Weightlifting panda performs at Beijing State Circus.

(23 Oct 2001)
1. Wide of arena
2. Panda on bicycle rickshaw
3. Panda putting balls in basket ball hoop
4. Panda lifting weight
5. Woman kissing panda as he drinks from bottle
6. Various panda going down slide
7. Panda throwing away cans of soft drink
8. Panda on mini car
9. Panda playing trumpet on car
10. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Ding Shaoan, Panda Trainer
"To tame a panda, what kind of moves to teach the panda is not very important. The important thing is that we actually have very little knowledge about panda's habits and characteristics and this is the most tough job in our work."
11. Various panda lying in cage
STORYLINE:
A panda in China is attracting attention worldwide for his amazing performances in a Beijing circus.
But animal rights campaigners have spoken out, saying 16-year-old Yingying is being exploited.
His trainers, however, say Yingying is a natural showoff who loves performing.
A typical show has him lifting 'weights' - actually a fake dumbbell made from polystyrene, riding a specially made car, and even playing the trumpet.
And the organisers can't resist a swipe at imperialism - one act has Ying Ying refusing to drink foreign soft drinks, batting them away with his sharp claws.
Ying Ying started out in acrobatics at the tender age of one.
Now he's a star on the acrobatic circuit, with thousands attending this show in a Beijing Arena.
He was born in captivity in Sichuan in 1984, and still lives there when not touring with his considerable talents.

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