Photo Book Reveals the Stories Behind China’s Giant Pandas

Oct 11, 2026

A young giant panda sits on a wooden surface, looking directly at the camera against a blurred green background. — Ya Jun (Grace） | Photo by Liu Mei

A stunning photo book explores the giant pandas of China and the country’s efforts to protect the endangered species.

Giant Panda: Portraits, Wild Habitats, and Untold Stories, published by ACC Art Books, features more than 80 photographs of the giant panda. Famous for its distinctive black-and-white coat, the giant panda is considered a national treasure in China and one of the most recognizable symbols of nature conservation worldwide.

A giant panda cub climbs a tree filled with blooming pink plum blossoms, holding a flower in its mouth. — Yun Duo (Cloud) | Photo by Li Wei

A giant panda sits reclined on a wooden log, holding a small piece of food in one paw with its mouth open. — Known as the little fairy of the giant panda world, Qiao Yi (Joey）| Photo by Li Wei

A giant panda cub peers through the branches of a tree filled with small, reddish-brown leaves and white blossoms. — The second cub born to Ge Ge (Princess) in 2015. | Photo by Li Wei

Giant Panda offers a visual and factual guide to China’s journey in panda conservation through a meticulously curated collection of photographs and texts drawn from interviews with experts, philanthropists and international partners. It traces the history of panda conservation in China and examines the scientific research and long-term efforts that have helped improve the species’ prospects.

A mother giant panda and her cub sit on a large rock, both eating bamboo stalks. — Yang Yan (Sunny) teaches her cub, Fu Long (Lucky Loong) how to eat bamboo | Photo provided by Schönbrunn Zoo, Austria

A young giant panda cub wearing a woven bamboo hat sits on a wooden log against a background of green trees and a blue sky. — A giant panda amuses itself by placing a bamboo-woven toy over its head | Photo by Li Wei

Seven giant panda cubs play in a grassy, wooded enclosure, with one cub climbing a tree trunk while others sit or lie on the ground. — Five-month-old panda cubs explore the nursery for the very first time | Photo by Luo Bo

The book also includes a chapter focused on individual pandas and their stories. It introduces Dai Li, a three-legged panda; follows Tao Tao as he learns to live independently in the wild; recounts how villagers in Foping helped save a young panda cub; and tells the story of the rescue of a panda named Qiao Yi.

A giant panda sits in front of bamboo branches, holding a thick, hollow piece of bamboo in its paws. — Xiang Xiang (Flora). Born at Ueno Zoo in June 2017 | Photo provided by Ueno Zoo, Japan

A close-up of a baby giant panda looking directly at the camera with its front paws raised to the sides of its head. — A three month old panda | Photo by Li Wei

Alongside the stories of individual pandas, the book describes the work of conservationists and the challenges involved in returning pandas to the wild. It uses the species’ history and conservation efforts to illustrate how sustained scientific research and long-term action can help protect endangered animals.

A close-up portrait of a giant panda against a dark background, with the text "Giant Panda: Portraits, Wild Habitats, and Untold Stories" below it.

The book also emphasizes the importance of international attention and cooperation in protecting biodiversity, endangered species, and their habitats.

Giant Panda: Portraits, Wild Habitats, and Untold Stories, is published by ACC Art Books. It is available to purchase here.

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