China builds panda-themed library

CHENGDU -- Construction of a panda-themed library started Tuesday in Southwest China's Sichuan province, home of the endangered bears.

The library, located at the Chengdu Panda Road Primary School in the provincial capital of Chengdu, is expected to open next year.

With a planned area of around 1,000 square meters, the facility is able to house tens of thousands of books and audio and video files on giant pandas in different languages, according to principal Zhang Mingrong.

The idea of the library came from several third-graders at the school and was later approved by the local government.

The display area will be divided into zones for Asia, Europe, America, Africa and Oceania based on where the files come from, Zhang said.

The library issued letters Tuesday to potential donors of books and files, including panda-loving groups and individuals and wildlife conservation organizations worldwide.

The library will be free to visitors and its collection will be digitalized and open to global netizens.

China had 1,864 giant pandas in the wild at the end of 2015, up from about 1,100 in 2000. There are also 422 animals in captivity, according to China's State Forestry Administration.