Work on rebuilding the Wolong China Coservation and Research Centre is expected to begin this spring. The centre will be moved from Hetaoping to close by Gengda.

The new centre will contain:
A laboratory covering 650 sq meters.
A panda hospital.
A training ground for preparing pandas born in captivity to live in the wild.
An environmental education centre.
A bamboo forest for feeding the captive pandas.

It is expected to cost 2 billion yuan with over 1.3 billion expected in aid from Hong Kong.

"The reconstruction can start in full swing this spring once Hong Kong's Legislative Council approves the program pertaining to 25 projects such as protecting pandas in the wild, panda research and a panda hospital, Zhang Hemin said.

The Sichuan provincial development and reform commission has approved the feasibility plan for the 25 projects.