Join the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute for a series of online and on-site celebratory events to bid a fond farewell to giant panda Bei Bei before he begins the next chapter of his life in China.
As part of the Zoo's cooperative breeding program with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, all cubs born at the Zoo move to China when 4 years old to breed with other pandas, helping to keep the population genetically diverse. Learn more about Bei Bei's trip to China in this FAQ.
Bei Bei will be sent off with a series of celebratory public events from Monday, Nov. 11, through Monday, Nov. 18, including 24/7 Bei Bei on Panda Cam 1. Check out the full schedule below for more details. Don't forget to follow Bei Bei's goodbye on social media by liking the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Special thanks to transportation provider, FedEx, and event sponsors, Airbnb and Panda Bath Tissue for their support!
Special Keepsake: Bei Bei's Autograph
Many animals at the Zoo have the opportunity to create one-of-a-kind art using nontoxic, water-based paint, including Bei Bei! Painting is just one type of enrichment that is visually engaging and gives animals something new and different to touch and smell. Download Bei Bei's paw print.
VISITORS: By entering the premises for these events you consent to be photographed, filmed and/or otherwise recorded for any use and waive all rights you may have to any claims in connection to these events.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, Nov. 9
- Morning FONZ Members-only Event
Join FONZ for a members-only event filled with family-friendly fun, including treats, giveaways and exclusive access to prime viewing of Bei Bei! Become a member today!
Monday, Nov. 11
- 100% Bei Bei on Panda Cam 1
Paw-five! Panda Cam 1 will focus exclusively on Bei Bei from Nov. 11-18.
- The Bei Bei Issue: National Zoo News
Sign-up to receive a special edition of National Zoo News dedicated to Bei Bei, including a special downloadable Bei Bei keepsake!
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST | Postcard Station (next to Bei Bei’s outdoor habitat)
Write a postcard with your well-wishes for Bei Bei! All postcards will be sent with Bei Bei to China.
- 9 a.m. EST | Daily Treats: Earth Optimism
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see the panda team give Bei Bei a special Smithsonian-themed enrichment, hand-painted by a panda keeper, that represents the Zoo’s global cooperation to save species.
- 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. EST | Panda Keeper Q&A
Meet one of Bei Bei’s keepers and ask all your giant panda questions. Check the board at the giant panda exhibit, or along Asia Trail, to find out the exact location of today's demonstration.
- 1:30 p.m. EST | Daily Treats: Gimme Some Sugar
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to watch as Bei Bei receives one of his all time favorite treats — sugar cane!
Tuesday, Nov. 12
- 100% Bei Bei on Panda Cam 1
Paw-five! Panda Cam 1 will focus exclusively on Bei Bei from Nov. 11-18.
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST | Postcard Station (next to Bei Bei’s outdoor habitat)
Write a postcard with your well-wishes for Bei Bei! All postcards will be sent with Bei Bei to China.
- 9 a.m. EST | Daily Treats: Cubs Cubs Cubs
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see the panda team give Bei Bei special themed enrichment that represents the next chapter for Bei Bei — siring cubs of his own.
- 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. EST | Panda Keeper Q&A
Meet one of Bei Bei’s keepers and ask all your giant panda questions. Check the board at the giant panda exhibit, or along Asia Trail, to find out the exact location of today's demonstration.
- 1:30 p.m. EST | Daily Treats: Paw-five!
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see Bei Bei enjoy a paw-shaped fruitsicle made by the panda team.
Wednesday, Nov. 13
- 100% Bei Bei on Panda Cam 1
Paw-five! Panda Cam 1 will focus exclusively on Bei Bei from Nov. 11-18.
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST | Postcard Station (next to Bei Bei’s outdoor habitat)
Write a postcard with your well-wishes for Bei Bei! All postcards will be sent with Bei Bei to China.
- 9 a.m. EST | Daily Treats: Bamboo
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see Bei Bei receive enrichment hand-painted by a panda keeper that symbolizes the Zoo’s work to study and save the giant panda’s native habitat. When you protect the giant panda, you help save other species that share its wild habitat, like the red panda and takin.
- 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. EST | Panda Keeper Q&A
Meet one of Bei Bei’s keepers and ask all your giant panda questions. Check the board at the giant panda exhibit, or along Asia Trail, to find out the exact location of today's demonstration.
- 1:30 p.m. EST | Daily Treats: Honey, please!
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see the panda team give Bei Bei one of his favorite treats: honey!
Thursday, Nov. 14
- 100% Bei Bei on Panda Cam 1
Paw-five! Panda Cam 1 will focus exclusively on Bei Bei from Nov. 11-18.
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST | Postcard Station (next to Bei Bei’s outdoor habitat)
Write a postcard with your well-wishes for Bei Bei! All postcards will be sent with Bei Bei to China.
- 9 a.m. EST | Daily Treats: With Love from Bei Bei’s Keepers
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see the panda team give Bei Bei a special enrichment item signed by all of Bei Bei’s keepers.
- 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. EST | Panda Keeper Q&A
Meet one of Bei Bei’s keepers and ask all your giant panda questions. Check the board at the giant panda exhibit, or along Asia Trail, to find out the exact location of today's demonstration.
- 1:30 p.m. EST | Daily Treats: Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see Bei Bei enjoy special enrichment featuring what everyone craves this time of year — pumpkin spice.
Friday, Nov. 15
- 100% Bei Bei on Panda Cam 1
Paw-five! Panda Cam 1 will focus exclusively on Bei Bei from Nov. 11-18.
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST | Postcard Station (next to Bei Bei’s outdoor habitat)
Write a postcard with your well-wishes for Bei Bei! All postcards will be sent with Bei Bei to China.
- 9 a.m. EST | Daily Treats: Friendship Knot
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see the panda team give Bei Bei special themed enrichment featuring the Chinese knot, representing friendship and scientific collaboration with Chinese colleagues to study and save the giant panda.
- 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. EST | Panda Keeper Q&A
Meet one of Bei Bei’s keepers and ask all your giant panda questions. Check the board at the giant panda exhibit, or along Asia Trail, to find out the exact location of today's demonstration.
- 1:30 p.m. EST | Daily Treats: Apple of Our Eye!
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see Bei Bei get enrichment with a special hidden treat — applesauce made by the giant panda team.
Saturday, Nov. 16
- 100% Bei Bei on Panda Cam 1
Paw-five! Panda Cam 1 will focus exclusively on Bei Bei from Nov. 11-18.
- 8:30 a.m. EST | Dumpling Party for Visitors, Courtesy of the Embassy of China (while supplies last)
In honor of Bei Bei, the Embassy of China will supply dumplings for panda fans. In China, dumplings are a must-have food for festivities and a popular food for bidding farewell to loved ones before they leave home. The shape of dumplings also resembles an ancient gold-bar, or “yuan bao," in Chinese which represents perfection and completion. Get here early! There's a limited quantity of dumplings!
- 8:30 a.m. EST | Hot Cocoa (while supplies last)
Enjoy free hot chocolate, courtesy of Airbnb
- 9 a.m. EST | Daily Treats: Great Bei Bei Cake Off
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see the panda team give Bei Bei, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian ice cakes made from favorite treats in honor of Bei Bei’s next chapter.
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST | Postcard Station (next to Bei Bei’s outdoor habitat)
Write a postcard with your well-wishes for Bei Bei! All postcards will be sent with Bei Bei to China. - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST | Friendship + Luck Bracelet Station (Olmsted Walk across from Panda Plaza)
In a traditional Chinese Zhuazhou ceremony, several symbolic objects are placed in front of a baby on their first birthday. The object that the baby chooses foretells something about their future. As a nod to the Chinese red knot symbolizing friendship and luck that was chosen for Bei Bei by mother Mei Xiang on his first birthday, make and take home a bracelet that symbolizes the conservation collaboration that has helped move the giant panda from “endangered” to “vulnerable.”
- 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. EST | Panda Keeper Q&A
Meet one of Bei Bei’s keepers and ask all your giant panda questions. Check the board at the giant panda exhibit, or along Asia Trail, to find out the exact location of today's demonstration.
- 1:30 p.m. EST | Daily Treats: Biscuit Binge
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see the panda team give Bei Bei a favorite puzzle feeder with biscuits hidden inside!
Sunday, Nov. 17
- 100% Bei Bei on Panda Cam 1
Paw-five! Panda Cam 1 will focus exclusively on Bei Bei from Nov. 11-18.
- 8:30 a.m. EST | Hot Cocoa (while supplies last)
Enjoy free hot chocolate, courtesy of Airbnb
- 9 a.m. EST | Daily Treats: Great Bei Bei Cake Off
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see the panda team give Bei Bei, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian ice cakes made from favorite treats in honor of Bei Bei’s next chapter.
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST | Postcard Station (next to Bei Bei’s outdoor habitat)
Write a postcard with your well-wishes for Bei Bei! All postcards will be sent with Bei Bei to China.
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST | Friendship + Luck Bracelet Station (Olmsted Walk across from Panda Plaza)
In a traditional Chinese Zhuazhou ceremony, several symbolic objects are placed in front of a baby on their first birthday. The object that the baby chooses foretells something about their future. As a nod to the Chinese red knot symbolizing friendship and luck that was chosen for Bei Bei by mother Mei Xiang on his first birthday, make and take home a bracelet that symbolizes the conservation collaboration that has helped move the giant panda from “endangered” to “vulnerable.”
- 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. EST | Panda Keeper Q&A
Meet one of Bei Bei’s keepers and ask all your giant panda questions. Check the board at the giant panda exhibit, or along Asia Trail, to find out the exact location of today's demonstration.
- 1:30 p.m. EST | Daily Treats: How’d You Get So Sweet?
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to watch as Bei Bei receives a special enrichment item with an added bonus — favorite sweet potatoes!
Monday, Nov. 18
- 100% Bei Bei on Panda Cam 1
Paw-five! Panda Cam 1 will focus exclusively on Bei Bei from Nov. 11-18.
- 9 a.m. EST | Daily Treats: Keeper’s Choice
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see the panda team give Bei Bei one of his favorite enrichment items on his last day at the Zoo.
- 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. EST | Panda Keeper Q&A
Meet one of Bei Bei’s keepers and ask all your giant panda questions. Check the board at the giant panda exhibit, or along Asia Trail, to find out the exact location of today's demonstration.
- 1:30 p.m. EST | Daily Treats: Keeper’s Choice
Visit the Zoo or tune in to Panda Cam 1 to see the panda team give Bei Bei one of his favorite enrichment items on his last day at the Zoo.
FONZ Member Event
Bei Bei is headed to China, and FONZ members are invited to help give him a warm sendoff. Join FONZ from 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, to say Bye Bye to Bei Bei!
This members-only event provides early access to prime viewing of Bei Bei as well as Asia Trail, the Panda House, and outside panda viewing areas, plus plenty of panda-themed activities for the whole family, such as:
- Limited-edition Bye Bye, Bei Bei headband, stickers and buttons
- Special enrichment for the pandas
- A Chinese calligraphy station
- Complimentary cookies provided by Giant Food
- An additional 10% discount on all gift shop purchases
- And more!
Registration is free, but RSVPs are required. Registration will open at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 28. Six people may attend per membership account.
Not an active member?
Getting to the Zoo
Metro
The Zoo is accessible via the Red Line to the Woodley Park-Zoo or Cleveland Park metro stations. The Zoo’s main entrance on Connecticut Avenue is just a short walk from both of these stations. The L1 and L2 buses also stop in front of the Zoo’s main entrance.
Please note that the Dupont Circle, Woodley Park and Cleveland Park metro stations will be closed Saturday, Nov. 16, and Sunday, Nov. 17. A FREE Metrobus shuttle will run between the closed Red Line stations with an extra stop outside of the Zoo's main entrance all weekend. Be sure to plan your trip accordingly.
Parking
Parking is available at the Zoo for a flat fee of $25 or free with some FONZ membership levels. Please note that parking is extremely limited, and lots are expected to fill early throughout the farewell celebration.
