On March 17, Pingtan Customs held an event - Customs Open Day. Preschoolers from Pingtan Second Experimental Kindergarten visited the Customs and began their journey of experiencing being "Little Customs and Quarantine Officers."

At the Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ) Center for Animals and Plants, the children were fascinated by the collection of animal specimens. The specimens include the largest land mammal in Asia - the Asian elephant; the world's largest member of the deer family - the moose; the world's biggest land carnivore - the polar bear, etc.

The exhibition hall features many educational short stories and interactive activities. The children experienced the thrill of watching lizards attacking toads, baboons stealing eggs, crocodiles ambushing greenhead ducks, etc. It's like taking a tour of the animal kingdom！

Wu Hongfei, vice principal of the kindergarten, said the children were very excited when they learned about the tour of the exhibition hall. It is the children's first time seeing specimens of invasive species. She also added that the children are interested in animals, and educational activities like this help expose them to biosecurity and endangered animal protection in a fun environment.

"I think the open day is meaningful. The children can get close to these specimens of wild animals. On the one hand, it broadens their horizons and lets them learn more about animals. On the other hand, it also raises awareness of protecting animals and the environment from an early age," said Ms. Qiu, a parent.

The exhibition hall covers an area of about 830 square meters, and is divided into five themed areas: Embarking on a Natural Journey, Discovering the Beauty of Nature, Understanding the Essence of Nature, Protecting the Natural Ecology, and Feeling the Charm of Nature. In addition to providing real-life experiences, the hall also features innovative interactive AR technology and immersive panoramic projection technology.

"Educating the public about biosecurity is crucial. To safeguard the national borders, we must start early," said Gong Wenbin, deputy head of Pingtan Customs. Gong added that the customs department will enrich the content of its activities and bring national biosecurity education to more schools to promote national security awareness to the younger generation.

Since the opening of the exhibition hall in Pingtan, there have been 179 batches of promotion of national biosecurity, with over 9,600 participants. It becomes a "must-visit" place for parents and students to explore biodiversity.

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