Get to know Hua Hua the Giant Panda, an internet sensation, a panda celebrity, and a rainmaker for her city.
China is known for being a cultural and technological hub. With its constantly rising and established economy, the country has positioned itself as one of the world’s global superpowers. The country’s power and influence are truly undeniable. Another undeniable fact about China is how cute and viral their Giant Pandas are.
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Aside from being undoubtedly adorable, Giant Pandas are also known to power a part of the country’s economy. Fans all over the world are in awe of their different Giant Pandas with distinct appearances and personalities. However, one Giant Panda, or not so giant at all, is taking over the world by storm and her name is HeHua (Hua Hua).
Panda Or Onigiri?
Hua Hua is a Giant Panda born and raised at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. She gained internet fame because of her unique features and personality. Unlike other Giant Pandas, Hua Hua is shorter and stouter. Her stature is a result of a developmental delay which weakened her right leg—preventing her from running and climbing trees. Furthermore, netizens love her because she holds the record for spending the most time in Panda Kindergarten.
Aside from her pleasing personality, her overall physique draws attention. Netizens call her an Onigiri, a triangle-shaped rice dish from Japan because they say she is shaped like one. Furthermore, people are flacking over how she is loved by her devoted caretaker, Tan Jintao, affectionately known as “Grandpa Tan”.
Revenue Driving
Her internet fame is not unreturned—people willingly travel to Chengdu, China just to see even a glimpse of the world-famous Hua Hua. Last year, during the May Day holidays, local media reported that Hua Hua attracted 264,000 visitors to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Her celebrity status prompted 180,000 sales in tickets—selling out the first three days of the holiday. Due to her success, she was appointed as an honorary chief of the city’s tourism bureau.
Moreover, a TikTok video explaining how Hua Hua helped the city of Chengdu earn an extra 200 billion in revenue. They said that before going viral, the city had a total revenue of 300 billion. However, after finding her celebrity status, the total revenue of Chengdu increased to 500 billion. Her stardom truly is beyond comprehension.
Banner photo via X @CGTNOfficial.
