On June 24, 2019 at 4 p.m., over 60 guests from the International Youth String Orchestra of greater Toledo came to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to attend the donation ceremony and show their love for pandas. The Orchestra was accompanied by staff from Nanchong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and students from Nanchong high school.

Panda Foundation staff gave a tour to the guests from the Orchestra at the Panda Base

Donation group photo

At the donation ceremony, the student representative of the International Youth String Orchestra of the greater Toledo region of the United States spoke first. He said "music knows no borders, so does the heart of protecting and caring for pandas. All the members of our orchestra share a common desire to help and protect China's national treasure---the giant panda. In this fundraising, members of the orchestra are actively donating money, hoping to use the money to help the pandas. And hopefully our actions will inspire others to do something meaningful."

Student representatives of the orchestra spoke

A representative of Nanchong high school made a brief speech, she said "It is a great honor for us to accompany the International Youth String Orchestra students from greater Toledo to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to donate money. At the same time, they can communicate about China's unique national treasure, the pandas, and Chinese culture with American students. The students felt very proud and the donation trip was very meaningful."

Student representatives of the Nanchong high school spoke

Afterwards, the representative of the Panda Foundation gave a speech of thanks.“I would like to extend a warm welcome to the orchestra, Nanchong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the students from Nanchong high school, welcome to Sichuan, the home of the giant panda, thanks to all of you for your kind actions. The donation will be used to promote the protection of endangered rare animals such as the giant panda.Finally, I hope you can see the national treasure, the panda, again in the future in Chengdu.

A Panda Foundation representative spoke

After the donation ceremony, the guests visited the panda cub enclosure, sunshine nursery, red panda enclosure and sub-adult A&B enclosure under the guidance of the Panda Foundation staff. The cool and humid air at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding after a light rain is the favorite weather for pandas. During the tour, guests saw many pandas that were active indoors or outdoors.

Panda Foundation staff guide the guests and gave a conservation education lecture publicity of popular science.

The guests watched the pandas while discussing panda behavior and taking photos.

At the Sunshine Nursery, the guests were amazed when they saw the new born cubs, and asked various questions about the cubs. Our staff patiently answered them one by one.

The students got to visit the Sunshine Nursery House and had many questions.

The members of the International Youth String Orchestra of greater Toledo are mainly junior and senior high school students. Their donation comes from months of collecting at charity performances and donations from charity activities. We are thankful again for their visit and donation. With such care and wishes, we are sure to make more and more progress in conserving endangered and rare wild animals such as giant pandas.