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An Overview of Mascot Hopefuls for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
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Giant Panda
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| The giant panda, one of China's more well-known and loved animals, is a state protected (first class) animal. It inhabits the bamboo forest zones at 2,000-3,000 meters above sea level in north Sichuan Province, and south of Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. A wild giant panda's diet consists almost exclusively of young bamboo leaves. Its average life span is 35 years. |
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The Monkey King
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| The Monkey King, or Sun Wukong in Chinese, is the protagonist in the Chinese classic Pilgrimage to the West (also known as Journey to the West) written by Wu Cheng'en (1504-1582) during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Monkey King is described as a brave and quick-witted creature, humorous and charming, active and optimistic. To generations of Chinese literature readers, he embodies fun and heroism. |
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The Chinese Dragon
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| The image of the Chinese dragon, an animal of legend, originated from totem poles. Legend has it that many tribes settled along the Yellow River about 4,000 years ago, each having its own totem bearing the images of snakes, tigers, oxen, horses, tigers or deer. Over the years, the dragon grew to be regarded as the symbol of the Chinese nation, of holiness, auspiciousness and good luck. |
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The Rabbit King
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| In ancient times, the white rabbit was said to have been one of the first to fly to the moon. Way back when, rabbit figurines were typically sold on the streets of Beijing during the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the Ming Dynasty, clay figurines of rabbits were used when worshipping the moon.
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The South China Tiger
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| Endemic to China, the South China Tiger is one of the animals under first-class state protection. It is considered to be one of the three national treasures along with the giant panda and red ibis. An adult South China tiger can weigh up to 160 kg, and measure 1.5 meter in body. Its powerful tail averages a meter in length.
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David's Deer
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| The story of David's deer is one of survival. David's deer roamed freely in China up until the Zhou Dynasty (1100 BC - 256 BC) when their numbers began to dwindle. At the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), 120 David's deer were raised in an imperial hunting ground at Nanhaizi in south Beijing. But floods and an ensuing war resulted in their disappearance altogether.
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The Tibetan Antelope
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| Tibetan antelopes are unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and are often found on the alpine steppes of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai and Sichuan provinces, at altitudes of between 4,000 and 5,000 meters above sea level. Tibetan antelopes have grown accustomed to the extremely thin air and can clock speeds of 60km/h over distances between 70 to 100 km.
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The Golden Monkey
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| The golden monkey is one of the most beautiful and rare animals in the world. And, it is unique to China. The golden monkey has a soft pelt, a round head, short ears and a tail as long as or longer than its body length. A pair of bright and beautiful eyes sparkles on its azure-blue face. It has a small snub-nose and a sarcoma at the corner of its mouth, which becomes bigger and harder with time. Its long tresses resemble shiny, gold wool. |
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