Yu Bao is not your average panda (渝宝/Yubao) – he’s the “Prince of the Chongqing Zoo,” with long legs that make him stand out in the most elegant way. His unique eating habits and love for watermelon make him a true foodie, while his charming personality quickly captured the hearts of many. With his royal title and viral stance, Yu Bao is truly the supreme treasure, and once you get to know him, you’ll see why!
Basic Information
- Name: Yu Bao (渝宝)
- Meaning of the Name: Treasure of CHongqing
- Gender: Male
- Lineage Number: 1011
- Date of Birth: July 11, 2016
- Place of Birth: Chongqing Zoo
- Mother: Lan Xiang (兰香)
- Father: Wu Yang (武阳)
- Twin Sister: Yu Bei (渝贝)
- Siblinigs: Shuang Shuang (双双), Chong Chong (重重)
Intriguing Details of Panda Yu Bao
Naming Process: On March 18, 2017, the Chongqing Zoo held a naming ceremony for several giant panda cubs. Through an online submission and voting process, the public participated in naming three cubs, including Yu Bao, Yu Bei, and Liang Yue (良月). His name, combined with his sister’s name, means “the supreme treasure.”
Appearance: Yu Bao’s strikingly long legs have become a defining feature, especially when he stands upright to eat fruit. This unique posture has challenged traditional perceptions of giant pandas and quickly went viral on the internet, with many users expressing their admiration for Yu Bao’s elegant stance.
Unique Status: The arrival of Yu Bao broke the long-standing absence of a male giant panda at Chongqing Zoo. From the moment he was born, he became the center of attention and was dubbed the “Prince of the Zoo.”
Foodie: Yu Bao is known for his unique talent of “skewering” food. Like a person, he uses his teeth to pull fruits and vegetables off bamboo sticks and slowly enjoys them. He is especially fond of watermelon, but interestingly, he only eats the pulp and never the rind. Netizens have speculated that this habit might have been learned from his nanny. Additionally, Yu Bao shows incredible patience when it comes to food. When presented with a bunch of sugar-coated hawthorn fruit skewers, Yu Bao can first eat half an hour’s worth of bamboo before slowly savoring the sugar-coated treats.
Living Alone: As a cub, Yu Bao lived harmoniously with his sister, Yu Bei, and his aunt, Liang Yue. However, as he grew older, Yu Bao’s territorial instincts began to develop, leading to conflicts with his sister and aunt. As a result, Yu Bao eventually moved into a solo enclosure, fulfilling his wish for his own space.
