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NBC News
26-06-2025
- NBC News
China cans hotel's red panda 'wake-up call' service
HONG KONG — For fans of the red panda, it would have been the ultimate experience — a wake-up call from one of the furry creatures on your hotel bed. But that was until pictures and videos went viral on Chinese social media, prompting a crackdown by authorities in the country. In one video verified by NBC News, Huang Wei, who booked the 'wake-up call' service at the LocaJoy River & Holiday Hotel in China's southwestern Chongqing city, was filmed partially under his blanket and can be heard telling the staff the panda playing on the bed was 'really cute.' The creature then eats food placed on the 28-year-old interior design store manager's hand by a member of the staff. 'He's not scared of the cold,' the staff member says, adding that its thick fur meant it was not affected by the room's air conditioning. 'I usually have a terrible morning temper, but today I'm so happy to be woken up by a red panda,' Huang wrote in a caption on the video that was posted last week on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote. In a separate interview via a messaging app, Huang said the red panda stayed at his room for about five minutes, and hotel guests can interact with the animals during a one-hour morning session and 90-minute afternoon session downstairs in the hotel. 'It's truly a joyful experience to get up close with rare and adorable animals,' he said. But his original video drew criticism from some of his fellow social media users. Red pandas are an endangered species in China, and even though Chongqing is known for both its large panda population and as a hot spot for panda tourism, China's wildlife protection law states that "safety management measures" must be followed if any wild animals are used for performances. Asked for comment, LocaJoy River & Holiday Hotel referred NBC News to Chongqing's forestry bureau, which in turned called the practice "inappropriate" in a statement, which said it should be "immediately stopped.' The company which owns the hotel, the Animal Theme Park of Chongqing Leheledu Travel Co. Ltd., did have a license to breed certain wildlife species, including red pandas, the statement said. But, it said, licensed breeding activities must ensure 'adequate space for animal activity, proper hygiene and health conditions, qualified personnel,' and hotel staff had violated these regulations. The forestry bureau also confirmed the hotel had stopped offering red panda-themed rooms, and the four bears found on the premises had been transferred to a centralized breeding area. As of Thursday, there was no listing for the rooms on the hotel's website although it appeared most were nonetheless animal-themed. Dental kits, toiletries, coffee mugs and linen appeared to have cartoonish animals printed on them, pictures posted by previous guests on the booking platform showed.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Routine or rising tensions? Chinese ambassadors in exodus from West African nations
Several Chinese ambassadors from West African nations have bid farewell to their host countries in recent weeks. Advertisement While some analysts suggest their departure could be routine rotations for diplomats , one said it could be a subtle message sent to Sahelian regimes amid rising tensions over resource nationalism and security concerns. In Senegal, a new Chinese ambassador, Li Zhigang, was welcomed in May, replacing Xiao Han, who had served for around four years. In Guinea, Huang Wei is concluding his seven-year tenure as China's envoy, with Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah describing him as instrumental in bolstering Sino-Guinean relations. Guinea is home to the Simandou iron ore mine, where Chinese companies have made massive investments. Similarly, Chinese ambassador to Burkina Faso Lu Shan announced earlier this month that his tenure was concluding. After the nation's 2022 coup strained Western ties, it deepened relations with China, establishing a 'strategic partnership' in 2024. Chinese ambassador to Senegal Li Zhigang (left) presents his credentials to Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, president of the Republic of Senegal, in May. Photo: Handout Meanwhile, ceremonies have been held to bid farewell to Chen Zhihong, the Chinese ambassador to Mali, and Jiang Feng, Beijing's envoy to Niger. Both started their posts in 2021.
