Panda cub Manlanzai makes public debut in Gansu

Manlanzai, the first artificially bred giant panda in northwest China's Gansu Province, made his much-anticipated public debut on Saturday.

The seven-month-old cub, born to mother panda Manlan, was temporarily named "Manlanzai," a combination of the mother's name and the Chinese character for cub.

Carried out by his keeper into the outdoor enclosure, Manlanzai showed no signs of stage fright. The playful bear quickly made himself at home, climbing tree trunks, slurping milk from a shallow bowl with delight, and dragging a toy up a tree branch for an extended play session.

"The interaction between Manlanzai and his keeper was so heartwarming. The keeper would tap lightly or reach out a hand, and the cub would just come over. It felt incredibly warm to watch," said visitor Li Wanting.

The zoo planned ahead to ensure the cub's well-being and provide a good experience for visitors. A dedicated exhibition area was set up separately from other pandas, complete with climbing frames, toys, and greenery. Manlanzai also underwent weeks of adaptive training.

"We started training in early April to prepare Manlanzai for his public appearance. We carried him to Manlan's outdoor enclosure to get him used to the sounds and open air. After expert assessment, we confirmed he's ready to meet the public," said Zhang Xuhong, a panda keeper at Lanzhou Wildlife Park.

To prioritize the cub's health, Manlanzai will make two unscheduled appearances daily, with exact timing adjusted flexibly based on his rest and activity patterns.

"We will continue to closely monitor his health. His mother is still his primary caretaker, and we only provide assisted care. We are also maintaining a comfortable living environment with stable temperature and humidity, so he can grow up cozily," said Zhang.

Panda cub Manlanzai makes public debut in Gansu

As Kenyan marathon runner Sabastian Sawe shattered the two-hour barrier at the 2026 London Marathon on Sunday, Barnaba Korir, Youth Development Director at Athletics Kenya, hailed his historic achievement as a landmark moment for the nation and resounding proof that no human is limited.

Taking up the ultimate marathon challenge that had long eluded even the legendary runner Eliud Kipchoge, who famously finished the world's first sub-two-hour marathon distance under specially designed, non-race conditions with support, Sawe became the first person to break the two-hour mark in a sanctioned marathon, clocking 1:59:30 at this year's London Marathon.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Korir, a former athlete now devoted to sports development in Kenya, called the day "a historic moment" for his country.

"This is really a historic moment for Athletics Kenya. Sebastian Sawe breaking the two-hour barrier for the first time on a scale that we were looking for with Kipchoge. We are very excited about this performance and Athletics Kenya and Kenya as a whole is proud of what he has done today in London," he said.

Beyond the race itself, Sawe's feat has once again demonstrated to the world that the human spirit yields to no limits, he added.

"This was a big surprise we did not expect. I watched the race and at first I thought maybe they were not going to make it, but eventually he did. As Eliud Kipchoge said before, that no human is limited. Yes, it has been done, and we believe that actually when you give all the support that is necessary, the work that they have done, yes, no human is limited, and Kenya has shown that it can be done," he said.

Sawe's sub-2 hour marathon record proves no human is limited: Kenyan official