From her chubby, endearing figure to her heartwarming backstory, Qi Ming Ming (奇明明/Qimingming) captures the essence of panda charm. Born in 2013 at the Chengdu Research Base, she quickly became famous for her “barrel-like” look, which earned her the playful nickname “Barrel Ming Ming.” A touching moment in her early life, when her companion tried desperately to follow her, showed just how deep the bonds among pandas can be. Ming Ming’s journey from a heartwarming farewell to motherhood showcases her unique story.
Basic Information
- Name: Qi Ming Ming (奇明明)
- Gender: Female
- Genealogy Number: 872
- Birthdate: July 17, 2013
- Mother: Qi Yuan (奇缘)
- Father: Yong Yong (勇勇)
- Siblings: Si Yuan (思缘), Qi Fu (奇福), Qi Miao (奇妙), Yuan Da (缘大), Yuan Xiao (缘小), Qi Yi (奇一), Qi Guo (奇果)
Life Experience of Panda Qi Ming Ming
Appearance: Ming Ming was born on July 17, 2013, at the Chengdu Research Base. She is one of the many offspring of Yong Yong from 2013. Ming Ming has a plump, well-rounded figure, inheriting the “chubby” tradition of the Yong Yong family. The slightly barrel-like look earned her the nickname “Barrel Ming Ming.” She has a narrow distance between her ears, small “bird-like” eye patches, delicate facial features, and a large, fluffy face.
Sudden Separation: In April 2014, when Ming Ming was 9 months old, she was transferred to Shaanxi. At the time, she was sharing an enclosure with Xi Xi (茜茜) and Meng Da (萌大). Ming Ming was suddenly carried away by her caretaker. Seeing this, Xi Xi tried to squeeze through the railings to follow her. Another caretaker attempted to close the door, but Xi Xi held onto the doorway tightly. Moved by Xi Xi’s reaction, the caretaker brought Ming Ming over for a quick farewell. After Ming Ming left, Xi Xi paced anxiously, climbing up and down in distress, desperately searching for an exit. Ming Ming was sent to Louguantai that very day and never saw her little companions again. Xi Xi’s determined effort to chase after Ming Ming clearly showed the deep bond between the two.
First Cub: On March 24, 2021, Ming Ming mated naturally. On September 15, she gave birth to a daughter at the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center, with a birth weight of 136 grams. Since the cub was born during the opening of the 14th National Games of China, she was named “Quan Yun (全运)” (meaning “National Games”). In December 2022, Samsung (China) Semiconductor Co., Ltd. adopted Quanyun for life, giving her the sponsorship name “Xin Bao (芯宝).”
Second Litter: On September 6, 2023, Ming Ming gave birth to a pair of twins, one male and one female. The smaller cub weighed less than 60 grams at birth, making it the lightest newborn panda ever recorded at the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center. They are also the youngest cubs of the Qinling 2023 panda generation.
