China has inaugurated a new giant panda base in Mianyang, Sichuan province, marking a significant expansion of its conservation network. The facility, part of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), is the fifth such site nationwide and aims to enhance panda breeding, research, and international collaboration. Spanning 120 hectares, the base began trial operations after relocating 13 pandas on November 4, 2025. It is slated to open to the public in 2026, once the pandas have acclimated to their new environment. Huang Zhi, head of the Mianyang base’s preparatory team, noted that while the pandas are adjusting to their surroundings, they are in good health, with a dedicated team monitoring their transition. Mianyang is home to 418 wild giant pandas, representing 22.4% of China’s total population, the highest among prefecture-level cities. Since the 1980s, the CCRCGP has made remarkable strides in captive breeding, increasing the panda population from just six in 1983 to over 380 today. This initiative underscores China’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection.