Giant pandas 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang' arrive in Atlanta for 10-year residency
Two giant pandas from China, 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang', arrived at Atlanta International Airport on September 27, 2026, aboard a charter flight. They will begin a 10-year residency at Zoo Atlanta under a bilateral agreement. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the transfer during a state visit to Washington, calling the pandas "friendship envoys." China retains ownership of any cubs born during the loan.
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Giant Pandas 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang' Arrive at Zoo Atlanta from China
Giant pandas 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang' arrived safely at Zoo Atlanta in the United States on September 27 at 8:55 AM local time (8:55 PM Beijing time). The pandas were transported via a charter flight. Upon landing, joint veterinary and keeper teams from China and the United States conducted a health check and confirmed both animals are in good condition. After completing quarantine and customs procedures, the pandas were transferred to Zoo Atlanta to begin a period of isolation quarantine. A Chinese veterinarian and keeper will remain at the zoo for three months to care for the pandas during this quarantine period, help them adapt to stress, conduct behavioral training, and assist them in acclimating to their new environment.
Read sourceChina's giant pandas 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang' arrive in the United States
On the morning of September 27, Eastern Time, two giant pandas from China, named 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang', arrived at Atlanta International Airport in the United States aboard a charter flight. According to an arrangement between China and the United States, the pair of pandas will begin a 10-year residency at Zoo Atlanta. The report was sourced from China Central Television (CCTV) and relayed by Chinese financial news outlet 财联社 (cls).
Read sourceChina Giant Pandas 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang' Arrive in Atlanta, US for 10-Year Stay
On the morning of September 27, Eastern Time, two giant pandas from China, named 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang', arrived at Atlanta International Airport aboard a charter flight. According to an arrangement between Chinese and US authorities, the pair will reside at Zoo Atlanta for a 10-year period. The report, attributed to Xinhua News Agency and relayed by financial data provider Jin10, confirms the successful transfer as part of ongoing bilateral cooperation in wildlife conservation and cultural exchange.
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Giant Pandas 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang' Depart for Ten-Year Stay in Atlanta
On September 27, 2026, at 2:55 AM, giant pandas 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang' departed from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport on a charter flight bound for Zoo Atlanta, beginning a ten-year residency in the United States. Prior to their departure, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding held a farewell ceremony for the two pandas. The report was sourced from China Central Television (CCTV) and published by Cailianshe, a Chinese financial news outlet.
Read sourceChina to receive custody of any cub born to pandas sent to Zoo Atlanta
Fox News reports that China will receive custody of any baby cub born to the two pandas that Chinese President Xi Jinping is sending to Zoo Atlanta. This condition is part of the agreement for the panda loan, ensuring that any offspring remain under Chinese ownership. The announcement highlights the ongoing diplomatic practice of panda diplomacy, where China loans pandas to foreign zoos under specific terms, including the return of cubs. The two pandas are being sent as a gesture of goodwill, but the custody clause underscores China's continued control over the animals and their progeny.
Xi Jinping announces pandas will soon arrive in Atlanta during US state visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on September 24 during a state visit to Washington that two giant pandas, 'Ping Ping' and 'Fu Shuang', will arrive at the Atlanta Zoo within days. Speaking at a White House ceremony, Xi described pandas as 'friendship envoys' between Chinese and American people. The Atlanta Zoo, which hosted pandas from 1999 to 2024, reached an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association in April to receive the pair. The zoo declined to provide details on the planned arrival date. China maintains strict control over panda exhibitions, claiming ownership of all pandas worldwide and leasing them internationally under 'panda diplomacy'. This tradition began in 1957 and shifted from gifts to leases in 1984 due to declining panda numbers. Recent years have seen pandas return to US zoos after gaps, including Washington's National Zoo in October 2024 and San Diego Zoo in June 2024. The International Union for Conservation of Nature reclassified pandas from 'endangered' to 'vulnerable' in 2016, with about 1,800 now living in the wild.
Xi Jinping announces China will send 2 giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta as 'envoy of friendship'
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will send two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta, describing them as an 'envoy of friendship.' The announcement was made during his meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The move is seen as a gesture of goodwill and a symbol of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The pandas are expected to serve as a bridge for cultural exchange and bilateral ties. The specific timeline for the pandas' arrival has not been disclosed in the announcement. This development marks a continuation of China's long-standing practice of 'panda diplomacy,' where the animals are loaned to foreign zoos as symbols of friendship and cooperation.
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