Best Wishes for Giant Panda “Hua Ao” on His 17th Birthday at Jinan Zoo

On July 14th, the giant panda “Hua Ao (华奥)” celebrated his 17th birthday. Jinan Zoo hosted a special birthday party for this adorable and reserved “young man.”

The birthday celebration was lively and festive. A display board featuring “Hua Ao” welcomed guests outside the giant panda exhibit. The venue was decorated with a charming “Bamboo Love for You” bamboo birthday display and a flower-covered sign-in table, creating a warm and creative atmosphere. Fans who came to celebrate wrote their heartfelt wishes for the birthday panda on the wish wall. The joyful and cheerful atmosphere at the entrance hinted that this would be an unforgettable birthday celebration.

Inside the “Hua Ao” exhibition hall, staff had prepared a bamboo-covered perch and a special hometown treat for the panda—Sichuan-style hotpot. The hotpot was set up in bamboo tubes, with heart-shaped carrot slices on top, bamboo shoots placed inside the bamboo tubes, and decorated with bamboo leaves. Though not the classic spicy hotpot, it was made with love. To match the grandeur of the national treasure, the hotpot was adorned with roses and winter melon for a refreshing and eco-friendly touch. Hua Ao made a wish, sat gracefully, and enjoyed the delicious hometown food, eating bamboo shoots happily before tipping over the hotpot and switching to “foodie mode.”

In addition to the cake, the birthday party featured a “Science Fun Spin” where students from Jinan Tourism School brought homemade and hand-painted panda fans to cool down the summer heat for the visitors.