10 Things to Know About the Pandas at the National Zoo

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When I was a kid growing up in the Washington, D.C., area, it was always a big treat to visit the National Zoo pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, on school field trips or with my parents. This was back in the ’80s, and the pair were the original giant pandas gifted to President Richard Nixon as part of what has become known as “panda diplomacy.”

Flash-forward to 2018, and it was my turn to introduce my two kids to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, the giant pandas that China loaned to the United States shortly after the passing of the original pair. We all watched as the black-and-white cuddly bears, along with their cub, Bei-Bei, munched on bamboowith the same delight I remember experiencing as a child. (That’s a photo, above, of one of the three pandas we saw that day.) When it was announced in 2023 that the loan was ending and the three pandas would be returned, I had hoped to get in one more visit. Unfortunately, China reclaimed them quicker than I had expected, and we missed our chance.

But today, the National Zoo welcomed a new pair of pandas, which is fantastic news for me and the millions of other panda lovers out there. Read on for 10 things to know about giant pandas returning to the National Zoo.

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Fun facts about the National Zoo pandas

10 Things To Know About The Pandas At The National Zoo

  1. On Oct. 15, the new pandas, Qing Bao and Bao Li, arrived at the National Zoo.
  2. They were flown to Dulles Airport in Virginia via FedEx on a flight nicknamed the Panda Express before making their way to the zoo, about 25 miles away.
  3. The National Zoo pandas were born at a research facility in Dujiangyan, China.
  4. The duo traveled with zoo experts, veterinarians and ample supplies of specially prepared meals of bamboo, Chinese cornbread and carrots.
  5. The hopes are that the 3-year-old giant pandas, Qing Bao and Bao Li (a female and male, respectively), will mate and produce offspring to increase the number of pandas in the world.
  6. Qina Baos name translates togreen treasure, while Bao Li’s means precious vigor.
  7. Dont rush to the National Zoo just yet in hopes of catching a glimpse of the new pandas. They will quarantine for at least 30 days before being introduced to visitors.
  8. While entrance to the zoo, which is part of the Smithsonian, is free, you do need to request a ticket ahead of time.
  9. The pandas are on loan for a decade, so you have 10 years to plan your trip.
  10. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, commented on the loan in an email to the Associated Press: The current round of cooperation will focus on prevention and treatment of major diseases, and protection of habitats and wild giant panda populations. We hope the arrival of the pandas will inject fresh impetus into exchanges between China and the U.S., and help to stabilize the broader bilateral relationship as well.

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Sources:

  • AP News: “Pandas arrive in the US. Next stop is the National Zoo”
  • Smithsonian: “The History of Giant Pandas at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute”
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