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Panda archive

Gong Zai

功仔

alive male Born July 26, 2008

Gong Zai (功仔, studbook 711) is a male giant panda born on July 26, 2008 at the Chengdu Research Base, son of Cheng Gong (成功, 522). Weighing 117 grams as a newborn, he was the inspiration for Po in DreamWorks' "Kung Fu Panda". Nicknamed "Peace" and "Fatty", he is the base's number-one breeding male — father of Fu Shuang (1250), Run Jiu (1145), Xiang Guo (1239), Ai Jiu (1235) and Bao Xin.

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This page brings together the core facts, timeline, family graph, media, place journey, and related reading for Gong Zai.

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Profile snapshot

Quick facts

Birth date

July 26, 2008

Birth place

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Current location

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Status

Alive

Studbook

#711

Archive activity

1 update · 0 media

Narrative

Life story

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Short version

Basic Profile

Gong Zai (Chinese: 功仔), studbook number 711, is a male giant panda born on July 26, 2008 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. He weighed just 117 grams at birth. His mother is Cheng Gong (成功, studbook 522), the “Clean Freak Princess” and founding matriarch of the Cheng family, and his father is the wild-born male Xiao Ping Ping (小平平), for whom no studbook number is on record (”—”). His maternal grandparents are Ke Bi (科比, studbook 386) and Cheng Cheng (成成, studbook 297).

The Real-Life Po

In October 2008, researchers visiting Chengdu Base to gather material for DreamWorks’ animated film Kung Fu Panda observed the young Gong Zai, who became one of the models for Po (阿宝), the film’s kung-fu-training, dumpling-loving hero. Fans have called him the “real-life Kung Fu Panda” ever since.

Names and Nicknames

Gong Zai has collected a string of affectionate nicknames over the years: He Ping (和平, “Peace”); Fei Zai (肥仔, “Fatty”), for his portly build; Xi Men Chui Zai (西门吹仔), a playful take on the swordsman trope; and Xi Qu Zhan Shen (西区战神, “West District War God”), a nod to his dominance in the base’s western enclosure. On August 17, 2011, he was given the sponsored adoption name Cheng Cheng (城城).

The “Cat-Fishing” Antics (钓猫趣事)

Gong Zai stars in a beloved anecdote given its own section in the Baidu Baike “Gong Zai” entry and retold in Kan Xiong Mao (看熊猫) magazine: the story of the “cat-fishing pole” (钓猫杆). Keepers would dangle a snack from a long bamboo pole just out of reach — a game fans call “cat-fishing” (钓猫). In the tale, Gong Zai climbs up the tree after the bait, first pretending to be contentedly munching bamboo shoots (装吃笋) to lower the keeper’s guard, then suddenly seizes the apple and snaps the cat-fishing pole clean off, claiming his prize.

Life Journey

On January 11, 2012, Gong Zai was transferred to Dujiangyan Panda Valley (都江堰熊猫谷), where he spent his early adulthood. He returned to the Chengdu Research Base in late 2014 and has lived there since.

As the base’s number-one breeding male (头号种公), Gong Zai has fathered more than half a dozen recorded cubs and is one of the most genetically influential males in the current captive population.

Family

Gong Zai is one of nine offspring of Cheng Gong (成功, 522). His half-siblings are He Qi (和琪, 821), He Mei (和美, 822), He Xing (和兴, 875), He Sheng (和盛, 876), He Feng (和风, 1028), He Yu (和雨, 1029), He Hua (和花, 1237) and He Ye (和叶, 1238). His mother Cheng Gong passed away on September 3, 2023.

His recorded children are Fu Shuang (福双, 1250), Run Jiu (润九, 1145), Xiang Guo (香果, 1239), Ai Jiu (艾玖, 1235) and Bao Xin (宝新), who died as a cub in 2023.

Evidence

Life timeline

Key updates and milestone events tied to Gong Zai.

1 update

2008 (1)

Birth Jul 26, 2008

Birth of Gong Zai

Gong Zai was born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

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Ai Jiu

艾玖

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6 years old

chengdu_base

Ai Jiu is a female giant panda born on June 5, 2020 at Chengdu Base. Nicknamed "Jiu Jiu", she was the heaviest newborn i...

Gong Zai

Start with the profile, then expand into the archive around this panda

Quick facts

Life story

Basic Profile

The Real-Life Po

Names and Nicknames

The “Cat-Fishing” Antics (钓猫趣事)

Life Journey

Family

Life timeline

Birth of Gong Zai

Family and network

Other pandas connected to Gong Zai

Ai Jiu

Bao Xin

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Fu Shuang

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He Yu

Run Jiu

Xiang Guo

A Ling

Da Mao

Hao Hao

Huan Huan

Jia Jia

Kai Kai

Le Le

Mei Hin

Mu Xue

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Ning Ning

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Xi Lan

Ya Lin

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You You

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