On February 16, 2023, the old man who had been protecting the giant pandas all his life passed away at the age of 94. Hu Jinchu, born in Kaijiang, Sichuan province in1929, was internationally recognized as the founder of ecological research of the giant pandas. He was also known as the "first person in the study of giant pandas in China" and "Panda Papa". 

Xu organized and led China's first giant panda survey, and established the world's first field eclogical observation station. He had also conducted field investigation and research on giant pandas in Tangjiahe many times. He was the first director of China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, and he was also an iconic figure in the giant panda research in China and the world as well.