50,000 visitors flock to Everland in 10 days to see baby panda Shubao

Some 50,000 visitors came to Panda World at Everland over 10 days to see baby panda Shubao, who made its public debut on Oct. 30, according to Samsung C&T, which operates the theme park's resort division.

Shubao is currently expanding its range of activity alongside its mother, Aibao, Samsung C&T said Tuesday. The cub met visitors for about one hour a day during its first week on display; that has since grown to three to four hours. Visitors have been actively sharing their experiences across social media and online communities.

Meanwhile, fans are also making their way to Panda Second House for a final farewell with twin pandas Ruibao and Huibao, who are scheduled to move to China during the third week of December. About 100,000 people visited in the roughly one month since the twins' departure date was announced.

The twin pandas will enter a pre-departure quarantine period of about one month beginning Friday, though they will continue to meet visitors on a limited basis through their final scheduled public appearance on Dec. 11. Guests have about one month left to see all five members of the panda family together at Everland — the twins, baby Shubao, mother Aibao and father Lebao.

Everland plans to run a range of online and offline programs during the remaining period so visitors can create lasting memories with the twins. On Wednesday and Thursday, a "Special Zookeeper Talk Concert" will be held at the Cafe Jungle Camp restaurant, where panda keepers Kang Cheol-won, Song Yeong-gwan, Lee Se-hyeon and Oh Seung-hui will share firsthand stories of raising the pandas.

A program called "Puruhushu Live" — featuring footage of the panda family, including Ruibao, Huibao, Shubao and Fubao — will run on a large LED screen at Four Seasons Garden through Dec. 11.

Everland will also release a special merchandise line themed "Ruibao & Huibao's Shining Graduation" on Nov. 20, including a graduation album, gowns and mortarboard hats, plush keyrings and bouquet dolls.

Special food and beverage offerings will also be available, including drinks and desserts celebrating the twins' new chapter, popcorn tins decorated with Ruibao and Huibao stickers, and dim sum designed in the pandas' signature black-and-white pattern.