Photography competition raises awareness of panda conservati

An international photography competition on China's panda conservation and research efforts kicked off in Sichuan province from May 6 and will last to Nov 6.

Organized by the China Conservation and Research center for the Giant Panda and Jiuzhaigou county government in Sichuan, it will offer prize money totaling 200,000 yuan ($28,977).

Prize-winning works will be shown in different parts of the world and the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, said Zhang Hemin, executive director of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.

Organizers of the competition, which is aimed at drawing more people to panda conservation, welcome photographers from around the world to take photos of China's nature reserves that are dedicated to panda conservation, panda bases and Jiuzhaigou, a scenic spot on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, scientific and Cultural Organization.

Jiuzhaigou has been chosen as a site for photographers to take photos because it is home to dozens of pandas, according to Luo Zhibo, Party chief of Jiuzhaigou county.