On March 23, the 3rd Panda Valley Alpine Rhododendron Meeting hosted by Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Sichuan Academy of Forestry, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, West Asia Alpine Botanical Garden, Chengdu Botanical Garden, and Dujiangyan Management and Protection Station of Giant Panda National Park, and hosted by Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, kicked off in Dujiangyan Panda Valley.
As one of the warm-up activities for the 2024 Chengdu World Horticultural Expo, this year's Panda Valley Alpine Rhododendron Festival will show the public a corner of the ecological charm of Chengdu Park City with the theme of "National Treasure Welcoming the World Garden, Enjoying the Rhododendron in the Hidden Valley", and contribute to the convening of the Chengdu World Horticultural Expo. At the same time, in order to promote communication and cooperation in the field of nature conservation education in Chengdu-Chongqing Shuangcheng, Chongqing Natural History Museum, Chongqing Jinfoshan National Nature Reserve Management Center, and Chongqing Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve Management Center were also invited to attend the opening ceremony.
At the opening ceremony, Xie Yuchang, Deputy Director of the Chengdu Administration Branch of the Giant Panda National Park, Gao Bichun, Director of the Chongqing Natural History Museum, and Hou Rong, Deputy Director of the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, delivered speeches respectively. After the opening ceremony, the guests went to Minjiang Avenue in Panda Valley and planted the lantana rhododendron that symbolizes hope and future in the cluster of alpine rhododendrons.
It is reported that the alpine rhododendron will last from March 23 to the end of May, during which in addition to seeing the magnificent alpine azaleas, the public can also participate in the "rolling with you to enjoy the azaleas" special check-in, giant panda and azalea photo competition, "I am friends with the giant panda" and other special theme activities.