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This master’s thesis examines the intersection of tourism and cultural iconography through the case of the giant panda in China. It focuses on three main areas: (1) the panda as a modern Chinese icon, (2) tourism dynamics in China, and (3) tourists’ experiences at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (CRBGPB) and their attitudes towards pandas as a cultural icon. In order to do this, the current study explores differences and similarities between experiences and attitudes of Chinese and foreign student tourists at the CRBGPB. First, a literature review highlights the panda's symbolic role in Chinese and global contexts and its significance as a tourist attraction. Then, we report on six focus group interviews with three times six Chinese and three times six foreign students which informed the development of a self-administered questionnaire. The online survey was distributed via WeChat and yielded 85 useful responses. The collected data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests to assess subgroup heterogeneity between Chinese and foreign tourists. The analysis of the survey data reveals several key findings. On the one hand, both Chinese and foreign students reported generally similar experiences at the CRBGPB, including levels of satisfaction, educational value, and engagement with park amenities. This supports the hypothesis that park experiences are broadly comparable across these groups. On the other hand, differences emerged in the frequency of souvenir purchases, with Chinese students buying more souvenirs, while foreign students found the park more affordable. Social media significantly influenced the visiting decisions of Chinese students, particularly through platforms like Xiaohongshu and WeChat. Cultural perceptions of pandas also differed: Chinese students viewed pandas as national symbols, while foreign students appreciated them from a biodiversity conservation perspective. Language barriers significantly affected the experiences of foreign tourists, highlighting the importance of cultural values and motivations in shaping visitor experiences. Despite these differences, both groups expressed a similar level of concern for panda conservation, reflecting a shared appreciation for these efforts. Future intentions to visit and engage with panda-related activities were consistent across both groups, indicating a unified commitment to panda conservation. This research underscores the multifaceted nature of the tourism experience at the CRBGPB, influenced by cultural, economic, and social factors, and highlights the giant panda's role as a significant cultural and touristic icon.

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Abstract Taiwan has been grappling with persistently low fertility rates, positioning it among countries withdeclining population growth. As a result, the size of its population is projected to have significant implications, particularly in terms of economic growth challenges. This study examines the implications of declining fertility rates on Taiwan's economic growth. Through a mixed methods analysis, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, we aim to quantify the impact of fertility decline on the country's economic prospects and gain insights into the intentions and obstacles faced by Taiwanesewomen regarding fertility decisions.The findings show that first, Taiwan is projected to experience a working age group shrinkage of approximately 70 million individuals (about twice the population of California) by the year 2052. This decline can be attributed to the ongoing decrease in fertility rates and the simultaneous increase in life expectancy, leading to an aging population phenomenon by 2052. The economic implications of this population shift are notable, with a shrinking skilled labor group resulting in reduced human capital for economic growth. The availability of skilled workers may decline, impacting production capacity, consumption patterns, and overall economic performance. Second, the survey data and interview findings revealed that a significant portion of the respondents had not yet embarked on parenthood, and among them, some were still single. Among those who had children, a significant proportion expressed a lack of willingness to have additional children. Third, balancing education, career aspirations, and childcare responsibilities emerged as major challenges. The demanding work culture, long working hours, and traditional gender roles limiting male involvement in childcare were identified as significant factors influencing childbearing decisions. The financial burden associated with raising children and rising living costs also played a role in shaping fertility intentions. Addressing these challenges and creating a supportive environment for women in terms of work-life balance, gender roles, and financial stability is crucial to promote sustainable fertility rates and mitigate the potential demographic consequences outlined in our projections. By understanding the complex dynamics affecting fertility decisions, policymakers and stakeholders can work towards developing effective strategies to ensure Taiwan's future demographic and economic well-being.

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English abstract While the People’s Republic of China in 2011 imported 80% of all Sudanese oil and developed a complete oil industry in the Republic of the Sudan, Sudan itself over the past decades has struggled to establish political stability. Against this context, this study investigates the following research question: is there a relationship between China’s economic engagement and political stability in Sudan? The study does so by conducting a series of linear regression analyses correlating measures of political stability with economic relations with China for a sample of oil exporting African countries. The analysis utilises two political stability indicators and three economic indicators: the ‘political stability’ dimension of the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and five aggregated datasets of the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). The three economic indicators consist of oil exports to China as measured by the United Nations Comtrade database, Chinese loans measured by the Boston University Chinese Loans to African countries (CLA) dataset and Chinese expenditures on development finance measured by the AidData – Global Chinese Development Finance (CDF) dataset. Prior to the analyses, a literature study frames the context in which Sino-Sudanese relations have developed. It addresses China’s foreign policies that lie at the basis of the People’s Republic of China’s economic engagements in the Global South over the past 30 years: the Going Out policy and the Belt and Road Initiative. The place of the non-interference principle in China’s approach to the Global South is also briefly addressed. Next, it addresses Sudan’s conflict-struck history and oil as the engine behind its economy, and as a point of contention. Lastly, by connecting the histories of both countries, relevant economic engagements are identified and lead to the three economic indicators utilised. The study finds evidence indicating significant bivariate correlations between the political stability of African countries and exports of crude petroleum to China, as well as the annual frequency of Chinese development finance. Chinese loans, however, are not found to be significantly correlated with political stability. In addition, we find that past oil trade flows are strong predictors of current oil trade, but we detect no such evidence of autoregressive correlations for loans and development finance. While the political stability of a country is a relatively strong correlate of oil trade, its correlation with loans and development finance is much weaker. We also find that African countries to a certain degree are substitutes for oil exports to China, Chinese loans and development finance. The findings support the suspicion that China’s non-interference principle does not imply immunity to political instability.