U.S. Zoo Welcomes First Pair of Chinese Pandas in 21 Years with Grand Ceremony
On August 8, the San Diego Zoo in California celebrated the arrival of two pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, from Sichuan, China. The ceremony marked the first time in 21 years that a pair of Chinese pandas has been sent to the U.S., attracting the attention of officials and a large crowd of excited onlookers. The event was further enlivened by traditional Chinese dance performances.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared August 8 as “Panda Day” for the state, highlighting the symbolic importance of welcoming the pandas. “This is about more than just welcoming these beautiful pandas. It’s about honoring our shared values and celebrating what unites us,” Newsom stated during the event.
San Diego Zoo staff described Yun Chuan, the male panda, as “gentle and lovable.” He was named after his grandmother, Bai Yun, one of the first pandas China loaned to San Diego. Xin Bao, a three-year-old female, is characterized as “introverted and gentle,” with her name meaning “a new treasure of prosperity and abundance.”
“We hope she brings good fortune to California and San Diego,” said Xie Feng, the Chinese Ambassador to the United States.
Many children were thrilled to meet the pandas, donning panda-shaped hats in their honor. “My kids only wanted to see two things in America: orcas and pandas. They are absolutely delighted,” said Swiss tourist Guillaume Courcoux.
In recent years, pandas that China had loaned to zoos in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Memphis were returned to China after their loan agreements were not renewed. However, during the November 2023 summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Xi announced that China would continue to loan pandas to the U.S.
In addition to the San Diego Zoo, Washington and San Francisco are also set to welcome Chinese pandas by 2025.
China’s “panda diplomacy” program began in 1972 when the first pair of pandas was sent to the U.S. following former President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to Beijing. Beijing considers pandas “diplomatic envoys” and often gifts or loans them to other countries as a way to strengthen bilateral relations.
