Oakland Panda-ring to China

Reader Gwen H. was nice enough to tip us off this morning to some recent developments in Oakland's hunt for the rare, endangered tourist magnet known as the Giant Panda. That's right, if you haven't been following the news, Oakland's struggle to join such illustrious centers of the world as San Diego, Atlanta, Memphis and Washington, D.C. has been the focus of Oakland Vice Mayor Harry Chang's political career since joining the city council, and it involves a mix of local boosterism and international intrigue.

Chang has just returned from a trip to Chengdu, Sichuan province, where he traveled with representatives from architecture firm Y.H. Lee Associates - who were there to examine the local panda research center as a model for a new center at the Oakland Zoo. The proposed timeline has the ground breaking for the center next March, completion in September and arrival of the honored guests in October, with a planned stay of ten years.

Oakland is considered the favorite in a race against Toronto and Las Vegas for what the Chinese government says will be the last pair of loaner pandas for North America. The local climate, the proximity of UC Davis leading veterinary program and the large Chinese-American community all make Oakland very attractive. Oakland is also looking to use the panda connection to foster business relationships with China and to expand tourist spending in the city - some estimates have thirty to fifty percent of all tourists to the Bay Area going to visit the pandas.

While SFist is much more attached to Orcas than pandas, we're all about currying favor with our executive editor. So cheers, Gothamist, hopefully you can come visit us next winter when the weather will be mild and the pandas will be ready for love.