Giant pandas have been around for more than eight million years, and in that time they've gone from elusive mountain dwellers to one of the world's most important symbols of nature conservation. They've also perfected the art of looking adorable while doing almost nothing, which certainly hasn't hurt their popularity.
A new photography book, "Giant Panda: Portraits, Wild Habitats, and Untold Stories", sets out to show what lies behind that famous face. Compiled by China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration and published by ACC Art Books, the 280-page hardcover features more than 80 photographs, alongside texts drawn from interviews with experts, philanthropists, and international partners. Some of the images are pure joy, like a panda that has decided a woven bamboo toy makes a perfectly good hat. Others follow the animals into the wild mountain habitats they call home.
Ahead of the book's release on November 10, 2026, we've gathered a selection of its photos below.
