Beaches in Hong Kong can get pretty crowded! For the latest leg of their year-long world tour, 1,600 papier-mache pandas created by French artist Paulo Grangeon are invading Hong Kong in June, causing a near meltdown on social media. Grangeon created the panda project in 2008 in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature to raise awareness of the endangered creatures. The sculptures represent the estimated 1,600 pandas that remain in the wild.
1,600 pandas hit the beach —
Beaches in Hong Kong can get pretty crowded! For the latest leg of their year-long world tour, 1,600 papier-mache pandas created by French artist Paulo Grangeon are invading Hong Kong in June, causing a near meltdown on social media. Grangeon created the panda project in 2008 in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature to raise awareness of the endangered creatures. The sculptures represent the estimated 1,600 pandas that remain in the wild.
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We'd prefer this scene over Mongkok's usual traffic any day.
Pandas stop traffic —
We'd prefer this scene over Mongkok's usual traffic any day.
Josephine Loo
The artist displays some of his pandas at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday, June 9.
Pandas flood the airport —
The artist displays some of his pandas at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday, June 9.
Vincent Yu/AP
In March, the pandas visit the main gate at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan. Grangeon also created 200 endangered Formosan black bears to join the pandas for the Taipei leg of the tour.
Pandas in Taiwan —
In March, the pandas visit the main gate at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan. Grangeon also created 200 endangered Formosan black bears to join the pandas for the Taipei leg of the tour.
Craig Ferguson/LightRocket via Getty Images/File
Pandas surround a paper green tree frog at the National Theater in Taipei in February.
Pandas go to the theater —
Pandas surround a paper green tree frog at the National Theater in Taipei in February.
Mandy Cheng/AFP/Getty Images/File
A tiger model joins the pandas in front of the Presidential Palace in Taipei in February.
Pandas at the palace —
A tiger model joins the pandas in front of the Presidential Palace in Taipei in February.
SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images/File
The panda sculptures appear to frolic in a marketplace in Bremen, Germany, in August 2013.
Pandas in Germany —
The panda sculptures appear to frolic in a marketplace in Bremen, Germany, in August 2013.
INGO WAGNER/AFP/Getty Images/File
The pandas fill a square near Lake Geneva in September 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the World Wildlife Fund. A panda appears on the conservation organization's logo.
Pandas at the party —
The pandas fill a square near Lake Geneva in September 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the World Wildlife Fund. A panda appears on the conservation organization's logo.
SEBASTIEN FEVAL/AFP/Getty Images/File
The papier-mâché pandas gather en masse near the Eiffel Tower in Paris in October 2008.
Pandas in Paris —
The papier-mâché pandas gather en masse near the Eiffel Tower in Paris in October 2008.
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images/File