“She’s so heartwarming! Truly a little fairy that everyone loves!” Recently, a panda fan group from Hangzhou called “Meng Qing Ta Cheng 4717 Panda Squad” happened to visit Hangzhou Wildlife World. They instantly fell in love with the pandas Ban Ban and Li Li at the “Panda Palace.” One of the fans mentioned that she loves every panda because they have a way of healing people’s moods. She often visits the giant pandas at Hangzhou Zoo and now declares herself a loyal fan of Ban Ban and Li Li as well.
In fact, Panda Ban Ban has been quite popular recently. You might have noticed Ban Ban’s presence in various events and locations around Fuyang. She made a dazzling appearance at the opening ceremony of this year’s Hundred Villages Basketball Tournament, becoming the event’s mascot. Ban Ban also appeared at the Hangzhou Wonderful Night event in Fuyang, attracting the attention of children and adults alike. Moreover, Ban Ban has been a star at tourism promotion events from Fuyang to various other locations, representing the picturesque Fuchun Mountain Residence.
Ban Ban’s “panda career” seems to be shining brightly, and it’s no wonder—she comes from a prestigious lineage. Some dedicated panda fans have traced her family tree and discovered that her prosperous family lineage began with the matriarch Ying Ying. Ban Ban’s family has since grown into a large and influential clan. In fact, Ban Ban is the great-aunt of Fubao, a panda that has become a sensation in South Korea. Her family tree also includes other famous pandas such as Aibao, Menglan, and Lingyan (from her paternal side).
Great-Aunt of the Popular South Korean Panda “Fubao”
Ban Ban, along with her brother Yue Yue, was born in 2016 at Shanghai Wildlife Park, making them the first pair of twin pandas born in East China. Now over seven years old, their names carry special meanings. “Yue” (月) sounds like the words for “more” (越) and “joy” (悦), symbolizing increasing happiness, while “Ban” (半) sounds like “companion” (伴), representing the idea of companionship. Together, “Yue” and “Ban” form the word “fat” (胖), which humorously relates to the English name for pandas, “panda,” often phonetically translated as “Pang Da” in Chinese.
“Did you know? Ban Ban is actually the great-aunt of Fubao!” exclaimed one enthusiastic panda fan, Zhuozhuo, who lives and works in Fuyang. Aside from her love for all pandas, she has a special fondness for star pandas and knows all about them. She feels a particular connection to the pandas at Hangzhou Wildlife World, which are close to her home. She even shared a family tree of the Ying Ying panda lineage, explaining various details about the family.
Ying Ying, the matriarch of the family, was assigned lineage number 382 and was born in the wild in November 1991. She passed away in July 2023. Ying Ying gave birth to 14 cubs over nine pregnancies, making her a true hero mother. The Ying Ying family has now grown to nearly 90 direct descendants.
“The wild-born first and second generations are especially remarkable,” Zhuozhuo continued to explain. “Pandas born from wild parents help in the propagation and diversification of the species.” Ying Ying made outstanding contributions to the captive panda population and is regarded as the founder of the Ying Ying family. Fans even affectionately refer to her as the “Old Ancestor.”
As for Fubao, Zhuozhuo pointed out that, according to the family tree, Fubao’s grandmother Xinnier (lineage number 692) and Ban Ban are sisters, making Ban Ban Fubao’s great-aunt.
Fubao was born on July 20, 2020, as the first cub of Aibao and Lebao, two Chinese pandas residing in South Korea. She was also the first panda born in South Korea, earning her the nickname “Princess Fu.” On April 3, 2023, Fubao returned to China after completing her stay at Everland Zoo in South Korea and now resides at the Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong. Her adorable appearance has endeared her to people in both China and South Korea, playing a positive role in fostering friendly relations between the two countries. During her stay in South Korea, Fubao attracted 5.5 million visitors, and videos of her shared on social media garnered 500 million views. Every move Fubao makes captures the attention of fans worldwide, making her a top “panda celebrity.” On June 12, 2023, Fubao officially made her public debut at the Shenshuping Panda Base, quickly becoming a trending topic online. (According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, giant pandas must be returned to China before they reach breeding age, which is around four years old.)
In addition to Fubao, other stars from the Ying Ying family include Meng Meng, Meng Lan, Huani’er (Aibao), Lan Xiang, Mei Qing, and Guoqing.
A Day in the Life of a Playful and Relaxed Panda
At Hangzhou Wildlife World, two beloved giant pandas, Ban Ban and Li Li, reside in the Panda Hall. Li Li, born in August 2005, is now 19 years old, while Ban Ban is a lively 7-year-old. Each panda has its own unique charm, and visitors are often captivated by their round, cuddly appearances and adorable antics during mealtime or playtime.
“May every giant panda live a joyful life,” says one of the panda caretakers, explaining that the two pandas have their own separate living and play areas. These areas are divided into front and back sections, with the front being where visitors can greet the pandas through glass and the back serving as their resting area at night. The front area is further divided into indoor and outdoor sections. Ban Ban’s outdoor area, affectionately called “Ban Ban’s Backyard,” features a rock garden, a pool with a small waterfall, and fun items like a swing and a trampoline. When the weather is cool, Ban Ban enjoys swimming in the pool, playing with yellow rubber ducks, rolling around on the grass, and climbing trees. The indoor area is where Ban Ban usually rests and sleeps. During hot weather, the indoor temperature is kept below 25°C, the perfect temperature for pandas. The indoor space also has play facilities, and Ban Ban’s favorite bamboo shoots are often hidden among the toys, encouraging her to sniff them out.
“Ban Ban is intelligent, lively, cautious, but very curious and often does unexpected things. She’s quite the ‘rebellious’ one,” says her caretaker, who knows Ban Ban’s likes and dislikes well. Ban Ban loves swimming, climbing trees, “redecorating” her space, and eating bamboo. She has a peculiar way of eating—leaning back while concentrating on her meal, savoring each bite with great care. Visitors can witness her eating during live sessions, where she lazily lounges in a small pit (nicknamed Ban Ban’s “imperial concubine pose” by fans), casually peeling and munching on bamboo one stick at a time, quickly finishing each piece. Soon, her chubby belly is covered with bamboo husks, but she always makes sure to clean her “table,” a.k.a. her belly.
Ban Ban’s playful nature is also evident in her tree-climbing and “home-improvement” activities. The small trees in her backyard often fall victim to her playful paws. She climbs up and down with great agility, sometimes shaking the branches so vigorously that the poor trees often need to be replanted. “The rocking chair next door for Li Li is still in good shape, but Ban Ban’s chair is a disaster,” says the caretaker with a laugh. Li Li is a graceful star, while Ban Ban is more like a pampered little princess.
If you want to see Ban Ban’s quirky behavior, check out the videos shared by panda fans. For example, fan “Sweetie Loves Panda” posts clips of Ban Ban’s funny moments. You can see her chubby body skillfully navigating various play structures, leaping onto a blue bowl, hiding her head inside for a handstand, and then clapping her belly with all four paws up. Other clips show Ban Ban “dancing” on tree branches, excitedly rolling around in the snow, vigorously shaking and “destroying” a bamboo lounge chair, and splashing around in her pool. Of course, there are also moments when Ban Ban is feeling down, just sitting there staring off into space. Fans often comment, “Ban Ban, you’re just too cute, too adorable!”
Her caretaker mentions that Ban Ban is also a “popular” panda with a unique work ethic. She’s known as the “first to clock out” panda, often eagerly waiting by the glass door in the afternoon for her caretaker to open the door so she can “clock out” and head back to her resting area. The caretakers jokingly refer to her as “Hangzhou Wildlife World’s No. 1 Gatekeeper.”
The Energetic Long-Legged Beauty in the Eyes of Panda Fans
“Ban Ban is our long-legged beauty!” That’s how panda fans describe her, emphasizing her unique charm. So, what makes Ban Ban so beautiful in their eyes? Fans have noticed several distinctive features: her eye patches, which from certain angles appear heart-shaped; her “flying ears” that resemble tiny trumpets; her long legs despite her chubby appearance; and her wide black “suspenders” that wrap around her body.
Dedicated panda fans like Zhuozhuo share tips on how to distinguish between different pandas. They focus on various characteristics such as eye shapes (heart-shaped, rectangular, or upturned corners), eye sizes (round, with thick eyelids, or more white showing), and face shapes (round faces, round foreheads, or prominent cheek muscles). Even the pandas’ mouths (long snouts, cat-like short snouts, or “smiling lips”) and ears (hamster ears, Mickey Mouse ears, or rounded ears) are closely observed. Some fans even identify pandas by their shoulder straps, fur color, and limb shapes. The most dedicated fans can even distinguish pandas by their personalities, noting whether a panda is lazy and food-loving or lively and affectionate.
Ban Ban’s fan base is quite extensive. Many fans arrive early in the morning and spend hours watching her eat, play, and nap, never getting bored. They often delve into her family history, sharing their findings with fellow fans. “After watching Ban Ban eat, sleep, and roll around for hours, I still can’t get enough,” says one fan. After watching livestreams, these fans enthusiastically post photos and videos of their “idol” on social media, adding captions that highlight Ban Ban’s cuteness and boosting her popularity. Whether on WeChat Video Channels or the “Cute Pets” leaderboard on Weibo, Ban Ban’s presence is undeniable, with each panda having its own unique appeal.
“Classic poses? That’s our Ban Ban, hahaha! She’s happiest lying down while munching on bamboo shoots,” says one fan. “The best ‘imperial concubine pose’—that’s our Ban Ban,” adds another. “When it comes to the most graceful walk, it’s Ban Ban all the way,” chimes in a third. In Ban Ban’s dedicated Weibo fan page, several fans frequently share videos of Ban Ban enjoying bamboo leaves, walking, or rolling around. Fan “Huakai Huamu” is one of the most active, posting the most content.
Ban Ban’s caretaker notes, “Ordinary care and attention aren’t enough to satisfy this level of love. These fans are so passionate about pandas that they pursue ‘panda fandom’ professionally. They spend whole days with the pandas and even research their ‘secret files.’ For them, giant pandas are their ultimate treasures.”
