I adopted a "little" Giant Panda at the Wo Long Breeding Centre when I was there in 1999. It costed me HK$3,000 (about US$400). This was for a year's adoption. Cissy (as I had named her) was a six-months old when I was there. There were a total of 4 little Giant Pandas in the Wo Long Breeding Centre. They were all around 6 months' old at the time because Giant Pandas usually mate in about March/April of each year and their pregnancy last about 6 months, so they give birth in around October/November each year.

Because I adopted Cissy, I was allowed to play with her and the other 3 little Giant Pandas. I could take photographs with her and with the other three.

Giant Pandas are treated as "the Country's Treasure" in China. They are China's pride. The young ones are particularly protected because they are less resistant to diseases. There were a total of only 6 newborns in all the breeding centres (excluding the wild) in the whole of China in 1998, out of which were the four I saw in Wo Long. You can understand how precious they were. Visitors to the Wo Long Centre are not generally allowed to visit them. In fact, none of the other members of the tour group who went with me was allowed to even see the little ones, let alone touch them. Only my parents and I could see them, touch them and take photographs with them because I adopted Cissy. So I thought it was worth the money. The little ones were so......so cute.