China has begun to build a fourth giant panda breeding base in northwestern Shaanxi Province. The centre is expected to bring at least an additional eight cubs in to the world each year.

The Qinling giant panda breeding base will cover 287 hectares and cost around 70 million yuan (10.2 million U.S. dollars)

The base will have eight breeding pens, and will start with 22 pandas with that total expected to reach 40 with in a couple of years.

The other breeding bases are at Chengdu, Beijing zoo and the world famous Wolong Nature Reserve (Bifengxia and the destroyed Wolong base)