Ocean Park relaxes entry rules for meeting panda cubs

Ocean Park announced Thursday that visitors will no longer need timed tickets to see Hong Kong's beloved giant panda twins starting next week, marking a new phase in the cubs' development.

The nine-month-old siblings, nicknamed “Elder Sister” and “Little Brother,” can now be visited by queuing directly outside the "Giant Panda Adventure." 

The park is simultaneously expanding the habitat by opening an adjacent hillside area to all three pandas - the twins and their mother Ying Ying.

This enriched environment, featuring slopes, trees and rock formations, allows the cubs to develop essential skills under their mother's watchful eye and caretakers' guidance.

During a recent media preview, the curious twins were seen enthusiastically exploring their new territory - climbing onto their mother's wooden platform, sniffing vegetation, and even successfully scaling her favorite tree for a nap.

Weighing over 21kg each, the cubs still rely on milk but have begun mimicking Ying Ying's bamboo-eating behavior, though park veterinarians note they haven't yet mastered chewing the tough leaves.