Xian Xian

Basic Profile

Xian Xian (Chinese: 贤贤, “Virtuous”), studbook number 935, is a female giant panda born on August 15, 2014 at the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP) Hetaoping Base. Her mother is Gong Zhu (公主, studbook 477) — one of the most prolific mothers in the program.

Through her mother Gong Zhu, Xian Xian has 12 siblings: Ge Ge, Jun Zhu, Ya Ao, Li Li, Bi Li, Huan Huan, Zhu Ling, Zhu Hai, Yun Yun, Shan Hu, Wu Wen, and Qi Qi.

Movie Star

Xian Xian played the role of “Mei Mei” in the 2016 Disney nature documentary “Born in China” (我们诞生在中国) , directed by Lu Chuan. The film followed three animal families across China’s diverse landscapes, and Xian Xian’s segments were filmed at the Wolong and Foping nature reserves. The film was critically acclaimed and holds a rare “zero negative reviews” record in China.

Naming

Xian Xian was named in 2015 by Miyahara Kenji, a Japanese legal advisor who had contributed to China’s legal framework development. The character “贤” (xian) means both “wisdom” and “abundance” in Chinese — a wish for the cub to grow healthy and for more panda cubs to be born.

Life Journey

Xian Xian was sent to Dezhou Zoo in Shandong on September 28, 2016, where she remained for three years. She was transferred to Shijiazhuang Zoo on September 27, 2019.

On June 29, 2022, she returned to CCRCGP and was selected for the wild training program.

Motherhood and Wild Training

In 2023, Xian Xian gave birth to twin sons: Ao Ran (傲然) and Ao Ke (傲客) — both雄性.

In July 2024, she and her cubs entered Phase 2 of the wild training program at the Tiantai Mountain area. On July 24, 2024, after a severe rainstorm, keepers confirmed that Xian Xian and her cubs were safe in their mountain enclosure. In December 2025, the family was observed playing in snow for the first time — a milestone in their adaptation to wild conditions.