it completed fixed-asset investment worth 129 billion yuan (about 18.77 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year, up 37 percent the corresponding period of the previous year. The spending has driven more than 250 billion yuan (36 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across the wider industrial chain.
Key projects such as the Panxi ultra-high-voltage (UHV) alternating current (AC) line and the Anhui-Hubei back-to-back direct current (DC) project have seen ground broken for their construction, while several west-to-east power transmission projects have been upgraded.
Investment in connecting renewable energy generation to the grid was reported to have exceeded 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March, a year-on-year rise of more than 50 percent.
The CSG also reported robust growth in investment in the three-month period, with fixed-asset investment reaching 38.45 billion yuan (5.58 billion U.S. dollars), up about 50 percent from a year earlier.
Among its achievements, the company completed and commissioned 80 key projects, including the 220 kV cross-sea power grid interconnection project, which was officially put into operation on March 20. The project ended years of grid isolation on the Weizhou Island in south China by linking it to the main power system of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The construction of 17 other major energy projects, including one linking the power grid of the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China with that of Guangdong Province in south China, is advancing rapidly. These projects are expected to bolster regional industries, the maritime economy, digital collaboration and the transition to green energy.
"By accelerating major project construction, investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is expected to approach 1 trillion yuan (145 billion U.S. dollars), driving a further 2 trillion yuan (290 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across upstream and downstream industries," said Dong Yanle, deputy general manager of the Engineering Construction Department under the China Southern Power Grid.
China ramps up power grid investment in January-March to boost growth
