Born under the name Cai Yun (彩云/Caiyun), meaning “Colorful Cloud,” this lively female panda has painted her journey with vibrant milestones. From charming visitors at Jinan Zoo with her playful antics—earning the nickname “Ding Ding”—to becoming a proud mother of three adorable cubs, Ru Ru, Man Lan, and Shun Shun, her life is a blend of tenderness and vitality.
Basic Information
- Name: Cai Yun (彩云)
- Meaning of the Name: Colorful Cloud
- Gender: Female
- Date of Birth: July 27, 2010
- Birthplace: Ya’an Bifengxia Base, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
- Studbook Number: 771
- Mother: Ju Xiao (菊笑)
- Siblings: Zhao Yang (朝阳), Meng Meng (萌萌), Shuai Shuai (帅帅), and Ku Ku (酷酷)
Life Experience of Panda Cai Yun
Life in Jinan: Cai Yun was born on July 27, 2010, at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base. On January 30, 2013, she was transferred to Jinan Zoo, where she spent nearly four years. During her time there, Cai Yun’s lively and mischievous personality earned her the nickname “Ding Ding,” symbolizing the vibrancy of Jinan’s famous springs and the vitality of the zoo.
Breeding Program: In 2017, under the direction of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Cai Yun was selected for the national captive panda optimization breeding program. On February 24, she left Jinan Zoo and returned to the China Conservation and Research Center to focus on breeding efforts. She has since lived at the Dujiangyan Base, Ya’an Bifengxia Base, and Wolong Shenshuping Base.
Breeding Achievements of Panda Cai Yun
On August 13, 2017, Cai Yun gave birth to twin siblings, Ru Ru (如如) and Man Lan (曼兰), at Bifengxia. The name Ru Ru is inspired by the Book of Songs (诗经), meaning “as constant as the moon, as radiant as the rising sun,” carrying deep significance. That year, in the Ya’an Panda Kindergarten, only four panda cubs survived, with Ru Ru and Man Lan being two of them. The other two were Rui Rui (蕊蕊) and Jin Shan (金山). Ru Ru hasn’t appeared in public for a while and is reportedly living at the Ya’an breeding center. Meanwhile, Man Lan moved to Lanzhou Zoo this year along with Jia Bao (家宝), Man Man (满满), and Hong Xi (鸿禧). She’s doing well in Lanzhou and is known as a sweet, affectionate little girl.
On September 9, 2018, Cai Yun gave birth to her son Shun Shun (顺顺) at Shenshuping. Together with the soft, adorable Nuo Mi (糯米), the two became famous for their iconic “double panda door-blocking” scene. They previously lived together at the Baixiongping enclosure in Ya’an’s Bifengxia Base and have now moved together to the Chengdu Base.
