Bing Bing

Basic Profile

Bing Bing (Chinese: 冰冰), studbook number 314, was a female giant panda born on August 6, 1986 at Chengdu Zoo. Her mother was Guo Guo (果果) and her father was simply known as No. 6 (六号).

The Round Face Ancestor

Bing Bing was famous for her perfectly round head — “as if drawn with a compass” — and her fluffy, flowing fur. For years, she held the unofficial title of “地花” (ground flower) at the Chengdu Base, meaning the most beautiful female. This distinctive round-face feature was passed down to her children and grandchildren, making her the founding ancestor of the “round face gene” at Chengdu Base.

Naming

The summer of 1986 was exceptionally hot in Chengdu. Bing Bing’s mother was panting heavily in the heat, so keepers placed ice blocks (冰块) in the enclosure to cool her down. They named the newborn cub “Bing Bing” (冰冰 — “ice ice”) in honor of the cooling method.

Life Journey

Record-Breaking Birth (2007)

On June 30, 2007, at the age of 21 (equivalent to approximately 70 human years), Bing Bing gave birth to a healthy female cub weighing 125.5 grams — Xiang Bing (香冰, studbook 665). This set the record for the oldest panda to give birth at the Chengdu Base at that time.

Retirement (2008)

In autumn 2008, Bing Bing retired from the breeding program and lived out her years at the Chengdu Base.

Death

On March 16, 2023, Bing Bing died of natural causes at 36 years of age — one of the oldest pandas in the base’s recorded history.

Legacy: The Bing Bing Dynasty

Bing Bing’s children form an extraordinary dynasty that spans the globe:

Name	Studbook	Gender	Birth	Notable
Jiao Zi (娇子)	425	Female	1995	Mother of many
Lun Lun (伦伦)	452	Female	1997-08-25	Atlanta Zoo
Bing Xing (冰星)	519	Male	2000-09-01	Madrid Zoo
Bing Dian (冰点)	520	Male	2000-09-01	Chengdu
Yuan Yuan (园园)	561	Female	2003-08-01
Xiang Bing (香冰)	665	Female	2007-06-30	Last cub

Her grandson Mei Lan (美兰) and great-grandchildren like He Hua (和花/花花) continue her legacy as internet-famous pandas, all carrying the round-faced genes of Bing Bing.