Panda archive

Ya Lin

娅林

alive male Born August 24, 2008

Ya Lin (娅林, studbook #726), known in Macau as Kai Kai (开开), is a male giant panda born August 24, 2008 at the Chengdu Research Base. In 2015, he was selected from 55 candidates to be gifted to Macau alongside Shu Rong (心心) for the 16th anniversary of Macau's return to China. He fathered twin sons Jian Jian and Kang Kang in 2016, forming the "Happy Family" (开心家族) of Macau.

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

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Profile snapshot

Quick facts

Birth date

August 24, 2008

Birth place

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Current location

Macao Giant Panda Pavilion

Status

Alive

Studbook

#726

Archive activity

2 updates · 0 media

Narrative

Life story

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Short version

Basic Profile

Ya Lin (Chinese: 娅林, Macau name Kai Kai/开开), studbook number 726, is a male giant panda born on August 24, 2008 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. His father is Ping Ping (屏屏, studbook 377) and his mother is Ya Ya (娅娅, studbook 362).

He is described as having prominent black eye circles, a round head, and a medium, sturdy build weighing approximately 110 kg. His keepers note his strong social leadership skills — he often initiates interactions with companions and enjoys engaging with his caretakers. He is curious, playful, and an excellent climber.

Selection for Macau (2015)

When Macau’s original male panda, the first “Kai Kai” (蜀祥), was left alone after his companion “Xin Xin” (奇妙) died in 2014, President Xi Jinping announced that a new pair would be gifted to Macau for the 15th anniversary of Macau’s return to China.

A rigorous selection process was launched. Experts evaluated 55 candidate pandas across five criteria: health, appearance, behavior, reproductive potential, and genetics. The field was narrowed to three pairs, then two. On March 31, 2015, a Macau delegation led by Secretary for Administration and Justice Sonia Chan visited the Chengdu Base and personally selected Ya Lin and female Shu Rong (蜀蓉, studbook 667).

The pair continued Macau’s tradition of using the names “Kai Kai” (开开) and “Xin Xin” (心心) — meaning “happy and joyful.”

Life in Macau

On April 30, 2015, Ya Lin and Shu Rong flew to Macau aboard Air China flight CA649. After 30 days of quarantine, they debuted to the public on June 1, 2015, at the Macau Seac Pai Van Park panda pavilion — a fan-shaped, nature-inspired facility built into a hillside, covering over 1,200 square meters.

Fatherhood

On June 26, 2016, Shu Rong gave birth to twin male cubs. Through a public naming competition, they were named Jian Jian (健健) and Kang Kang (康康) — together forming the “Happy Family” (开心家族) of Macau.

Evidence

Life timeline

Key updates and milestone events tied to Ya Lin.

2 updates

2015 (1)

Transfer Apr 30, 2015

Ya Lin arrives in Macau

Ya Lin and Shu Rong arrived in Macau as a gift for the 15th anniversary of Macau's return.

2008 (1)

Birth Aug 24, 2008

Birth of Ya Lin

Ya Lin was born at Chengdu Base, later gifted to Macau as "Kai Kai."

Knowledge graph

Family and network

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Mother Half-siblings (grouped) Children

Ya Guang #530 Ya Xing #555 Ya Yun #796 Yang Yang #461

Ya Lin has 4 half-siblings. The majority share the same mother, Ya Ya .

Related profiles

Other pandas connected to Ya Lin

These profiles are linked through place, lineage, and broader archive context.

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Jian Jian

健健

Alive

10 years old

macau_giant_panda_pavilion

Jian Jian (健健, studbook #1001) is a male giant panda born June 26, 2016 at Macau's Seac Pai Van Park — the first panda e...

Ya Lin

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

Quick facts

Life story

Basic Profile

Selection for Macau (2015)

Life in Macau

Fatherhood

Life timeline

Ya Lin arrives in Macau

Birth of Ya Lin

Family and network

Other pandas connected to Ya Lin

Jian Jian

Jin Ke

Kang Kang

Qing Qing

Ya Guang

Ya Xing

Ya Ya

Ya Yun

Yang Yang

Yong Yong

Shu Rong

A Ling

Da Mao

Gong Zai

Hao Hao

Huan Huan

Jia Jia

Kai Kai

Le Le

Mei Hin

Mu Xue

Ni Ni

Ning Ning

Ping Ping

Shu Yun

Xi Lan

Ying Ying

Yong Hin

You You

Yuan Zi

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Place journey

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Macao Giant Panda Pavilion

Current location

Archive paths

More connections

Same place

Jian Jian

Kang Kang

Shu Rong

Same country

Jian Jian

Kang Kang

Shu Rong

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Bing Xing

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