Hong Kong’s panda craze is set to reach fever pitch as up to 2,500 panda sculptures are making appearances at several locations across the city as part of Panda Go! Fest HK. The 2500 pandas were on display at the Avenue Of Stars, Ngong Ping 360, Ocean Park Hong Kong, and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park from December 7 to December 26, 2024. The next phase of the roving exhibition begins on January 17, 2025, when more than 800 pandas will be on view at D·PARK, and from February 17 at Central Market.
Where to see the 2,500 pandas in Hong Kong?
The pandas arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport on December 2, 2024, and the roving exhibition will move to various locations based on the following schedule:
LOCATION | DATES |
Avenue of Stars | December 7-8, 2024 |
Ngong Ping 360 | December 14-15, 2024 |
Ocean Park Hong Kong | December 21-22, 2024 |
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park | December 25-26, 2024 |
D·PARK | January 17-March 6, 2025 |
Central Market | February 17-March 6, 2025 |
What to know about Panda Go! Fest HK?
Panda Go! Fest HK has its origins in the 2014 ‘I AM HERE’ giant panda installation in Chengdu, which has since become a local landmark. This was expanded to Hong Kong later that year, where 1,600 panda sculptures were set up at places like Ma Wan, Ocean Park, and Big Buddha. The exhibition has travelled across the world, and has captivated visitors in Malaysia, Canada, South Korea, and Thailand.
This year, the 2,500 sculptures that will be on view in Hong Kong are a tribute to the current global giant panda population numbers. The 2024 event will also feature six exclusive designs based on the expanded panda family at Ocean Park, which comprises long-time residents Ying Ying and Le Le, as well as Hong Kong’s four new pandas — twin cubs born in August 2024 and two five-year-old pandas who came to Hong Kong in September.
In addition, 11 renowned figures from various fields have created one-of-a-kind special-edition panda designs for the event. The lineup includes musician and fashion designer Pharrell Williams, actor and directed Huang Bo, supermodel and actress Du Juan, and artist Kasing Lung. Most of these limited-edition panda sculptures were auctioned online for charity, and the proceeds will go to Ocean Park.
Where can I watch the panda pyrotechnics drone show?
Hong Kong held its first-ever drone-and-pyrotechnics display on December 28, 2024, which paid homage to the Ocean Park pandas. During the 10-minute show, 1,000 drones carried pyrotechnics to light up the skies over West Kowloon Cultural District. The drones took the form of pandas and imagery typically associated with Hong Kong.
Panda Go! Fest HK is the third large-scale exhibition to come to Hong Kong in the recent past. Florentjin Hofman’s Rubber Duck Project returned to the city after 10 years and the occasion was marked by two gigantic rubber giants that were anchored in Victoria Harbour. Earlier this year, the city hosted the 100% DORAEMON & FRIENDS Exhibition, the highlight of which was the world’s first Doraemon drone show.
EVENT | Panda Go! Fest HK |
VENUES | Avenue Of Stars, Ngong Ping 360, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park |
DATES | December 7-26, 2024 |
WEBSITE | www.pandago-fest.com |
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