Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Slovenia mushroom foraging
Slovenia • 6 days, 5 nights
Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
LIGO Hanford Observatory
Clayton’s Tower as seen from Windmill Road.
Clayton’s Tower
Weird Museum for Boys and Girls
The northern portal
Kingsway Tramway Subway
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Caru' cu Bere
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Downtown Denver city skyline, cityscape of Colorado, USA
Obscura Day 2025: A Few Denver Gems
about 1 hour ago
A scenic overlook on Hamblen Island.
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Uncle Tim’s Bridge
about 15 hours ago
The Blue Ridge Parkway
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains
about 21 hours ago
Llogara National Park in Albanian Riviera
Obscura Day Summer 2025: A Solo Hike in Albania's Ceraunian Mountains
about 23 hours ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain Madrid Usera Panda Bear
AO Edited

Usera Panda Bear

This cuddly-looking statue symbolizes the bond between Spain and China.

Madrid, Spain

Added By
Javier Pascual Aguilar
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Behold, the ‘Estatua de Oso Panda.’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Behold, the ‘Estatua de Oso Panda.’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Follow the panda for some of the best Chinese diaspora food in Madrid.   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Usera’s panda is a symbol of friendship between nations.   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
This bamboo-muncher is a messenger of peace.   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
The panda has quickly become a local icon.   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

FOR YEARS, Madrileños in search of exceptional dim sum and duck have gone to Usera, a diverse neighborhood that functions as the cities unofficial Chinatown. Over time, all kinds of businesses with have flourished in the area, from Cantonese-style bakeries and hair salons to supermarkets and car repair shops.

The links between the city of Madrid and its ever-growing Chinese community became even stronger back in November 2022, when this statue dedicated to the panda bear was unveiled in Usera. While the Estatua de Oso Panda is not Madrid's first bear statue—El Oso y el Madroño (The Bear and the Strawberry Tree) remains quite popular—it quickly earned a place in the hears of locals.

The statue, which declares the panda bear as a messenger of peace, has become a symbol of the union between Usera and the Chinese diaspora community, which has been thriving for more than 30 years in this area. From the moment the statue was unveiled there was an element of controversy amongst some locals since the peace messages on the statue's pedestal were written only in English and Chinese and not in Spanish.

Related Tags

Bears Sculptures Public Art

Know Before You Go

How to get there: bus lines 6, 47 and 247. Metro stops: Usera (line 6) plus a 10-minute walk or Almedrales (line 3) plus a seven-minute walk.

Community Contributors

Added By

Xavixavir

Edited By

hrnick

  • hrnick

Published

November 10, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.publico.es/politica/oso-panda-chinatown-madrid-iniciativa-gobierno-chino-pp-vende-donacion-vecinos.html
  • https://www.telemadrid.es/programas/telenoticias-fin-de-semana/Un-oso-panda-el-nuevo-emblema-del-barrio-de-Usera-2-2502969690--20221105091028.html
  • https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/madrid/2022-10-30/un-oso-panda-como-animal-de-compania-en-el-pequeno-pekin-de-madrid-no-queremos-ser-un-zoo_3513664/
  • https://prensaldia.com/contenido/6772/usera-china-town-madrileno
Usera Panda Bear
Madrid, 28026
Spain
40.383232, -3.702837

Nearby Places

Obelisk of Arganzuela

Madrid, Spain

miles away

Planeta Arganzuela Mural

Madrid, Spain

miles away

La Tabacalera de Lavapiés

Madrid, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Madrid

Madrid

Spain

Places 123
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Obelisk of Arganzuela

Madrid, Spain

miles away

Planeta Arganzuela Mural

Madrid, Spain

miles away

La Tabacalera de Lavapiés

Madrid, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Madrid

Madrid

Spain

Places 123
Stories 2

Related Places

  • Grants Pass, Oregon

    Bear Hotel

    Dozens of whimsical bear statues "hibernate" here during the winter months.

  • “Sleeping Figure” stretches 150 feet end to end.

    Marfa, Texas

    ‘Sleeping Figure’

    Twelve decommissioned shipping containers evoke a reclining person in Marfa, Texas.

  • La Louvière, Belgium

    ‘La Grande Assiette Brisée’ (‘The Large Broken Plate’)

    This surprising work of art reminds us that La Louvière was once home to one of Europe’s most famous stoneware factories.

  • This scenic park on the shores of Lake Ontario is open 24/7.

    Toronto, Ontario

    Sundial Folly

    An enigmatic concrete structure in a lakeside Toronto park raises more questions than answers.

    Sponsored by Destination Toronto
  • A large sculpture in a field with a rainbow behind it.

    Chattanooga, Tennessee

    Sculpture Fields at Montague Park

    Stroll among more than 50 large-scale sculptures created by world-class artists.

    Sponsored by Chattanooga Tourism
  • All four ‘Tumblers on Life´s Path’ in order, left to right.

    Copenhagen, Denmark

    'Tumlinger på livets vej' ('Tumblers on Life's Path')

    Four whimsical figures make for an unexpected sight along an urban commuter route.

  • Custard apple, breadfruit, and soursop sculptures dedicated to the Caribbean diaspora in the UK.

    London, England

    Custard Apple, Breadfruit, and Soursop Sculptures

    These oversized fruit sculptures honor the contributions of the Windrush generation.

  • Hippos and mushrooms on display in Glenrothes.

    Glenrothes, Scotland

    Concrete Hippos of Glenrothes

    This town hosts 170 pieces of public art, including giant irises, flying saucers, and, famously, hippos.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.