“Wow, they are coming out!” “So cute!” At around 9 a.m. on the 22nd, the giant panda twins “Yuke” and “Yuai” slowly walked out of their enclosure and headed straight for the elevated platform with food, delighting the visitors.
On that day, Chongqing Zoo held a 2nd birthday party for the giant panda twins “Yuke” and “Yuai.” On July 22, 2022, the giant panda “Ershun,” who once lived in Canada, gave birth to the siblings at Chongqing Zoo. Their names, rich in Chongqing characteristics, were chosen through an online poll.
At the event, the staff prepared a special cake made of bamboo shoots, apples, and carrots for the twins, along with toys like rocking horses and rubber ducks. The pandas alternated between munching on apples and carrots, their adorable eating habits captivating the audience. The zoo also provided plenty of ice to help them stay cool in the summer heat.

Visitors described “Yuke” as having a gentle personality, while “Yuai” is more fiery. They are also easy to distinguish: “Yuai” has a complete and full black fur on its back, resembling a perfect “vest,” whereas “Yuke” appears to be wearing a “tattered vest.”
Ms. Cai from Hong Kong, who visited with her family, happened to catch the pandas’ birthday celebration. “Pandas are stars in Hong Kong too, but I didn’t expect so many people here today. My daughter couldn’t get enough of watching them,” she said. She noted that seeing the pandas so well cared for in Chongqing highlighted the city’s cultural warmth and attention to detail.

Liu Bo, a Gen Z social media influencer from Northeast China, has been live streaming the pandas at Chongqing Zoo since 2022, amassing tens of thousands of followers. This was his second time celebrating the twins’ birthday. “Every year, ‘Yuke’ and ‘Yuai’s’ birthdays are lively events. Their story is more than just the growth of a pair of twins,” he said, wishing them a life filled with love and warmth.
Chongqing Zoo, the city zoo with the largest number of giant pandas in China, currently houses 23 pandas. Zhang Naicheng, the director of the panda pavilion at Chongqing Zoo, reported that “Yuke” and “Yuai” are in stable condition, eating well, sleeping soundly, and remaining very active. Under the meticulous care of their keepers, they are thriving.