Imagine a panda with a larger-than-life personality – one who eats with boundless enthusiasm and still manages to be an adorable ball of fun. Nan Nan (囡囡/Nannan), with her impressively plump cheeks and bottomless stomach, is not just the heaviest panda in the community but also a playful spirit full of mischief. Her cheeky antics, from “revenge” escapades to her joyful moments, make her the ultimate foodie, ready to steal your heart with every bite!
Basic Information
- Name: Nan Nan (囡囡)
- Meaning of the Name: The Little Girl
- Meaning of the Name:
- Aliases: Fat Nan Nan (肥囡囡, named for her size)
- Date of Birth: August 6, 2013
- Place of Birth: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Mother: Da Jiao (大娇)
- Father: Yong Yong (勇勇)
- Twin Sister: Qian Qian (倩倩)
- Siblings: Jiao Yi (娇毅), Qian Qian (倩倩), and Jiao Ao (娇奥)
Intriguing Details of Panda Nan Nan
Food Lover: Nan Nan is a true “foodie.” She is not picky and enjoys eating anything, whether it’s bamboo or other food. Her appetite is astonishing, often eating 1.5 times the amount of food compared to other pandas of her age.
The Heaviest Panda: Nan Nan is distinguished by her wide cheeks and plump body, giving her a “widescreen” face that perfectly matches her voracious eating habits. She is recognized as the heaviest panda in the community, surpassing even her half-sister Mei Lan (梅兰) in size.
Revenge: Despite her sizable stature, Nan Nan is surprisingly agile and exhibits a playful spirit. One of her unique personality traits is her sense of “revenge”. When she was young, there was an incident where Nan Nan was bullied by He Xing and Xing Yi during the day. However, unlike other panda cubs who would simply forget about it, Nan Nan quietly waited until midnight, then secretly sneaked into He Xing and Xing Yi’s dormitory. She gave He Xing a “fat beating” and then bit Xing Yi right after while they were sleeping.
Efforts to Lose Weight: Due to her excessive weight and the resulting health issues, the keepers had always wanted Nan Nan to lose weight. However, she was completely uncooperative. Whenever the keepers reduced the amount of bamboo shoots, she would turn to the grass, tree bark, and even the moss on the walls in her enclosure. This behavior made visitors, who didn’t understand, feel sympathetic and even file complaints about the keepers allegedly mistreating the animals. As a result, her weight loss efforts were unsuccessful for a long time. However, this situation changed after Nan Nan returned to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The center placed her in a non-exhibit area, away from public contact. In February 2025, Nan Nan made her public debut once again, now with a well-proportioned and beautiful figure.
Life Experience of Panda Nan Nan
Early LIfe: Nan Nan was born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and quickly became a cherished member of the facility. In 2014, she and her companion Qian Qian (倩倩) moved to the adult section to prepare for their wild release, living alongside other pandas such as He Sheng (和盛) and Qi Yuan (奇缘).
Relocations: In June 2015, Nan Nan returned to the panda base with Xing Yi (星一), where they spent some time in the sun nursery before relocating to the juvenile area in November of the same year. Her journey took an adventurous turn in April 2016 when she traveled with another panda, He Xing (和兴), to Yunnan Wild Animal Park. After a successful visit, they returned to the Chengdu base in late November.
Health Challenge: In December 2016, Nan Nan faced a health scare when her insatiable appetite led to intestinal obstruction, necessitating surgical intervention. Fortunately, after surgery, her health indicators gradually returned to normal, and with the tender care of her keepers, she continued to thrive.
Futher Relocations: In January 2018, she made another move to Chengdu Zoo. And after staying there for 6 years, she came back to her birthplace, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, in August, 2024.
