The 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar is in full swing. China did not make it to this mega sporting event, but to celebrate the World Cup together, it also sent a special “team” to Qatar-two giant pandas, named Jing Jing and Si Hai.
Giant pandas are the national treasure of China. Jing Jing and Si Hai are the first pair of pandas to travel to the Middle East, and these two are expected to remain in Qatar for 15 years. Fans who travel to Qatar to watch the World Cup can catch a glimpse of the cute pandas from China.
shì jiè bēi
世界杯
World Cup
shì jiè bēi yǒu sān shí èr zhǐ qiú duì cān jiā.
世界杯有三十二支球队参加。
There are 32 teams participating in the World Cup.
wǒ qù kǎ tǎ ěr kàn shì jiè bēi.
我去卡塔尔看世界杯。
I went to Qatar to watch the World Cup.
dà xióng māo
大熊猫
Pandas
dà xióng māo shì zhōng guó de guó bǎo.
大熊猫是中国的国宝。
Giant pandas are the national treasure of China.
nǐ jiàn guò dà xióng māo mɑ.
你见过大熊猫吗？
Have you ever seen a giant panda？
Qatar is located in the desert, which is far from suitable for pandas. To welcome these two cute creatures, locals spent a fortune to build them a park the size of an airfield with a hot spring pool and swimming pool, replicating the environment the pandas need to survive.
wēn quán
温泉
Hot spring
kǎ tǎ ěr de xióng māo gōng yuán yǒu wēn quán .
卡塔尔的熊猫公园有温泉。
The Panda Park in Qatar has a hot spring swimming pool.
dà xióng māo yě xǐ huan pào wēn quán .
大熊猫也喜欢泡温泉。
Giant pandas also like to bathe in hot springs.
shā mò
沙漠
Deser
kǎ tǎ ěr shì shā mò guó jiā.
卡塔尔是沙漠国家。
Qatar is a desert country.
shā mò gān hàn quē shuǐ.
沙漠干旱缺水。
Deserts are arid and water-stressed.
Out of love for the pandas, Qatar named Jingjing and Sihai “Suhail” and “Thuraya” in Arabic. In traditional Arab culture, “Suhail” and “Thuraya” are the two stars in the sky, representing good fortune, nobility and infinite value.
In addition to “Team Panda”, there are other Chinese elements in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. What else does this global sporting event have to offer? Please let us know in the comments!
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