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.
- 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 → - 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 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 → - 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.