Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell

Giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, and their cubs Xiao Qi Ji, Bei Bei, Bao Bao and Tai Shan, have brought joy to millions and created a living legacy of fans that spans multiple generations and countries. What’s more, they have made an immense impact on the care and conservation of giant pandas in human care and in the wild.  

Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji are preparing for their journey to China.  Help us celebrate and say goodbye!  

Honoring the terms of its agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute will send the three pandas to China by early December 2023.  

Join the Cele-bear-ation

Discover the series of special events happening on-site at the Zoo and online this fall. Plan your visit and reserve a free entry pass.  

Panda Palooza is sponsored in part by The Boeing Company and entertainment by Events DC.

Three cartoon pandas in a tree on a green backdrop. The words Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell appear next to them.

Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell 

Join our nine-day celebration at the Zoo from September 23 to October 1, 2023, where audiences of all ages can enjoy a series of fun, family-friendly and conservation-forward events.  

About the Event
Nine members of the panda keeper team, who are smiling and dressed for cold weather, at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Share Your Panda Memories 

Tell us your story! Share your panda experiences and read what others have said about these remarkable and beloved bears. 

Share Your Memory
Artwork featuring limited-edition panda merchandise with cartoon panda branding.

Buy Panda Merch 

Rock your panda pride and get your paws on adorable commemorative limited-edition merchandise  celebrating Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji!

Shop Online

How Much Do You Know About the Zoo’s Pandas? 

Mei Xiang drapes her front paws over a log and looks towards the camera.

The Official Giant Panda Fan Quiz 

Calling all cubs! Take our kid-friendly quiz and see how much you know about these beloved bears! 

Quiz Yourself!
Tian Tian and Mei Xiang walk towards the camera with their mouths open.

The Super Ultimate Panda Fan Quiz  

Are you an extreme panda fan? Try not to get bamboo-zled by this hardcore quiz featuring questions about the Zoo's past and present pandas.  

Test Your Knowledge
Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji climbs on logs in his outdoor habitat.

50 Giant Panda Facts 

Enjoy pawsome facts about the Zoo’s giant pandas and learn what makes these bears so special. 

Get the Facts

Legacy of Care and Conservation 

Ever since these charismatic bears arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in 1972, animal care staff and scientists have studied giant panda biology, behavior, breeding, reproduction and disease.  

Through the study and care of Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their surviving cubs, the Zoo team and colleagues have made groundbreaking advances in reproductive science, healthcare, disease treatment and exponentially increased the understanding of panda behavior, biology and the mother-cub relationship. 

After more than 25 years on the endangered species list, the International Union for Conservation of Nature announced the giant panda was downgraded from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the global list of species at risk of extinction.  

The Zoo’s giant panda team has spent 51 years working with colleagues in China to advance conservation efforts for giant pandas in human care and in the wild. These collaborative efforts with Chinese partners directly contributed to this momentous conservation milestone. The Zoo remains committed to continuing its efforts to secure and safeguard a healthy future for giant pandas and their habitat. 

Giant Panda Cam  

From births and first steps to munching bamboo and playtime in the snow, the Zoo’s Giant Panda Cam, sponsored by Boeing, connects people across the globe to our giant pandas,  helping inspire millions to care about the future of this majestic and charming species and its native habitat. Since its launch in 2011, the Giant Panda Cam has 100M+ pageviews.  

Check out some of the best moments from the Giant Panda Cam. 

Meet the Pandas 

Tian Tian (pronounced “t-YEN t-YEN”), age 26 

Birthday
Born Aug. 27, 1997, at the giant panda breeding center in Wolong, China
Name origin
Means “more and more” in Mandarin Chinese
Favorite treat
Sugar cane
Weight
271 pounds
Appearance
Black shoulder band pinches inward in the middle; has black “knee socks” that extend up his leg in front and to mid-leg in the back
Cubs
Four; Male Tai Shan (b. 2005), female Bao Bao (b. 2013), male Bei Bei (b. 2015) and male Xiao Qi Ji (b. 2020)
Fun facts
Tian Tian’s favorite activities include patrolling his yard, scent-marking, playing and soliciting attention from keepers while they clean and set up food and enrichment his indoor habitat. He has a fondness for playing in pools, tubs and hose spray!

Mei Xiang (pronounced “may-SHONG”), age 25 

Birthday
Born July 22, 1998 at the giant panda breeding center in Wolong, China
Name origin
Means “beautiful fragrance” in Mandarin Chinese
Favorite treat
Pears
Weight
246 pounds
Appearance
Eye patches are oval; black shoulder band is wider in the middle, compared to Tian Tian’s
Cubs
Four; Male Tai Shan (b. 2005), female Bao Bao (b. 2013), male Bei Bei (b. 2015) and male Xiao Qi Ji (b. 2020).
Fun facts
With the birth of Xiao Qi Ji at 22 years old, Mei Xiang is the oldest giant panda to give birth in the United States and the second oldest documented in the world. Keepers describe Mei Xiang as a tremendous, dedicated and devoted mother to all four cubs. Her personality is a mix of curious, cautious and careful!

Xiao Qi Ji (pronounced “SHIAU-chi-ji”), age 3 

Birthday
Born Aug. 21, 2020 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C.
Name origin
Means “little miracle” in Mandarin Chinese
Favorite treat
Honey
Weight
About 200 pounds
Fun facts
Over 639,000 people tuned in to the Giant Panda Cam in the height of the pandemic to watch his birth; 135,000 people voted online to name him “Little Miracle.” Keepers describe his personality as smart, observant, inquisitive and goofy. Like his father, Tian Tian, Xiao Qi Ji likes routine and can be somewhat impatient if things are out of the ordinary. But overall, his personality is more like Mei Xiang’s—a mix of sweet and sassy!

FAQ About the Departure

The Zoo entered into its Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) in December 2000 when giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived at the Zoo. The initial agreement between the Zoo and CWCA was a 10-year agreement; it has been renewed three times since 2010. As part of the terms of the agreement, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub, Xiao Qi Ji, will return to China before the end of the agreement on Dec. 7, 2023. 
Guests of all ages are invited to bid farewell to Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji at the Panda Palooza celebration. From Sept. 23 to Oct. 1, the Zoo will host in-person and online events honoring the bears’ legacy as animal ambassadors and status as beloved Washington, D.C. icons. All three pandas will go to China by the end of their agreement on Dec. 7, 2023. 
Ever since these charismatic bears  arrived at the Zoo in 1972, animal care staff and scientists have worked closely with Chinese colleagues to study giant panda biology, behavior, breeding, reproduction  and disease. The Zoo celebrated the 50th anniversary of its giant panda program in 2022 and hopes to continue this work in the future. 
Yes. When the giant pandas depart the Zoo for China, the Zoo’s Giant Panda Cam, currently sponsored by Boeing, will go offline.  

Join our nine-day Panda Palooza in-person and online celebration from September 23 to October 1, 2023, where audiences of all ages can enjoy a series of fun, family-friendly and conservation-forward events. 

Say goodbye to the pandas virtually through the Zoo's Giant Panda Cam! The cam offers live, streaming video of the pandas from now until their departure.  

Follow the Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube for special panda-related videos, photos and updates. Or subscribe to the Smithsonan National Zoo News e-newsletter for a special giant panda edition before the bears say farewell!  

Tell us your story! Share your panda experiences and read what others have said about these remarkable and beloved bears. Submit here. 

You can also add share a memory about Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji by using the hashtag #PandaPalooza on social media. 

No. After more than 25 years on the endangered species list, the International Union for Conservation of Nature announced the giant panda was downgraded from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the global list of species at risk of extinction.  

Although they are difficult to count in the wild, scientists believe there are about 1,864 individuals living in scattered populations in central China, along with several hundred more in human care. The largest threat to giant panda survival is habitat destruction.  

The Zoo’s collaborative efforts with Chinese partners to conserve giant pandas in the wild and contributions to the science of building and growing healthy populations of giant pandas in human care over the past five decades directly contributed to this momentous conservation milestone.  

Yes. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute remains committed to its goal of securing and safeguarding a healthy future for giant pandas. Thanks to decades of collaborative efforts focused on protecting wild panda habitats and maintaining a genetically diverse panda population, the Zoo’s panda program has made a major impact on panda conservation and will continue to do so in the future. 
With your help, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is making huge breakthroughs in animal care, science and conservation. By becoming a member or donating today, you'll help the Zoo save species, like the giant panda. 

Show Your Support

Make a gift to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in honor of Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji. 

Or, consider becoming a Zoo member! When you pledge your support, you'll receive exclusive benefits like special opportunities to meet our Zoo residents, discounts at our stores and more.