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8 WINTER 2015 NailSTylE gelish.com Featurestory PaNda ambaSSadoRS native only to China, pandas are a natural treasure to their homeland in more ways than one. the idea of panda diplomacy – China loaning pandas to other nations as a gesture of goodwill – is a centuries-old tradition. in fact, when China fnally opened its doors to the west after President nixon's historic visit to the People's republic of China in 1972, it was with two pandas gifted to the u.s., Ling-Ling and hsing-hsing, who then resided in the national Zoo in washington, d.C., for many years. these days, pandas found in zoos around the world are actually "leased" from China and any panda cubs born in captivity are also considered the property of China. Pandas are an endangered species – there are fewer than 2000 left in the wild. blaCK & WhITE WITh a ColoRful SToRy wild pandas are native only to China, and live in cool, dense, wet bamboo forests in the country's western central mountains. Bamboo comprises 99% of a wild panda's diet (26 - 84 pounds of it per day!). Although pandas are bears, they do not hibernate. Most of their day is spent looking for food and eating (it takes a lot of time to eat that much bamboo); resting and sleeping fll the remaining hours. paNda L ve they're adorable – and adored. Cuddly and big- eyed, they are the star attraction of any zoo they live in. Plus, they wear classic black and white, a combination that is so Coco Chanel. It's no wonder why pandas have found their way into our hearts. But beyond that outer beauty – because it's never just about outer beauty – pandas are both a historic and cultural touchstone. From diplomacy to pop culture to a billion-dollar-plus movie franchise, pandas represent a lot of good things to all of us. It's as clear as black and white. if there's any doubt about the panda's popularity in today's pop culture, just take a look at hashtag the Panda, Jimmy Fallon's furry, funny mascot on late-night tV. hashtag really knows how to bust a move, causing audiences to go wild each time he appears. A constant ball of off-the-wall antics, hashtag the Panda is a star. talk about utter panda-monium. PoP! Goes the Panda