Chengdu, 25 Jul (Xinhua) -- "I still can't believe that I want to represent Poland at the Chengdu Universiade! I've been working on this for the past five years! Camila Naprošek, 24, excitedly posted a photo of herself in the Universiade Village in Chengdu on her profile, and she is the only athlete from the Medical University of Warsaw to come to Chengdu. Behind her, the sculpture of the mascot of the Chengdu Universiade "Rong Bao" stands out.
Camila Naprosek poses in front of the "Rongbao" sculpture in Chengdu's Universiade Village. Image from the player's personal social media pages
This "miserable" round panda is being loved by more and more people as the opening of the Universiade approaches. With the increase in the number of delegations staying in the Universiade Village, this sculpture located across the street from the athletes' restaurant in the Universiade Village has become the first check-in choice for many athletes, so that in the communication of the village media personnel, it is considered the best random interview point in the village, of course, sometimes it is necessary to help the interviewee leave some photos in front of "Rong Bao" in return.
Long before coming to China and Chengdu, many people are already full of yearning for pandas, and in Chengdu Universiade Village, the ubiquitous panda elements also add many happy memories to people's trip to Chengdu.
Panda-shaped bean buns served at the window of the athletes' restaurant in Chengdu Universiade Village. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zheng Zhi
The athletes' restaurant in Dayun Village across the street from the "Rong Bao" sculpture has many categories such as Chinese cuisine, continental flavor, Asian flavor, etc., and in the staple food section of Chinese cuisine, the daily supply of panda-shaped bean buns and black sesame rice balls often become the first step for visitors from afar to explore Chinese cuisine.
A few days before the opening, in addition to the outdoor sculptures and canteens, many delegation members will choose to visit the licensed shops in the village, where there are a variety of "Rongbao" peripherals to choose from, whether it is a peach version of the key chain that can be squeezed in the hand to decompress, or a "face-changing" version of the ornament that can change the shape, it is difficult to return empty-handed from here.
The Universiade mascot "Rong Bao" dressed in a Sichuan opera face-changing costume was photographed on July 20. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Ling
Lucinda Susan of the Australian water polo team walked around with her teammates for nearly twenty minutes, and finally chose the rabbit version of "Rong Bao" wearing a rabbit-eared hat, because she "thought this shape was the most cute", and when everyone explained the source of this shape to her, she suddenly realized: "It turns out that this year is the year of the rabbit in China?" Then I know why this look! ”
Various areas such as the franchise shop are also reserved for each major event – the ideal place for the exchange of badges, and the panda-shaped badges are naturally also "hard currency" in the exchange process. However, since most of the "Rongbao" badges currently available in the village were purchased within 24 hours after they were put on the shelves in the store, there were also many "Bingdundun" badges "re-employment", and the charm of the previous top stream has not diminished in the slightest.
Susan (left) and her teammates show the Year of the Rabbit version of "Rongbao" that they just bought. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zheng Zhi
Susan said that although she has returned to the Year of the Rabbit version of "Rong Bao", she and her teammates will definitely have to see the real giant panda again. She said: "Although we are not sure what day it is, we will definitely go and sign up!" ”
Susan was talking about the 11 urban cultural experience sightseeing routes of this Universiade, under the theme of "Playing Chengdu in Comfort", these routes provided by the Universiade include Chengdu Museum-Wide and Narrow Alley Half-day Tour, Dujiangyan-Qingcheng Mountain Day Tour, etc., and of course, the National Treasure Fan Visit Tour - Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Half-day Tour. Members of the Chengdu Universiade delegation can make an appointment through the "Universiade" App and other methods.
Members of the foreign university student delegation consulted about the urban cultural experience sightseeing route activities in Chengdu Universiade Village. Photo courtesy of interviewee
The staff of the information office said that although the event will officially start on the 29th after the opening, many members of the delegation have already come to book the route, and more than 50% of them have chosen the half-day tour of the giant panda breeding research base. Coming to China from far away, many people are eager to see what they love and get to know better where they are. As Chidibere Ezeni, Secretary General of the Nigerian University Sports Association, said: "It will be a great event where we want to win medals, hug the panda and have a great time." Chengdu, here we come! ”
Source: Xinhua News Agency