Jakarta, ThedailyID — China has sent two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, to Atlanta, United States, shortly after President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington.
The pandas will become the newest residents of Zoo Atlanta under a loan arrangement with the Chinese government.
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang departed Chengdu, Sichuan, at 2:55 a.m. local time on Sunday, September 27. Their journey to Atlanta is expected to take around 15 hours.
The shipment came shortly after Xi met US President Donald Trump in Washington. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and agreed to extend a trade truce and establish a communication channel focused on artificial intelligence.
China has used giant pandas as part of its diplomatic relations with other countries for decades. The practice has become known internationally as “panda diplomacy.”
China lends or sends pandas overseas as symbols of friendship and goodwill. The animals have also played a role in strengthening ties between Beijing and other governments.
Xi described pandas as “messengers of friendship” between China and the United States. The tradition dates back to 1972, when China sent pandas to the US following President Richard Nixon’s visit to China.
Ping Ping was born on March 17, 2020. The male panda has large black patches around his eyes and is known for his ability to climb trees.
His name means “peace.” It is also the name given to the first panda China sent to the Soviet Union in 1957.
Fu Shuang was born on October 18, 2020. Her name means “double blessing.” She has a small tuft of fur on the top of her head and is known for being good at finding food.
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding selected the pair based on their age, health, genetics, and personalities. Their compatibility was also considered because they are expected to live together.
“They should be gentle and like each other, and we hope they can mate naturally,” Li Mingxi, deputy director of the facility, told CCTV.
Before their departure, the pandas spent around one month in quarantine with their caretakers. They also trained for the long journey by getting used to travel crates and loud noises.
Chinese veterinarians and breeding specialists will remain at Zoo Atlanta during the pandas’ quarantine after arrival. Zoo Atlanta and Chinese officials have also held meetings to prepare their new living environment.
The two pandas are scheduled to arrive in Atlanta on Sunday morning local time.
Zoo Atlanta has hosted several Chinese pandas in the past. Lun Lun and Yang Yang lived there and produced seven cubs between 2006 and 2016 before returning to Chengdu.
China resumed sending pandas to the US in June 2024. Two pandas arrived in San Diego, marking the first new panda shipment to the country in more than two decades.
A second pair arrived at the National Zoo in Washington later that year.
Pandas continue to play a symbolic role in China’s relations with other countries. Beijing has used the animals for more than half a century as diplomatic gestures and symbols of Chinese culture.
Their continued presence in the US comes as Washington and Beijing compete over trade, technology, and artificial intelligence. Panda exchanges remain one area of cooperation between the two countries.
Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng also highlighted the latest shipment. He posted photos of Ping Ping and Fu Shuang on X, writing, “Get ready to welcome our two furry stars!”
For the pandas’ caretakers in Chengdu, the departure was an emotional moment after years of caring for them.
“After caring for them for so long, it feels like raising your own children,” a caretaker surnamed Fu told CCTV.
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang reportedly weighed only slightly more than 100 grams when they were born. They have since grown into adult pandas preparing to begin a new chapter in Atlanta.
