Shin Shin

Basic Profile

Shin Shin (仙女, sb600), known in Japan as 真真 (Shin Shin), is a female giant panda born on July 3, 2005 at the Hetaoping Wild Training Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in Wolong, Sichuan. She is the twin sister of Xian Zi (仙子, sb599).

Her Chinese name, Xian Nu (仙女), means “fairy maiden.” Upon arriving in Japan, she was given the Japanese name Shin Shin (真真) through a public naming contest by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Family & Lineage

Shin Shin’s mother is Ying Ying (英英, studbook 382), one of the most prolific mothers in the captive population, who produced 9 litters and 14 cubs over her breeding career. Her father is Lin Lin (琳琳, studbook 455), a son of the legendary wild-born female Bai Xue (白雪, sb418) and Xin Xing (新兴, sb329).

Siblings (maternal, from Ying Ying):

• You You (优优), Liang Liang (亮亮), Yang Yang (阳阳), Mei Qing (梅清), Lan Xiang (兰香), Ying Hua (瑛华), Ying Mei (瑛美), Xian Zi (仙子, twin brother), Meng Meng (萌萌), Yun Yun (韵韵), Shu Qin (淑琴), Sen Sen (森森)

Mate: Bi Li (比力, studbook 612), known in Japan as Ri Ri (力力). Together they were sent to Ueno Zoo as a breeding pair in 2011.

Offspring:

• First cub (male, 2012-07-05 to 2012-07-11) — died of pneumonia at 6 days old
• Xiang Xiang (香香, female, sb1070, born 2017-06-12) — returned to China in February 2023
• Xiao Xiao (晓晓, male, born 2021-06-23) — twin, returned to China January 2026
• Lei Lei (蕾蕾, female, born 2021-06-23) — twin, returned to China January 2026

Life Journey

Early Years at Wolong (2005–2008)

Shin Shin spent her first years at the CCRCGP’s Hetaoping and Bifengxia bases in Sichuan. In March 2008, she was sent to Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou for a short-term exhibition, returning to Bifengxia in July 2010.

Move to Ueno Zoo (2011)

On February 21, 2011, three years after the death of Ueno’s last panda Ling Ling (陵陵), Shin Shin and Ri Ri arrived at Ueno Zoo as a new breeding pair under a 10-year cooperative research agreement. They made their public debut on March 22, 2011, drawing massive crowds and ending Ueno’s panda-less period. Their arrival sparked a renewed “panda boom” in Tokyo, with visitor numbers at Ueno Zoo surging by millions.

First Cub and Loss (2012)

On July 5, 2012, Shin Shin gave birth to a male cub — Ueno’s first panda birth in 24 years. The cub was found dead on July 11 from aspiration pneumonia after being unable to nurse properly. The loss triggered a wave of mourning across Japan and even caused stock prices of Ueno-area restaurants to drop.

Xiang Xiang (2017)

On June 12, 2017, Shin Shin gave birth to a healthy female cub, later named Xiang Xiang (香香). Xiang Xiang was the first surviving panda born at Ueno Zoo since 1988 and became a national celebrity in Japan. Shin Shin proved to be an attentive mother, carefully carrying and nursing her cub. Xiang Xiang returned to China on February 21, 2023.

Twin Cubs (2021)

On June 23, 2021, Shin Shin gave birth to a pair of twins — a male (Xiao Xiao, 晓晓) and a female (Lei Lei, 蕾蕾). This was Ueno Zoo’s first panda twin birth. Shin Shin demonstrated calm, experienced maternal care, alternating between the two cubs with help from keepers. The twins remained at Ueno Zoo through 2025 and returned to China in January 2026.

Return to China (2024)

By early 2024, both Shin Shin and Ri Ri had reached 19 years of age (equivalent to approximately 60 human years) and developed hypertension. Chinese and Japanese veterinary teams agreed to repatriate them early for better geriatric care. On September 29, 2024, the pair flew aboard a chartered cargo flight from Tokyo Narita to Chengdu Shuangliu, arriving at CCRCGP’s Ya’an Bifengxia Base for quarantine and retirement.

Legacy

Shin Shin’s time at Ueno Zoo produced three surviving offspring, contributing significantly to the global ex situ population. Along with Ri Ri, she was central to Ueno’s modern panda breeding program, which successfully overcame decades of reproductive challenges at the zoo. Her story — from the tragic loss of her first cub to the joy of Xiang Xiang and the twins — mirrors the broader arc of panda conservation: persistent effort, scientific patience, and the deep emotional bonds between humans and these animals.