Once overlooked in Chinese culture, the panda has transformed into a defining national symbol. The article explores the history of the creature, noting that fossils have been found across China, some dating back millions of years.

Once a neglected figure in ancient China’s folklore, literature and artefacts, the panda has become a national treasure and a defining symbol of the modern nation. How did this black-and-white creature, long overlooked, come to occupy such an iconic place in a country’s cultural imagination? Palaeontologists have discovered panda fossils across China, some dating back eight to nine million years. According to early human scholar Wei Guangbiao, many of these ancient specimens show butchery...