People visit a panda-themed interactive zone at the 32nd Doha International Book Fair in Doha, Qatar, June 12, 2023. A total of 500 publishers from about 37 countries are participating in this year's Doha International Book Fair which runs until June 21, according to the state Qatar News Agency. (Photo by Wang Qiang/Xinhua)
DOHA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A panda-themed interactive zone set up as part of the 32nd Doha International Book Fair that opened on Monday at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center attracted crowds of visitors, especially families with children.
"Our facility is primarily designed for families with young children. Therefore, we have arranged painting activities and multimedia interactive experiences to help them learn about pandas," a staff member at the interactive zone, who only identified himself as Awad, told Xinhua.
Two giant pandas, three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing, arrived in Doha in October last year under the first giant panda cooperation program between China and the Middle East region. Born in a panda base in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the two pandas are now living in the Panda House at Al Khor Park, 35 km away from the Qatari capital.
A parent who brought his three-year-old child to the panda-themed interactive zone expressed his surprise at the establishment of the zone at the book fair compound.
"I didn't expect the book fair to have such an area. It's perfect for young children. We are planning to visit the Panda House to see the giant pandas personally this weekend," said the father who identified himself as Saeed.
A total of 500 publishers from about 37 countries are participating in this year's Doha International Book Fair which runs until June 21, according to the state Qatar News Agency. ■