The Valley of Peace serves as the main setting of the Kung Fu Panda franchise and the home of many of the franchise's characters, including Po, Shifu, and the Furious Five. The Valley's other inhabitants consist primarily of rabbits, pigs, geese, and ducks, although sheep and goats have also been seen at times.
Description[]
The Valley of Peace is an expansive mass of land located in China. The mountain-surrounded Valley hosts a varied landscape, ranging from sky-reaching mountain peaks to flat paddy fields. Rivers weave through the land, dividing it into several distinct villages, communities, and farming areas. Overlooking the Valley is the Jade Palace, a residence and training ground for kung fu masters and students that is accessible by a staircase that scales the cliff. Several villages scatter the Valley's floor, usually sporting small, similarly-constructed houses primarily made of stone and wood with metal roofs, built to accommodate the small sizes of most of the Valley's residents. It is mostly seen with its characteristic lush green plains and colorful trees, though snowfall does occur during the winter season.
History[]
Beginnings[]
The Valley of Peace was founded nearly a thousand years ago (prior to the events of the first film) by Master Oogway. After departing from his home in the Galápagos Islands, he went on a journey of discovery, traveling all around the world and visiting every country until he arrived in China. Oogway stood on a hill overlooking the Valley and knew that he had found the place he would call home for the rest of his life.
The third chapter of Legend of the Legendary Warrior describes how Oogway later observed the "plight of the oppressed" and wept into what is now known as the Pool of Sacred Tears. Wanting to protect those that were considered "soft and weak" from the "hard and strong", Oogway formed the self-defense system of kung fu as a force for good. He worked many years to perfect this system and help make the Valley a safe haven and a peaceful place to live. He helped to form the thousand-mile-long bridge that guarantees safe passage into the Valley, and admitted students under his instruction in learning the art of kung fu. At this time, with the Valley and its inhabitants now well protected, it is presumed that the Valley had thus been named the Valley of Peace.
In Kung Fu Panda[]
The Valley of Peace serves as the main setting for most of the movie's events — aside from those involving Tai Lung's escape from Chorh-Gom Prison, located in the snowy peaks of Mongolia. Tai Lung's defeat of the Furious Five at the Thread of Hope prompted the evacuation of the Valley, as the snow leopard was returning, putting the villagers in danger. The citizens soon returned to the Valley after they caught sight of the golden shock wave of the Wuxi Finger Hold from a distance. Though many buildings of the Valley had been damaged as a result, the villagers found Po, the newly-proclaimed Dragon Warrior, had defeated Tai Lung.