Hong Kong greeted a new pair of giant pandas, An An and Ke Ke, with a grand ceremony as they were gifted by Beijing in efforts to potentially boost the city’s tourism sector. These pandas mark the third pair to be sent to Hong Kong from mainland China since the jurisdiction’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. The arrival of An An and Ke Ke follows the recent birth of twins by their new neighbor, Ying Ying, who achieved the record of being the world’s oldest first-time panda mother.

The addition of An An and Ke Ke now brings the total number of pandas in Hong Kong to six, joining the twins and their father, Le Le. Chief Executive John Lee described An An as an agile, intelligent, and active 5-year-old male panda, while Ke Ke, also 5 years old, is known for her climbing abilities, cuteness, and gentle temperament. Before meeting the public in mid-December, the new pandas will go through a two-month quarantine period and acclimate to their new home at Ocean Park.

In October, the government plans to invite residents to suggest new names that reflect the pandas’ unique qualities. With hopes of leveraging the popularity of the beloved bears and newborn cubs, tourism industry representatives are optimistic that having six pandas in Hong Kong will positively impact visitor numbers and stimulate the local economy. This initiative has been labeled the “panda economy” by some lawmakers who see potential business opportunities.

Known as China’s unofficial national mascot, pandas are a symbol of the nation’s cultural heritage. The country often employs its giant panda loan program with overseas zoos as a form of soft-power diplomacy. The presence of pandas in foreign countries raises awareness about conservation efforts as the bamboo-munching bears are exclusive to China’s southwest and face threats from habitat loss due to development.

While caring for pandas in captivity comes at a high cost, it is a significant investment for facilities. For instance, a zoo in Finland agreed to return two giant pandas to China well ahead of schedule due to the financial burden of maintenance outweighing visitor interest. Ocean Park in Hong Kong has been home to pandas since 1999 when the first pair, An An and Jia Jia, arrived shortly after Hong Kong’s handover to China. Jia Jia, who passed away at the age of 38 in 2016, holds the title of being the oldest panda to have lived in captivity. Typically, pandas in the wild live between 18 to 20 years, while those in captivity can reach 30 years of age as recognized by the Guinness World Records.