Qing Bao's 4th Birthday Celebration

Female giant panda perched on a log outdoors.

Join us in celebrating the fourth birthday of Qing Bao, our female giant panda, on Friday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m.! This marks Qing Bao's first birthday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

Highlights:

  • Panda keepers will present Qing Bao with a "beary" special birthday treat — a custom fruit-based ice cake made by the Zoo’s commissary team.
  • Can’t make it to the panda exhibit? Tune into the Giant Panda Cam to catch the celebration live.
  • Admission is free for all visitors. (Donations are welcome.)

This milestone birthday is particularly special as Qing Bao is one of the few giant pandas in North America. His presence signifies hope for the future of giant pandas and celebrates the success of our collaborative conservation efforts. Since the arrival of the first giant pandas in 1972, the Smithsonian’s conservation program has made significant contributions to the recovery of these iconic animals, leading to their removal from the endangered species list in 2016. Join us as we celebrate Qing Bao and the ongoing success of our panda conservation efforts, made possible through collaboration with the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Association, our dedicated donors and sponsors, and visitors like you.­