HK authorities and Ocean Park ramp up panda promotion in town

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), and Ocean Park have ramped up the promotion of the newly arrived pandas and their cubs, bringing the magic of giant pandas to even more locations and platforms across the city.

As part of the initiatives, CSTB, HKTB, and Hongkong Post have joined forces to introduce 3D panda mailboxes. A total of 49 mailboxes will be transformed all over Hong Kong, Kowloon, and the New Territories, with the first five making their appearance in Causeway Bay and the Southern District. The rest will gradually be unveiled from February to early March.

The boxes feature the 3D-printed panda twins perched on top. The elder sister holds a classic Hong Kong soft-serve ice cream, a favourite treat among tourists, while the little brother snaps a photo with a camera, capturing his sister’s delightful moment. Decorated with famous Hong Kong landmarks and events, these boxes serve as an invitation from HKTB, encouraging visitors to explore the city's unique experiences and inspiring locals to welcome friends and family to discover Hong Kong and meet its beloved giant pandas.

Following the successful rollout of panda-themed advertisements in major tourist hotspots such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay, the footprints of Hong Kong’s six giant pandas will now extend to even more locations and platforms all over the city.

On the other hand, HKTB, Ocean Park and MTR are collaborating once again to bring fresh panda-themed decorations to MTR Ocean Park Station, select themed trains, Airport Express stations, key MTR stations including Admiralty.

These endearing animals will also be spotted at Hong Kong International Airport, the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier, bus stops in various districts, and HKTB Kowloon Visitor Information Centre.

The new wave of activities comes after the city welcomed two giant pandas An An and Ke Ke, as well as their cubs Elder Sister and Little Brother. One of the key events was the HELLO PANDAS Carnival, an outdoor event themed around giant pandas held in December at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazzas.

Jointly organised by the China Tourism Group, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong as well as The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, and undertaken by the China Travel Service, the carnival featured a diverse range of activities, including art installations, interactive performance, cultural and creative fair, photography exhibition.

Another key event was the panda-themed exhibition PANDA GO! FEST HK, organised by the creative brand AllRightsReserved (ARR). Featuring 2,500 panda sculptures in eight unique designs, the PANDA GO! FEST HK kicked off with a grand welcoming ceremony on 2 December at one of the Hangars, within the restricted area of Hong Kong International Airport. These pandas were creatively displayed across various locations around Hong Kong. 

In addition, the CSTB and the HKTB will also produce a new television promotional video, in which the giant panda family and their friends will experience four unique tours in Hong Kong, including exploring the stunning world-class natural scenery; enjoying delicious food from all over the world from local food to restaurants; indulging in the artistic atmosphere of world-class cultural museums and art galleries; and experiencing the excitement of major events at Kai Tak Sports Park.

Related articles:

HK to welcome 2,500 panda sculptures to spread joy and hope
Ocean Park and HKT jump on city-wide craze with 'Panda TV' launch