On August 8, 2024, the San Diego Zoo in California held a grand opening ceremony for its new giant panda exhibit, marking the official debut of giant pandas “Yun Chuan” and “Xin Bao” to the public.
Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., Xie Feng, congratulated California panda enthusiasts on realizing their dream, stating, “We hope the arrival of the giant pandas will inject new vitality into California’s exchanges with China and help stabilize and develop Sino-U.S. relations.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared August 8, 2024, as “California Panda Day” and posted multiple updates on social media, calling the pandas “so cute.”
The New Home of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao
As the first pair of giant pandas to come to the U.S. in over 20 years, “Yun Chuan” and “Xin Bao” arrived safely at the San Diego Zoo on June 27, 2024.
“Yun Chuan” is a male born on July 28, 2019, and “Xin Bao” is a female born on July 23, 2020.
Paul Baribault, President and CEO of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, warmly welcomed “Yun Chuan” and “Xin Bao,” noting that the zoo has prepared a comfortable new home for them and is committed to ensuring their healthy growth.
The San Diego Zoo, one of the most visited zoos in the U.S., is also the first institution in the country to collaborate with China on giant panda research.
The new panda exhibit, “Panda Ridge,” was built on the existing giant panda habitat at the San Diego Zoo and involved technical guidance from a team of Chinese experts. The design of “Panda Ridge” was inspired by the landscapes and geographical features of Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi provinces, combined with the geographic characteristics of San Diego to simulate the pandas’ natural environment.
According to the zoo, “This innovative space is four times larger than the zoo’s previous giant panda habitat.”
California Panda Day
To celebrate the arrival of “Yun Chuan” and “Xin Bao,” Governor Newsom announced August 8 as “California Panda Day” in a statement released on August 7.
In the statement, Newsom highlighted that the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is the first organization in the U.S. to establish a giant panda conservation project. He expressed hope that this latest pair of pandas, as “ambassadors of friendship,” would further promote exchanges and cooperation.
Newsom also posted several messages on social media, expressing his affection for the pandas. He wrote, “The San Diego Zoo has officially welcomed the first pair of giant pandas to the U.S. in over 20 years. You won’t want to miss this!” He also reminded followers, “Get ready, tomorrow (August 8) is ‘Panda Day’!”
In another post, Newsom praised, “We all agree, they are truly adorable. Come and meet Xin Bao!”
Many visitors shared their excitement and delight about the pandas’ arrival at the San Diego Zoo. Swiss tourist Kurkukus specifically traveled with his family to the zoo, saying, “My children now only want to see two animals in the U.S.: orcas and giant pandas. They are truly unforgettable.”
David from Michigan told Reuters, “I had never seen a giant panda before, only on TV and nature documentaries. They are super cute. Even though they just lazily wander around, it’s incredibly charming.”
AFP noted that the two pandas from afar have now become “undeniable superstars” at the San Diego Zoo.
Sino-U.S. Giant Panda Conservation Collaboration
On August 8, during the grand opening of the new panda exhibit, Ambassador Xie Feng remarked that the story of Sino-U.S. giant panda conservation collaboration is a vivid example of mutual affection and understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
Xie Feng recalled that before the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S., the first pair of giant pandas arrived on the other side of the ocean with President Nixon’s “ice-breaking trip,” sparking American interest and admiration for China. The iPanda platform, created by the China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center, offers a 24-hour giant panda live stream with over 27 million fans.
Xie Feng also mentioned that many Americans visit China annually to see pandas that have returned to China, calling themselves “panda nannies,” and that even an 80-year-old American raised funds to support Chinese researchers in the field.
He highlighted that California not only warmly welcomes giant pandas but also leads in friendly exchanges and practical cooperation with China. California is China’s largest trade partner in the U.S., with trade exceeding $137 billion in 2023, and the largest overseas tourism market for California. It is also one of the primary settlements for Chinese Americans and international students in the U.S., with friendly provinces and cities in China.
“We hope the arrival of the giant pandas will inject new vitality into California’s exchanges with China and support the stable development of Sino-U.S. relations,” Xie Feng concluded.
