Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan has linked his name to China's most famous panda center. This has strengthened the connection between stardom, tourism, and conservation.
On May 12, 2009, Jackie Chan adopted two giant pandas at the Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Base in China's Sichuan province, turning a symbolic gesture into a major media and tourism event. The two cubs were named Cheng Cheng and Long Long, names chosen in homage to Chan and his Chinese identity, while the actor was named Chengdu Panda Ambassador by the local tourism authorities. This truly prestigious and high-profile international recognition.
A gesture that also speaks to tourism
The adoption of the two pandas was not just a curiosity in the gossip columns. It was also an operation capable of strengthening the international image of Chengdu as the capital of the giant panda. This choice combined conservation, territorial promotion, and global popularity into a single, high-impact narrative. Over time, Jackie Chan has often invoked this connection with pandas, making it part of his public identity and his relationship with mainland China. In any case, constantly raising public awareness about biodiversity and the conservation and protection of this endangered species is essential to safeguarding our planet. But that's not all. Protecting protected species is a moral duty.