To celebrate the birthday of the twin pandas “Qi Qiao” and “Qi Xi,” Lv Yantao woke up two hours earlier than usual. On the morning of the 10th, she quickly got ready and eagerly headed to the Panda Pavilion at the Ordos Wild Animal Park in Inner Mongolia to visit her “two furry kids.”
After confirming that everything was in order inside the pandas’ “villa,” Lv Yantao began preparing the birthday cake and gifts for “the two furry kids.” She felt a deep sense of solemnity, noting that “eight years have flown by, and a 10th birthday for pandas must be celebrated with a sense of ritual.”
She explained that the twin giant pandas were named “Qi Qiao” and “Qi Xi” because they were born on China’s Qixi Festival. The keepers chose the name “Qi Qiao” for the sister, referring to the tradition of needle-threading during the festival, and “Qi Xi” for the sister, a homophone for the festival’s name. “August 10th happens to be Qixi Festival in China, making everything perfectly coincidental.”
In 2016, the two-year-old pandas “Qi Qiao” and “Qi Xi” were transferred from the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center to the Ordos Wild Animal Park. As keepers at the park, Lv Yantao and her team took on roles as “nannies,” “daddies,” “foster parents,” and “mothers” for the pandas.
During their eight years together, Lv Yantao said, “Even though pandas cannot talk, their adorable appearances always lift my spirits.”
Around 9 a.m. on the 10th, with visitors continuously arriving, Lv Yantao felt especially excited. Seeing the celebration posters for “Qi Qiao” and “Qi Xi” all over the park, she quickly asked the other “panda nanny,” Yang Mudan, to make sure “the kids don’t sleep in too long; the ceremony is about to begin.”
By about 10 a.m., the celebration for “Qi Qiao” and “Qi Xi” began as scheduled, with a lively host leading the event. Panda fan Li Qiming and Dou Mi (a nickname) expressed their fondness for the pandas and their gratitude for the meticulous care provided by the Ordos Wild Animal Park.
At that moment, “Qi Qiao” and “Qi Xi” emerged from their “villa” and walked toward their familiar territory. Lv Yantao noticed many visitors eagerly photographing the pandas, with some children staring motionless as the pandas ate bamboo.
In a spacious area of the panda pavilion, Li Qiming used a lighter to light 20 candles. The most important part of the ceremony for him was “lighting candles and cutting the cake” for the pandas.
Around 11 a.m., under the eager eyes of many visitors, “Qi Qiao” and “Qi Xi” elegantly approached the “luxurious chilled fruit cake” and the three-layer bamboo cake prepared by the keepers, becoming professional “food broadcasters.” The pandas’ delightful appearance won everyone’s hearts instantly.
At this point, someone in the crowd spontaneously began singing “Happy Birthday,” and the pandas, seeming to understand, nodded contentedly before indulging in their feast.
