First Panda cub born in Taiwan to make public debut

Yuan Zai, the first Taiwan-born baby panda, plays at the Taipei City Zoo in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, Jan. 4, 2013. Yuan Zai was unveiled to media on Saturday and will meet the public on Jan 6.

Yuan Zai, the first Taiwan-born baby panda, plays at the Taipei City Zoo in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, Jan. 4, 2013. Yuan Zai was unveiled to media on Saturday and will meet the public on Jan 6.

Yuan Zai, the first Taiwan-born baby panda, plays at the Taipei City Zoo in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, Jan. 4, 2013. Yuan Zai was unveiled to media on Saturday and will meet the public on Jan 6.

The first Taiwan-born baby panda met the media at the Taipei City Zoo. Thousands of people have also booked a 10-minute viewing of the cub when she goes on public display Monday.

Panda mania has reached its peak in Taipei.

20,000 visitors a day are expected to line up for a peak at Yuan Zai. She was born six months ago, weighing just 180 grams. She now tops the scales at close to 14 kilograms. Before her highly-anticipated public debut, the media was given a sneak peek during which she played for some 20 minutes, began to tire, and then fell sound asleep. Taipei Zoo says she sleeps most of the day, and the best time to visit is in the morning and afternoon.

5,000 group tickets for the first 10 days of viewing have already sold out. But individual tickets are still available. The zoo will allow 400 visitors into the Panda House every ten minutes and restrict the total number of visitors each day to no more than twenty thousand.

Yuan Zai's debut is good for business. Taipei city estimates the debut will generate spending worth some 16.6 million US dollars. More than 30 products have been licensed, including T-shirts, iPad covers, and toys, all bearing Yuan Zai's likeness.

Panda mania swept Taiwan after the cub was born on July 6. She was conceived through artificial insemination sessions after her parents - Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan - failed to do it naturally. Her parents were sent by the Chinese mainland in 2008.