On July 4th, panda superstar “He Hua” and her sister “He Ye” celebrated their 4th birthday at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. On the same day, their half-brother “Meng Lan” celebrated his 9th birthday at Beijing Zoo.
“I’m a local from Chengdu, but I work out of the province. I flew back specifically to celebrate Hua Hua’s birthday,” said Ms. Yang, who has been following Hua Hua for nearly two years. “On the night of the 3rd, I saw online that fans were already queuing outside the base.”
Concerned about the long wait and possibly missing Hua Hua, Ms. Yang used an online service to hire someone to queue for her. “I paid by the hour, and they queued overnight.” Early on the morning of the 4th, Ms. Yang arrived at the base. “The line already stretched from the entrance to the street, with an estimated thousand people.”
At 7:30 AM, when the base opened, Ms. Yang and the crowd rushed to Villa No. 6, where Hua Hua lives. By 8:10 AM, Ms. Yang saw Hua Hua and her sister He Ye enjoying an ice cake. “They were so well-behaved, it was worth it. I even got a front-view photo and wished her a happy birthday.”
Photos in Ms. Yang’s camera showed birthday treats including an ice cake, pumpkins, small apples, and bamboo shoots. Smiling, Ms. Yang remarked, “I even spotted someone who looked like Grandpa Tan in the background.”
On-site, Mr. Zhang, a citizen knowledgeable about panda habits, noted that many pandas’ birthdays are in July and August. Curious onlookers asked why. Mr. Zhang explained, “Pandas’ mating season is from March to May, and July to September is when bamboo, their main food, grows abundantly, supporting the growth and development of panda cubs. Hence, many panda cubs are born between July and September.”
At 9:08 AM, the line outside Villa No. 6 was still long. Grandpa Tan’s signature call could be heard: “Guo Lai, Guo Lai, ‘Hua Hua’ Guo Lai…” By 10:00 AM, staff announced over a microphone that due to the heat, Hua Hua had returned indoors to stay cool, and there was no need to queue anymore.
A sign at the entrance explained: “Giant pandas prefer cool temperatures. To ensure their welfare, they are brought indoors when the outdoor temperature exceeds 26°C.” A QR code was provided for fans to watch Hua Hua’s indoor activities.
The reporter learned that Hua Hua came outside around 8 AM and was brought back indoors by 10 AM, with other pandas following suit.
