8:15 a.m.

• Giant Pandas Receive Treats | Asia Trail (giant panda yards)

9 a.m.

• Chinese Calligraphy Demonstration| Asia Trail (upper giant panda viewing area)

10 a.m.

• Bao Buns Served Courtesy of the Chinese Embassay | Clint Fields Plaza (across from giant panda yards)
• Musical Performance by Violinist Shu-Ting accompanied by Huai-En Tsai | In front of the Elephant Community Center
• Smithsonian Channel World Premiere: "The Miracle Panda" | Visitor Center Auditorium (limited seating)

11 a.m.

• Gin Dancers Performance | In front of the Elephant Community Center

Noon

• Lion Dancers Performance | In front of the Elephant Community Center

1 p.m.

• Giant Pandas Receive Treats | Asia Trail (giant panda yards)
• Musical Performance by Violinist Shu-Ting accompanied by Huai-En Tsai  | In front of the Elephant Community Center
• Smithsonian Channel World Premiere: "The Miracle Cub Panda" | Visitor Center Auditorium (limited seating)

1:45 p.m.

• Gin Dancers Performance | In front of the Elephant Community Center

9:30 a.m.

• Giant Pandas Receive Treats | Asia Trail (giant panda yards)

1 p.m.

• Giant Pandas Receive Treats | Asia Trail (giant panda yards)
• Smithsonian Channel World Premiere: "The Miracle Panda" | Visitor Center Auditorium (limited seating)

2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.

• Live Music by Dong Xi | In front of the Elephant Community Center

  Dong Xi is a world music duo focusing on presenting a new experience in collaboration with individual unique tastes in a "controlled improvisation" setting. Its name derives from the identities and backgrounds of its composing musicians. Also, it represents an element of surprise from the Chinese idiom "feint to the east but attacked in the west." This is one of their signatures in their music and represents their unique and interesting ways of creating musical dialogue for their music. They use the subtleties of the Chinese dulcimer to blend seamlessly with the world music percussion to create an elaborate and amazing duo improvisation.

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He’s the latest member of America’s rock star panda family: Xiao Qi Ji, the adored “Little Miracle,” born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo during the pandemic.

Now, Smithsonian Channel’s documentary "The Miracle Panda," narrated by award-winning actor Lucy Liu, takes us behind the scenes to experience preparations for his 1st birthday, as we discover that Xiao Qi Ji’s family are much more than just panda celebrities. They’re the symbol of a successful 50-year collaboration between scientists, keepers and conservationists at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and their counterparts in China. 

We learn how Xiao Qi Ji’s journey to birth was truly a US-China joint effort, and in China we meet his elder siblings Tai Shan and Bao Bao, now part of the next stage in the panda’s remarkable return from the brink of extinction – the release of hand-picked cubs to the wild. In beautiful mountains of western China we see how Smithsonian conservationists and their Chinese colleagues are working together to understand, preserve and restore the panda’s habitat so wild pandas can truly flourish.

Note: This program will include discussion and media related to reproductive biology.

Screenings:

• April 16 | 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. | Visitor Center Auditorium (limited seating)
• April 17 | 1 p.m. | Visitor Center Auditorium (limited seating)

Tune in to the premiere of "The Miracle Panda," Wednesday, April 20 at 8/7c on Smithsonian Channel. Check your local listings.