Panda Ya Yi: The Yoga Queen

Panda Ya Yi

Ya Yi (雅一/Yayi), affectionately known as the “Yoga Queen” and “Guangzhou Landlady,” is a playful and energetic panda whose distinct appearance and lively antics have made her a social media sensation. Born on August 27, 2013, at the Chengdu Research Base, she has since charmed visitors at Guangzhou Zoo with her acrobatic skills, selective eating habits, and a love for interacting with people, proving to be a true “social butterfly” in her new home.

Basic Information

  • Name: Ya Yi (雅一)
  • Meaning of the Name: The First Kid of Ya Family
  • Aliases: Yoga Queen (瑜伽女王), Guangzhou Landlady (广州包租婆)
  • Gender: Female
  • Lineage Number: 903
  • Date of Birth: August 27, 2013
  • Birthplace: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
  • Current Residence: Guangzhou Zoo
  • Father: Yong Yong (勇勇)
  • Mother: Xing Ya (星雅)
  • Twin Brother: Ya Er (雅二)
  • Siblings: Xing Yi (星一), Xing Er (星二), and He Sheng (和盛)

Intriguing Details of Panda Ya Yi

Appearance: Ya Yi has a round face with a long mouth and no ring around her nose. She has narrow shoulder straps, a black-tipped tail, and white fur on her feet. Her distinct appearance has made her popular on social media, where she is noted for her “typical Cantonese” look, especially when lounging on tree trunks, reminiscent of a “Guangdong Landlady.”

Curiosity: On March 12, 2023, Ya Yi was spotted at Guangzhou Zoo’s panda viewing area drinking from a bottle of beverage that had been accidentally dropped by a visitor.

Yoga Queen: Ya Yi is known for her lively and energetic personality, with a particular love for physical activities. Not only does she enjoy climbing trees, rolling around, and doing somersaults, but she is also a “soccer star,” frequently dribbling and passing the ball with agility. Additionally, Ya Yi can perform difficult “aerial yoga” moves, hanging from ropes and twisting her body into a ball, spinning smoothly and gracefully.

Picky Eater: Ya Yi is quite particular about her food. When presented with a pile of bamboo, she carefully selects the ones she likes best. During the hot summer days, her caretaker prepared a special bitter melon feast to help cool her down, placing the bitter melon between slices of pumpkin. However, after tasting the bitter melon, clever Ya Yi proceeded to carefully remove all the pieces from the plate and toss them aside.

Social Butterfly: Ya Yi has an extremely outgoing personality and is a typical “social butterfly.” She loves interacting with people, becoming more excited as the number of visitors increases. When guests compliment her as a “beautiful girl,” she shyly lowers her head and twists her body, displaying a coy demeanor like a young girl. Furthermore, Ya Yi will interact with the audience by moving along the glass from left to right, making sure to engage with everyone equally.

Life Experience of Panda Ya Yi

  • Birth: Ya Yi and her twin brother Ya Er were born on August 27, 2013, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
  • First Move: On January 29, 2016, Ya Yi and her cousin Xing Yi moved from Chengdu to Guangzhou Zoo, making their first public appearance and succeeding the previous twin pandas, Wen Li (文莉) and Wen Ya (文雅), at the zoo.
  • Temporary Return: In January 2017, due to renovations at Guangzhou Zoo’s panda enclosure, Ya Yi and Xing Yi returned temporarily to Chengdu.
  • Return to Guangzhou: On January 18, 2018, Ya Yi and Xing Yi flew back to Guangzhou to settle into the newly renovated panda exhibit.
  • Birthday Celebration: On August 23, 2022, Guangzhou Zoo celebrated Ya Yi’s ninth birthday with a special party, inviting sixth-grade students from Guangzhou Zhongxing Primary School to join the festivities and prepare a unique celebration for the panda siblings.

Galley of Panda Ya Yi