U2panda
Sichuan · China
we go to pick you up from you hotel. (inside 3rd ring road free of charge) at 7:30am
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1U2panda
Welcome to one of Chengdu's most iconic and whimsical modern landmarks: the 'I Am Here' giant panda sculpture, popularly known as the climbing panda or U2panda. Created by the late American artist Lawrence Argent, this…
Listen in the app2The Ground Perspective — Scrambling Up the Skyline
From the bustling sidewalk of Hongxing Road, the perspective of the panda is purely athletic. You see the sheer scale of the 13-ton structure as it clings to the glass and steel facade of the mall. …
Listen in the app3The Rooftop Ascent — The 7th Floor Garden
To see the 'other half' of the story, we must take the elevators inside the IFS mall up to the 7th-floor Sculpture Garden. This is a transition from the noise of the shopping levels to an open-air sanctuary high above the city. …
Listen in the app4Lawrence Argent — The Visionary Behind the Panda
It is worth taking a moment to discuss the artist, Lawrence Argent, who sadly passed away in 2017. Argent was famous for creating large-scale animal sculptures that challenge our perceptions of scale and place—his most famous…
Listen in the app5The Construction — 4,000 Pieces of Steel
From a technical and engineering standpoint, the climbing panda is a feat of modern fabrication. Each of the thousands of stainless steel triangles was custom-cut and welded in a workshop before being transported to the site. …
Listen in the app6Chunxi Road — The Context of Chengdu's Fashion Hub
The panda does not exist in a vacuum; it is the crown jewel of the Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li commercial district. This is the fashion heart of Western China. …
Listen in the app7Global Icon — The Panda as Soft Power
Finally, let us consider the sculpture as a tool of 'Soft Power.' The giant panda is China’s most effective cultural ambassador, and Chengdu is its home. By placing a giant, friendly panda in the middle of its business district,…
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our time with the climbing panda, I hope you take away a sense of the joy and creative ambition that this sculpture represents. We have seen it from the street, where it appears to be a playful intruder, and from…
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What is U2panda?
U2panda is a place in Sichuan · China with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Sichuan · China |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 30.6163, 104.0702 |
| Last updated |