Panda Ping Ping (平平), a resilient and well-loved giant panda, was born on July 6, 2008, at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. She is known for her unique story, having been born just months after the devastating Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. Her birth, along with that of her twin brother An An, symbolized hope and renewal after the tragedy. Over the years, Ping Ping has traveled to different locations for exhibitions and research, contributing significantly to giant panda awareness and conservation.
Basic Information
- Name: Ping Ping (平平)
- Date of Birth: July 6, 2008
- Gender: Female
- Pedigree Number: 704
- Birthplace: Ya’an Bifengxia Base, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
- Mother: Guo Guo (帼帼)
- Siblings: An An (安安) (deceased), Hua Sheng (花生), Yao Man (姚蔓), Yao Xin (姚欣), Ya Ji (雅吉)
Life Experience
Ping Ping was born at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base on July 6, 2008. Just over a year later, on January 5, 2010, she was sent on a special mission to the Shanghai Zoo, where she was part of an exhibition aimed at raising awareness about giant pandas.
On October 26, 2011, she returned to the Bifengxia Base, but her travels didn’t stop there. On March 30, 2012, Ping Ping was transferred to the Emei Xianzhi Zhujian Ecological Park, where she continued to represent giant panda conservation efforts. After five years, on January 10, 2017, she returned once again to the Bifengxia Base.
A significant moment in Ping Ping’s life came on July 19, 2021, when she gave birth to twins at the Shenshuping Base in Wolong. Her daughter was given the nickname “Ping Yue (平月),” and her son was called “Run Yue (闰月).” This event marked an important continuation of her contribution to the giant panda population.
Important Events
In January 2010, Ping Ping and her twin brother An An were among 10 young giant pandas sent from the Bifengxia Base to the Shanghai Zoo to promote the 2010 World Expo. The 10 pandas, all born in 2008 after the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake, were carefully selected for this important mission. Ping Ping and An An gained particular attention as they were the most popular pair of fraternal twins born in the aftermath of the disaster.
Their mother, Guo Guo, had been rescued from the brink of danger during the earthquake, when she was found stranded near a landslide at the edge of a mountain cliff. Dedicated staff from the research center risked their lives to rescue her, and after being moved to Ya’an, Guo Guo gave birth to Ping Ping and An An on July 6, 2008. These twins were the first captive-born panda twins worldwide after the earthquake, and their names, Ping Ping and An An, were chosen through an online poll, symbolizing the public’s hope and love for the pandas.
