Fu Shuang

Basic Profile

Fu Shuang (Chinese: 福双, nickname Huluwa / 葫芦娃), also known by her adoption name Xi Bao (汐宝), is a female giant panda born on October 18, 2020, at the Moonlight Nursery (月亮产房) of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. She holds the global studbook number 1250.

Her mother is Fu Lu (福禄) and her father is Gong Zai (功仔, #711) — the real-life prototype of Po from Kung Fu Panda. Through her mother she also has two younger sisters, Fu Ru (福茹) and Fu Wan (福菀), whose father has not been published. Through her mother she is related to Fu Xing (福星) — the panda now at Beijing Zoo, whom she closely resembles (see Appearance below).

Family

Relation	Name	Studbook
Mother	Fu Lu (福禄)	883
Father	Gong Zai (功仔)	711
Maternal grandmother	Ying Hua (瑛华)	566
Maternal aunt	Da Bai Tu (大白兔)	766
Maternal aunt	Dian Dian (花点点)	946
Maternal uncle	Fu Xing (福星)	1072
Maternal uncle	Hua Sheng (华生)	856

Naming

On June 1, 2022, the mobile game “Soul Tide” (灵魂潮汐) by Chengdu Ghostface Technology Co. sponsored Fu Shuang and gave her the adoption name “Xi Bao” (汐宝).

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Early Life — the “Five Dudu” Cohort

After a brief period with her mother Fu Lu, Fu Shuang moved into the Cub Villa (now Panda Villa No. 6). There she joined Small Class 2 (小二班) together with four cubs born the same year — Chong Yang (重阳), Zhu Yu (茱萸), Jin Shuang (金双), and Jin Xi (金喜) — and the five became known as the “Five Dudu” (五嘟嘟). Next door, Small Class 1 (小一班) was home to Jiu Cai Hua Ye (玖菜花叶).

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Appearance & Personality

At the Chengdu base, Fu Shuang is easy to recognize. She has a short, thick muzzle, a fluffy tuft of fur raised on top of her head, and a full, slightly protruding forehead, features that make her look strikingly similar to Fu Xing (福星), the panda residing at the Beijing Zoo.

Fu Shuang is mischievous and clever, round in build and quick in her reactions, with a strong instinct for locating food — she can rapidly find the enrichment food her keepers hide and stash around the enclosure. She also loves to climb trees.

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Selection for Atlanta (2026)

Zoo Atlanta’s first giant panda agreement with China began in 1999 and concluded in 2024 after 25 years of successful cooperation. The first pair, Lun Lun (伦伦) and Yang Yang (洋洋), produced seven cubs between 2006 and 2016, including Mei Lan, Xi Lan, Po, Mei Lun, Mei Huan, Ya Lun, and Xi Lun. In October 2024, Lun Lun, Yang Yang, and their two youngest cubs Ya Lun and Xi Lun departed Atlanta and returned to China.

In 2025, the China Wildlife Conservation Association and Zoo Atlanta signed a new cooperation agreement, and Fu Shuang (female) and Ping Ping (平平, male, studbook 1230) — both born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — were selected as the next pair. On April 24, 2026, Zoo Atlanta announced that a new “Giant Panda Conservation International Cooperative Research Agreement” with the China Wildlife Conservation Association had been formally launched; the two pandas will take up residence at Zoo Atlanta for a 10-year conservation partnership.

Ping Ping was born at the Chengdu base’s Sunlight Nursery on March 17, 2020 — seven months before Fu Shuang — and is nicknamed Re Gan Mian (热干面) after Wuhan’s signature noodle dish.

Zoo Atlanta President and CEO Raymond B. King said: “Zoo Atlanta is deeply honored to once again be entrusted with the conservation mission of this precious species, and to cooperate with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to advance conservation- and research-centered outcomes. We cannot wait to meet Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, and look forward to bringing the wonder and joy of giant pandas back to our members, visitors, city, and community.”

Beyond raising cubs — including successfully rearing two sets of twins — Zoo Atlanta and its Chinese counterparts built a long-term mechanism for collaboration and information exchange on husbandry, research, and species conservation. Atlanta’s conservation support also extends to habitat restoration, nature-reserve management, and ranger support. The Chinese government has invested heavily in restoring and protecting giant panda habitat, establishing 67 nature reserves; in 2021, a habitat-protection system centered on the Giant Panda National Park was formally established, improving the connectivity, coordination, and integrity of panda habitat. Today, about 72% of wild giant pandas — a species the IUCN lists as Vulnerable — are under strict protection. Zoo Atlanta said it will release more information about Ping Ping and Fu Shuang going forward.

Until her departure, Fu Shuang lived at the Chengdu base’s Xuri Pavilion, Courtyard 4 (旭日馆4号院), completing preparations for the relocation.

Departure for Atlanta (2026-09-27)

At 02:55 on September 27, 2026, Fu Shuang and Ping Ping (平平, #1230) boarded a charter flight at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport bound for Zoo Atlanta, beginning their 10-year conservation stay. Before the flight, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding held a send-off ceremony for the two pandas.

To keep the intercontinental flight safe and comfortable, the Chinese team drew up a detailed transport plan: fresh bamboo shoots, bamboo, apples and emergency medicines were loaded, and the pair had completed transport-acclimation training in advance to reduce stress. During the flight, cabin temperature and humidity were held within the pandas’ comfort range. A senior American veterinarian and keeper accompanied the pair on the plane, while two batches of Chinese veterinarians and keepers had already traveled to the zoo in advance to prepare.

After arrival at Zoo Atlanta, the pair will undergo quarantine and inspection, with Chinese personnel stationed at the zoo through the quarantine period to run stress-adaptation and behavior training.

Since December 2025, Chinese experts and Zoo Atlanta held repeated online and offline meetings on the enclosure upgrade, with Chinese technical guidance covering facilities, husbandry, food supply and health-care standards. In mid-September 2026, Chinese experts carried out on-site acceptance of the finished works: significantly expanded indoor activity space, new climbing frames, rock platforms and pools, and an upgraded monitoring system. Thanks to Atlanta’s climate similarity to Chengdu, the zoo can source a variety of edible bamboo locally, harvested fresh year-round.

Zoo Atlanta and its Chinese counterparts have cooperated on giant panda conservation research for more than 20 years — over 30 joint projects, 50+ papers, and 5 litters with 7 cubs surviving, the best result achieved by China’s panda breeding cooperation with Europe and the United States.

Arrival in Atlanta (2026-09-27)

At 08:55 US Eastern time on September 27, 2026 (20:55 Beijing time) — the same day as their departure — Fu Shuang and Ping Ping landed safely at Zoo Atlanta. Immediately after the charter touched down, Chinese and American veterinarians and keepers carried out a joint inspection, and both pandas were found to be in good health. Following quarantine-clearance and customs formalities, they were transferred into Zoo Atlanta to begin their quarantine and inspection period.

Chinese veterinarians and keepers will remain at the zoo for three months, caring for the pair through quarantine, running stress-adaptation and behavior training, and helping them settle into their new home.

Public Debut Announced (2026-10-06)

On October 6, 2026, Zoo Atlanta announced that Fu Shuang and Ping Ping will make their public debut on Friday, November 6, 2026, in the zoo’s new Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove, which opens to visitors the same day. The habitat is named for a philanthropist whose support of Zoo Atlanta’s panda program dates to the arrival of Lun Lun and Yang Yang in 1999; its $6 million renovation was funded by a grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. Fu Shuang and Ping Ping remain in quarantine and acclimatisation until the debut.