For 32 years, he has spent almost every moment – day and night – with pandas. He is Zhang Naicheng, director and caretaker of the panda pavilion at Chongqing Zoo. His lifelong dedication has earned him the title of “Panda Dad,” setting multiple world records. Recently, he was selected as a nominee for “China’s Good People” in the first quarter of 2025, representing Chongqing.
A Humble Beginning
In the summer of 1992, at the age of 18, Zhang Naicheng traveled from Lianyungang, Jiangsu, to Chongqing for work. His first job at the zoo involved moving ice, chopping bamboo, and cleaning enclosures. The moment he saw a real panda for the first time, he was deeply fascinated. “I instantly loved them,” he recalled, dreaming of one day feeding a panda himself.
Thanks to his hard work and dedication, a year later, an experienced caretaker told him: “Why don’t you try feeding Feifei?” Zhang was shocked and overjoyed. He vividly remembers the moment he handed bamboo to Feifei for the first time.
Mastering Panda Care
Determined to learn more, Zhang carefully observed pandas during the day and studied at night. In one unfortunate event, pandas Xixi and Feifei gave birth to twin cubs, but due to a lack of experience, the cubs did not survive. This painful loss pushed Zhang to devote himself to panda breeding techniques, realizing that each panda is unique and cannot be cared for with a one-size-fits-all approach.
Later, Zhang became the exclusive caretaker of a wild-born panda named Xinxing. When Xinxing became pregnant for the first time, Zhang monitored her for seven consecutive days and nights to ensure the cub’s survival. Under his care, Xinxing became a legendary “hero mother,” successfully giving birth to six litters with 10 cubs, of which seven survived. At the age of 20, she miraculously gave birth to twins, an unprecedented achievement at the time.
On December 8, 2020, at 38 years and 4 months old, Xinxing passed away – equivalent to 120 human years. She set the world record for the longest lifespan of a captive panda.
A Lifetime Dedication
Even after becoming director of the panda pavilion, Zhang chose to live at the zoo. “Nighttime is critical. If I’m not on duty, I worry,” he said. Every night at 8 p.m., pandas get hungry, and their weight directly affects their ability to reproduce. Zhang personally ensures they receive a late-night meal, finishing around 11 p.m., and wakes up at 6 a.m. the next day to prepare their food again.
For 32 years, Zhang has rarely left the panda pavilion. He has written over one million words of panda journals, meticulously documenting their daily lives. Under his management, the panda population at Chongqing Zoo grew from 4 to 23, making it the largest collection of pandas in any urban zoo worldwide.
As retirement approaches, Zhang is now focused on training the next generation, passing on his experience and insights. “Being a Panda Dad is the greatest pride of my life,” he says with a smile.