Superstar panda Shu Bao draws 50,000 visitors in first 10 days

Everland's Panda World has drawn 50,000 visitors in the 10 days since the youngest panda, Shu Bao, made its public debut — with fans of the outgoing twin pandas Rui Bao and Hui Bao also flocking in ahead of their December transfer to China, kicking off a month-long generational transition.

Samsung C&T's resort division said Tuesday that 50,000 people visited Panda World in the 10 days following Shu Bao's public debut on Oct. 30.

Viewing hours for Shu Bao have expanded from about one hour a day during the first week of its public debut to three to four hours a day currently.

Online, visitors have been actively sharing photos and videos along with reviews — one popular comment described Shu Bao as looking "like a stuffed animal that learned to walk."

The debut has also renewed interest in twin pandas Rui Bao and Hui Bao, who are set to move to China in the third week of December. About 100,000 people visited the pandas' secondary habitat in the month following the announcement of their transfer schedule.

The twins will enter a pre-departure quarantine period starting Wednesday for about a month, with limited public appearances continuing through their final viewing day on Dec. 11. That leaves roughly one month during which all five members of the Bao family can be seen at the same time.

Everland will hold farewell events through Dec. 11. On Wednesday and Thursday, a talk concert featuring zookeepers Kang Cheol-won, Song Young-kwan, Lee Se-hyeon and Oh Seung-hee will be held at the Cafe Jungle Camp restaurant. A panda family video screening called "Puru Hushu Live" will also run on the large screen at Four Seasons Garden.

Alongside this, graduation-themed commemorative products — including a graduation album, gown and mortarboard, plush keyrings and bouquet dolls — under the theme "Rui & Hui's Shining Graduation" will go on sale Nov. 20. A nationwide stamp reward giveaway and special menu items will follow on a rolling basis.

Meanwhile, two photo essay books by zookeeper Song Young-kwan and Everland photographer Ryu Jeong-hun ranked among the top titles on major online bookstores in real time on the day pre-orders opened Nov. 3.