Continued international integration of the post-Deng era (1990s on) transformed panda country. The specific site of the Wanglang reserve became a juncture where the local Baima villagers, international scientists, NGOs, and tourists (both foreign and domestic) competed to define the giant panda’s place in the environment and in China. Persistently pursuing its charter purposes as a scientific research base, the Wanglang reserve becomes a model and training station for wildlife monitoring and experimental conservation. One experiment, ecotourism has a dramatic impact on the area. The colorful ethnic character of the Baima people initially proved to be an asset to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) efforts to instigate tourism. The industry took on an identity independent of panda preservation, leading reserve staff to reemphasize Wanglang’s ties to science.