Panda Xi Dou: The Last Cub of 2006

Panda Xi Dou

Xi Dou (喜豆), a female giant panda born on September 24, 2006, has captivated the hearts of many throughout her life. Known for her nurturing personality and incredible journey as a mother, Xi Dou’s story is one of growth, love, and the continuation of her species. Born at the Hetaoping Wild Training Base of the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center, Xi Dou has experienced a remarkable life that includes giving birth to the heaviest panda twins ever recorded at the center.

Basic Information

  • Name: Xi Dou (喜豆)
  • Gender: Female
  • Studbook Number: 654
  • Birthdate: September 24, 2006
  • Birthplace: Hetaoping Wild Training Base, China
  • Mother: Mao Mao (毛毛)
  • Father: Qing Qing (青青)
  • Siblings: Wang Wang (网网), Wen Yu (文雨)

Intriguing Details of Panda Xi Dou

Friendship with Shen Bin: When Xi Dou was young, she formed a special friendship with another panda, Shen Bin (绅宾). Although they lived in separate enclosures, they shared the same exercise yard. At first, Shen Bin would often lie outside Xi Dou’s window when going out, trying to play with her, but Xi Dou, scared, would hide. Over time, however, they grew familiar with each other and formed a bond. They would often “chat” through the door, sometimes even having small arguments, but they would always quickly reconcile and return to their playful friendship.

Lifting the Drain Cover: Xi Dou has a unique habit of lifting the drain cover in her enclosure and peeking her head inside, as though exploring another world. However, for safety reasons, the cover was later sealed.

Life Experience of Panda Xi Dou

Early Years: Xi Dou was born as the last panda cub of 2006 at the research center and weighed 163 grams at birth. During her early days, Xi Dou was often seen close to her mother, Mao Mao. Known for her vocal nature, she would loudly call out whenever someone approached, making her presence known to everyone around her.

Relocations: Xi Dou’s life has included some changes in her living arrangements. In 2010, she was sent to Huangshan Xiu Ning for an exhibition, where she was temporarily renamed Qi Qi. However, in 2014, she was recalled to the Ya’an Bifengxia Base for breeding purposes, marking a pivotal moment in her journey as a mother.

Adulthood and Reproduction: On August 4, 2016, at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base in Sichuan, she gave birth to a pair of twin pandas. These cubs weighed 181.7 grams and 220 grams, setting a record for the heaviest twin pandas ever born at the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center.

Breeding Achievements of Panda Xi Dou

  • On August 4, 2016, Xi Dou gave birth to a pair of panda twins, Hong Xi (鸿禧) and Pan Qing (盼青), at Bifengxia. Their father is Xiang Ge (香格).
    • When Hong Xi was one and a half years old, he almost passed away due to intestinal obstruction. Zhang Xin, the caregiver, helped treat and nurse him back to health. After Hong Xi’s surgery, he was mainly cared for by Zhang Xin, who would take him out every day to bask in the sun.
    • As a young cub, Pan Qing was classmates with her brother Hong Xi and other pandas like Qiao Yi (乔伊) and Qiao Liang (乔良). She especially loved to snuggle with Qiao Liang. Pan Qing has always been a foodie, eating quickly and aggressively, even snatching food from others. Before she was two years old, she was moved to a single enclosure due to her eating habits. By then, she had already become quite heavy, weighing in at 16 kilograms and earning the nickname “Fat Qing” or “Fat Sister.”
  • On August 5, 2017, Xi Dou gave birth to a daughter (No. 1096) at Bifengxia, but she tragically passed away due to an infectious disease outbreak at the Ya’an kindergarten later that year.
  • On September 19, 2018, Xi Dou gave birth to twin sons, Dou Dou (豆豆) and Jing Jing (京京), at Shenshuping.
    • Dou Dou faced rumors of abuse during his awkward growth stage but has since grown into a 290-pound adult.
    • On October 19, 2022, Jing Jing and Si Hai (四海) arrived in Doha, starting their 15-year overseas journey. This marked the first pair of giant pandas to be sent to the Middle East.
  • On August 3, 2020, Xi Dou gave birth to another son, initially known as Green Bean or Black Bean, at Shenshuping. In January 2021, he was adopted by Nestlé for lifetime care and was named “Chao Tian Jiao (巢天骄).”
  • On July 17, 2024, Xi Dou again gave birth to a pair of twins, who appeared in the 2025 New Year Greetings but have been named yet.

Gallery of Panda Xi Dou