Happy Birthday to Tianjin’s Star Giant Panda, “Xi Le” Turns 11!

On July 24, Tianjin Zoo’s star giant panda “Xi Le” celebrated her 11th birthday. The zoo hosted a special birthday party themed “Hot and Spicy Rolling, Peaceful Every Year,” creating a joyful and warm atmosphere while enhancing the public’s understanding of the national treasure, the giant panda.

Despite the high temperatures in Tianjin, the enthusiasm and affection of fans and visitors for the giant panda were unwavering. By early morning, before 9 AM, the panda house was already packed with people. The zoo’s keepers presented a custom-made summer ice-cake and longevity noodles for Xi Le’s birthday. The cake, made from Xi Le’s favorite foods like steamed corn buns, watermelon, and grapes, was designed to keep her cool, with rose petals frozen into the ice blocks to make it both delicious and beautiful. The keepers also set up safe and eco-friendly toys such as wooden horses, sandboxes, water bottles, and bamboo slips in the panda’s play area.

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According to Yue Gang, the director of Tianjin Zoo, Xi Le arrived at the zoo when she was two years old and has now celebrated her 9th birthday there. In recent years, the enthusiasm of visitors for Xi Le has continued to grow, with today’s birthday celebration expected to double the usual number of visitors. To manage the peak visitation and high temperatures, the zoo has temporarily added mobile air conditioners, fans, and increased security to enhance visitor services.

Xi Le, panda number 877, is the eighth giant panda to join the zoo in nearly 45 years. Born on July 24, 2013, at the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center’s Ya’an base, she was named “Xi Le” to wish her joy and happiness from the start. At the birthday party, Xi Le enjoyed the treats and interacted playfully with the audience, attracting many visitors and fans who took photos to commemorate the occasion.

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The zoo also prepared a variety of interactive activities for the birthday event, including “Continuous Science Knowledge,” “Creative Fan Painting,” “Unlocking Limited Edition Stamps,” and “Drawing Habitat Maps of Companion Animals,” inviting visitors and fans to participate in-depth, learn about giant panda science, understand their natural environment, enjoy hands-on creation, and experience Xi Le’s unique charm from multiple perspectives.

In celebration of Xi Le’s birthday, the panda-themed creative store at the zoo also released new products including Xi Le’s 11th-anniversary refrigerator magnets, keychains, and canvas bags. Additionally, panda-themed ice cream and special bamboo juice were available for visitors to enjoy.