Chun Xiao

Basic Profile

Chun Xiao (Chinese: 春晓) is a female giant panda born on July 21, 2022 at the Hetaoping wild-training base (核桃坪野化培训基地) of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.

Her mother is Zhi Chun (知春, studbook 800), who raised her inside the wild-training enclosure; her father is Wu Yang (武阳, studbook 948). Her twin brother is Yuan Fu (缘福, studbook 1339), born the same day.

Family

Naming

Chun Xiao was officially named in 2025 — “春晓” (“Spring Dawn”), a name that reflects the hopeful framing of China’s wild-release program. Her twin brother, by contrast, carries a name born of fan culture; hers comes from the release pipeline itself.

A Release Candidate

From her first breath on July 21, 2022, Chun Xiao was raised inside Zhi Chun’s simulated-wild enclosure, with her mother serving as her only teacher — the standard protocol for pandas being prepared for potential release.

She remains in active wild training and is one of the release-candidate individuals progressing smoothly through the program. This is the rarest path in captive panda care: most cubs never leave human care, but Chun Xiao is being taught to forage, range, and survive as a wild panda would.

Life Journey

• 2022-07-21 — Born to Zhi Chun inside her wild-training enclosure at Hetaoping, alongside twin brother Yuan Fu.
• 2022–present — Raised by Zhi Chun in the simulated-wild environment; enrolled in the wild-training program from birth.
• 2025 — Officially named Chun Xiao (春晓).
• Present — Continues wild training as a release candidate with the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.