Visiting pandas is absolutely a must for anyone exploring the city. The same goes for the athletes competing in the ongoing World University Games. Guo Tianqi reports.
August is the time of year when panda babies are born, and the athletes from around the world participating in the World University Games are fortunate to witness these pink creatures up close.
MORGANE TAJAN France Fencer "It's really amazing. I've never seen a panda before. They are just a few meters from us."
On July 25, Yuan Meng, the first panda born in France, returned to the base here in Chengdu. Seeing the living conditions here, his French fellows are reassured. The presence of these fluffy creatures also brings comfort to the athletes.
FRANK BERTHIER France Fencing Coach "Yes, it's very relaxing before the competition is perfect for us. All my team like that. And it is very important for a concentration before the competition and for relaxation before, it's necessary."
Experiencing traditional Chinese culture is another theme of the trip, and athletes can learn Chinese paper cutting on-site and bring home pandas with cultural marks.
THOMAS MARTINE France Fencer "We would like to share this moment with Chinese people and to be open to understand the culture and the language too, it's very different from France."
BAUTISTA SELLANES GONZALEZ Uruguay Swimmer "It's beautiful, in my country, don't have pandas. I think that is so important that information for other countries, to protect the environment."
GUO TIANQI Chengdu, Sichuan Province "The need to protect giant pandas draws attention to the broader environmental protection cause. The panda also acts as a special envoy of friendship around the world. Guo Tianqi, CGTN, Chengdu, Sichuan Province."
