Huang's hands-on role
(China Daily)
2009-03-03 09:08
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Popular actor Huang Xiaoming visited the giant panda breeding center at Ya'an in Sichuan province over the weekend to see the twin panda cubs he has sponsored enjoying their first day of "panda kindergarten".
Eight-month-old Ping Ping and An An were the oldest of the 13 giant panda cubs born after last May's earthquake.
Huang donated one million yuan ($150,000), to adopt the two cubs and was named an ambassador to China's Panda Protection Research Center.
Because the 13 cubs are now old enough to be weaned, they are spending a year away from their mothers in the center's panda kindergarten to help them develop a sense of independence and learn social skills.
Huang said he was excited to see his babies.
"Last year I could carry them each in one of my arms but now I can barely hold one with both arms," he said. "They are so cute!"
The 31-year-old became a sensation in recent years after playing lead roles in several popular serials, including the remake of Shanghai Bund, which turned Chow Yun-Fat into a star in 1980s. He is now filming the star-studded spy thriller Feng Sheng, in which he plays a Japanese military officer. In the meantime, he says he will encourage more of his friends to sponsor pandas at the center.