[Photo provided to China Daily]
Approximately 100 Western guests attended a giant panda lecture on the cruise trip Majestic Princess on June 19.
The Majestic Princess departed from Rome on May 21, sails across key Maritime Silk Road points, including Greece, the United Arab Emirates, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand, and will conclude with a berthing at China's Xiamen on June 26.
The lecture offered a wide range of information, from panda's birth-giving to eating habit, healthcare and living abilities in the wild.
"I was fascinated to learn that the giant panda has an opposable thumb like humans — that's very interesting and very different from other animals,” said Paul Deeter from the United States.
Deeter boarded the ship from Singapore and will travel to Shanghai.
He has become a fan of giant pandas since watching their playful moves in online videos, and he saw the interesting animal once in Washington, DC.
Deeter was also relieved to see how China's experts have reintroduced pandas to the wild after breeding them, making sure the population stays balanced.
The lecture was given by Zhou Xiaoping, an expert from southwestern China's Sichuan province.
"The foreign audience is interested in almost anything about pandas," Zhou said, noting that he was questioned eagerly after his talk.
The panda lecture was part of the traditional Chinese arrangements organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The purpose is to enable Western guests to better appreciate Chinese culture and traditions.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
