THE SOURCEBOOK · REVIEWED 2026-09-29

Journeys,
on record.

A curated selection, not a complete census. Curves on the map connect places, not actual flight paths. China is represented at country level; zoo locations are approximate. Counts describe events, not current animal populations.

  1. 16 April 1972 · arrival

    The first chapter

    China → Washington, D.C.

    Ling-Ling & Hsing-Hsing · Gift

    Two pandas arrived in Washington following President Nixon’s visit to China.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  2. 28 October 1972 · arrival

    A welcome in Tokyo

    China → Tokyo

    Lan Lan & Kang Kang · Gift

    Ueno welcomed the pair in the year Japan and China normalized diplomatic relations.

    Tokyo Zoological Park Society · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  3. 4 September 1979 · death

    Remembering Lan Lan

    Tokyo

    Lan Lan · Life event

    Lan Lan died on this date. The earlier journeys remain in the archive.

    Ueno Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  4. 30 June 1980 · death

    Remembering Kang Kang

    Tokyo

    Kang Kang · Life event

    Kang Kang died on this date. The earlier journeys remain in the archive.

    Ueno Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  5. 30 December 1992 · death

    Remembering Ling-Ling

    Washington, D.C.

    Ling-Ling · Life event

    Ling-Ling died on this date. The earlier journeys remain in the archive.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  6. 28 November 1999 · death

    Remembering Hsing-Hsing

    Washington, D.C.

    Hsing-Hsing · Life event

    Hsing-Hsing died on this date. The earlier journeys remain in the archive.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  7. 6 December 2000 · arrival

    A new kind of partnership

    China → Washington, D.C.

    Mei Xiang & Tian Tian · Research loan

    Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived under a cooperative research and breeding agreement.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  8. 9 July 2005 · birth

    A new generation in Washington

    Washington, D.C.

    Tai Shan · Birth at the National Zoo

    Tai Shan was born in Washington to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  9. November 2009 · arrival

    Across the equator

    China → Adelaide

    Wang Wang & Fu Ni · Conservation cooperation

    Wang Wang and Fu Ni moved to Adelaide in November. This record does not specify an arrival day.

    Adelaide Zoo · Wang Wang and Fu Ni ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  10. 4 February 2010 · return

    The next generation travels to China

    Washington, D.C. → China

    Tai Shan · Breeding cooperation

    Born in Washington, Tai Shan departed for China on this date. The source records departure, not arrival time.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  11. 21 February 2011 · arrival

    A family begins with a journey

    China → Tokyo

    Shin Shin & Ri Ri · Breeding research cooperation

    Shin Shin and Ri Ri arrived at Ueno Zoo from China.

    Ueno Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  12. 15 January 2012 · arrival

    A home in the Loire Valley

    China → Saint-Aignan

    Huan Huan & Yuan Zi · Conservation cooperation

    Huan Huan and Yuan Zi arrived at Beauval, beginning a new chapter at the French zoo.

    ZooParc de Beauval · Panda saga ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  13. 23 August 2013 · birth

    A new generation in Washington

    Washington, D.C.

    Bao Bao · Birth at the National Zoo

    Bao Bao was born in Washington to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  14. 22 August 2015 · birth

    A new generation in Washington

    Washington, D.C.

    Bei Bei · Birth at the National Zoo

    Bei Bei was born in Washington to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  15. 21 February 2017 · return

    The next generation travels to China

    Washington, D.C. → China

    Bao Bao · Breeding cooperation

    Born in Washington, Bao Bao departed for China on this date. The source records departure, not arrival time.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  16. 12 June 2017 · birth

    A new life in Ueno

    Tokyo

    Xiang Xiang · Birth at Ueno Zoo

    Xiang Xiang was born at Ueno to Shin Shin and Ri Ri.

    Ueno Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  17. 24 June 2017 · arrival

    A welcome in Berlin

    China → Berlin

    Meng Meng & Jiao Qing · Conservation cooperation

    Meng Meng and Jiao Qing arrived in Berlin from Chengdu. Their new habitat opened to visitors in July.

    Zoo Berlin · Herzlich Willkommen in Bärlin! ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  18. 19 November 2019 · return

    The next generation travels to China

    Washington, D.C. → China

    Bei Bei · Breeding cooperation

    Born in Washington, Bei Bei departed for China on this date. The source records departure, not arrival time.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  19. 21 August 2020 · birth

    A new generation in Washington

    Washington, D.C.

    Xiao Qi Ji · Birth at the National Zoo

    Xiao Qi Ji was born in Washington to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  20. 23 June 2021 · birth

    Two lives begin in Ueno

    Tokyo

    Xiao Xiao & Lei Lei · Birth at Ueno Zoo

    Twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were born at Ueno Zoo. Their dots begin here, without an international arrival route.

    Ueno Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  21. 21 February 2023 · return

    From her birthplace to China

    Tokyo → China

    Xiang Xiang · Transfer to China under the agreement

    Born in Tokyo, Xiang Xiang arrived at the Bifengxia base in China on this date.

    Ueno Zoo · Xiang Xiang arrives in China ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  22. 8 November 2023 · return

    The journey back

    Washington, D.C. → China

    Mei Xiang & Tian Tian & Xiao Qi Ji · End of loan period

    Three pandas departed the National Zoo for China at the end of the agreement period.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Panda history ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  23. 29 September 2024 · return

    The parents return; the twins remain

    Tokyo → China

    Shin Shin & Ri Ri · Return to China

    Shin Shin and Ri Ri arrived at the Bifengxia base in China. Their twins remained in Tokyo.

    Ueno Zoo · Shin Shin and Ri Ri arrive in China ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  24. 15 October 2024 · arrival

    A new chapter, fifty-two years on

    China → Washington, D.C.

    Bao Li & Qing Bao · Research loan

    Bao Li and Qing Bao arrived at the National Zoo. Their public debut followed in January 2025.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo · Arrival, 15 October 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  25. 15 November 2024 · return

    Fifteen years, then homeward

    Adelaide → China

    Wang Wang & Fu Ni · Return to China

    Wang Wang and Fu Ni departed Adelaide for China after fifteen years. The source dates their departure; it does not specify their arrival time.

    Adelaide Zoo · Farewell Wang Wang and Fu Ni, 15 November 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  26. 16 December 2024 · arrival

    Two new lives in Adelaide

    China → Adelaide

    Xing Qiu & Yi Lan · Conservation cooperation

    Xing Qiu and Yi Lan arrived in Adelaide from China, beginning a new chapter for the zoo after Wang Wang and Fu Ni’s departure.

    Adelaide Zoo · Meet Xing Qiu and Yi Lan, 16 December 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  27. 25 November 2025 · return

    Thirteen years, then a return

    Saint-Aignan → China

    Huan Huan & Yuan Zi · Return to China

    Huan Huan and Yuan Zi left Beauval to return to China after more than thirteen years.

    ZooParc de Beauval · Panda saga ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →
  28. 28 January 2026 · return

    The twins leave Ueno

    Tokyo → China

    Xiao Xiao & Lei Lei · Return to China

    Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei left Ueno on 27 January and arrived at the Ya’an base in China on 28 January. No stationary dot is shown between these recorded dates.

    Ueno Zoo · Arrival, 28 January 2026 ↗ (opens in a new tab)Departure: 27 January 2026 ↗View on map →
  29. 27 September 2026 · arrival

    A new chapter in Atlanta

    China → Atlanta

    Ping Ping & Fu Shuang · Conservation research loan

    Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrived in Atlanta on 27 September 2026 under a new conservation research agreement. They entered quarantine before their public debut at Zoo Atlanta.

    Zoo Atlanta · The Giant Pandas Have Landed! ↗ (opens in a new tab)View on map →

Geography: Natural Earth, public domain. A locally bundled, simplified land outline; no satellite imagery or map tiles.