Chinese Giant Pandas “Xingqiu” and “Yilan” Arrive and Settle in Adelaide

On December 15th, a welcome ceremony was held at the Adelaide Zoo in Australia to greet the arrival of two Chinese giant pandas, “Xingqiu” and “Yilan.”

After a flight of 8,800 kilometers, “Xingqiu” and “Yilan” arrived in Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, at 6:02 AM local time on December 15th. They were then transported to the Adelaide Zoo to begin a new phase of China-Australia giant panda conservation and research cooperation.

The ceremony was attended by Li Dong, the Consul General of China in Adelaide, Susan Close, Deputy Premier of South Australia, and Zoe Bettison, Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs of South Australia, among other distinguished guests.

Chinese Giant Pandas Xingqiu And Yilan Arrive And Settle In Adelaide

In his speech, Consul General Li expressed that through giant panda conservation research cooperation, the peoples of China and Australia have become more closely connected, and giant pandas have made a unique contribution to the development of bilateral relations. The new phase of giant panda cooperation will last for ten years, and he looks forward to seeing even better prospects for China-Australia cooperation in various fields over the next decade. He also expressed hope that everyone would become good friends with “Xingqiu” and “Yilan” and work together to nurture China-Australia and South Australia-China cooperation and exchanges.

Susan Close and Zoe Bettison both expressed excitement in their speeches, saying it was a thrilling day. They were delighted to welcome the new pair of giant pandas to the Adelaide Zoo, as the pandas are a symbol of the friendship between the Australian and Chinese peoples. The relationship between the two countries is thriving and will inject new momentum into their cultural and economic cooperation.

Giant Pandas Xing Qiu And Yi Lan Depart For Adelaide Zoo In Australia 3

In 2009, China and Australia launched the giant panda conservation research collaboration, with “Wang Wang” and “Funi” arriving at the Adelaide Zoo, becoming the only pair of giant pandas in the Southern Hemisphere. During their 15 years in Australia, “Wang Wang” and “Funi” attracted over 5 million visitors and 500,000 students to the zoo. They returned to China in November of this year.

The male giant panda “Xingqiu,” born in September 2020, is described as lively and energetic. The female giant panda “Yilan,” born in August 2021, has a calm and graceful personality. According to the agreement, they will live in Australia for ten years.