Making an animal attraction

Chapter 2 explores the capitalization of the giant panda as a means of production within the framework of attraction, focusing on the transformation of the Chinese community from being largely insensitive to becoming highly engaged with the panda’s appeal. This chapter argues that the giant panda’s allure is not an inherent or natural trait of the animal but rather a product of its gradual integration into the evolving structures of zoo attractions within capitalist relations. At this early stage, this transformation relied on the exploitation of both the labor of the giant panda and the Chinese community. Using a children’s story about the giant panda by Chinese writer Chiang Yee, I demonstrate how the panda’s evolution into a zoo attraction in Western zoos reflected the Chinese people’s adaptation to the demands of a capitalist industry dominated by Western imperialism.