Two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuan, have landed in the United States, arriving from China on a flight that took off Sunday morning, just a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington.
During a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on September 24, Xi announced the delivery of these rare animals to the U.S. The male panda, named Ping Ping, which translates to “peace,” is joined by a female named Fu Shuan, meaning “double blessing.” They have been relocated to the Atlanta Zoo.
Ping Ping features large black patches around his eyes and is particularly adept at climbing trees, while Fu Shuan, who is seven months younger, sports a tuft of fur on her head and has a knack for finding food, according to the zoo staff who spoke with CNN.
Zoo staff describe Ping Ping as brave and gentle, whereas Fu Shuan is noted for her special fondness for honey, which drives her “crazy.”
However, visitors will need to wait a bit to see these fluffy newcomers. According to the zoo, the pandas will initially spend about a month in a biosecurity area of the new giant panda complex for planned quarantine isolation.
Context
- China has long utilized “panda diplomacy” to gain favor with other countries, rewarding friends and punishing adversaries.
- Chinese pandas have been hosted in the U.S. for over 50 years, starting with the first pair sent to Washington after President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972, which marked the normalization of relations between the two nations.
- Following the end of a 25-year agreement between the Atlanta Zoo and China in 2024, the U.S. is expected to return four pandas to China, according to CNN.
