The giant panda is often seen as China’s national animal and treasure. Since pandas were at risk of extinction, China has taken measures to increase the species’ population. Although China’s program to re-introduce pandas into the wild proved difficult, in 2021, the country announced that pandas are no longer endangered (possibly more than 2,000 pandas by April 2024).
Pandas are undoubtedly well-loved and an ongoing trending topic on the Chinese social media. Recently a new member has joined the top star group in the panda world and Chinese netizens give him the nickname of “Little Sweet Bun” 小甜包. Bei Chen 北辰 was born on July 10, 2022; because of his sweet and cute smile, Bei Chen has already gained fans on the Internet and his fans like to call him Little Sweet Bun.
Bei Chen
Other than Bei Chen, He Hua 和花, aka Hua Hua 花花, also from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is among the most famous and popular pandas in China. Hua Hua has been an online sensation because of her intelligence and aesthetics, and netizens call her “Top Female Star” 顶流女明星.
Meng Lan 萌兰, from Beijing Zoo, became famous after his “prison break” from the zoo. He is known as the naughtiest giant panda in the top star group. Fu Bao 福宝, nicknamed Princess Fu or Fugongju by Korean fans, whose parents were gifted to South Korea by China in 2016, was the first giant panda born in South Korea and enjoyed fame in the country. Fu Bao, turning 4 years old this year, has just returned to China earlier this month. Fu Bao’s caretakers shed tears as they said goodbye to the beloved panda. Some Korean citizens have already filed petitions to bring back Fu Bao to Korea.
Xiang Xiang 香香 is a Japan-born female panda who is loved both in Japan and China. Xiang Xiang returned to China in February 2023. Another star from the group is Ru Yi 如意. Ru Yi showed his impressive martial arts skills, hence he was nicknamed “God of War” 战神. Ru Yi was sent to Russia in April 2019 for a 15-year collaborative research.
Fu Bao
Fu Bao
