The Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., is known for its long-standing association with giant pandas. These charismatic bears symbolize wildlife conservation and international cooperation. Their presence consistently draws crowds, highlighting their unique appeal.
The New Pandas at the National Zoo
Washington D.C.’s “panda drought” ended on January 24, 2025, with the public debut of two new giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI). These three-year-old bears arrived in October 2024 and completed a quarantine period before their public introduction.
Bao Li, a male, translates to “active and vital power.” Qing Bao, a female, means “green treasure,” with “Qing” evoking the mountainous habitats where wild pandas live. Zoo staff describe Bao Li as playful, curious, and attention-seeking, often enjoying activities like stomping and rolling in ice shavings. Qing Bao, in contrast, is more reserved and independent, frequently relaxing in trees.
Bao Li is the son of Bao Bao, born at the zoo in 2013, and the grandson of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. This lineage connects him to the zoo’s previous panda residents. The pair are on loan from the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) for ten years, until April 2034, with an annual fee supporting conservation efforts in China.
Bao Li and Qing Bao are currently too young to breed, as giant pandas reach sexual maturity between four and seven years of age. They are kept in separate enclosures, mirroring their solitary nature in the wild, where adults interact only during the female’s brief 48-hour breeding window. The David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat underwent renovations for their arrival, including new outdoor fencing and climbing structures to encourage natural behaviors.
A Legacy of Panda Diplomacy
The presence of giant pandas at the National Zoo is deeply intertwined with “panda diplomacy,” a practice where China lends or gifts pandas to other countries as a diplomatic gesture. The first giant pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, arrived in Washington D.C. in April 1972, gifted by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai following President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China. This exchange symbolized a warming of relations between the two nations.
Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing lived at the zoo for over two decades, attracting millions of visitors and inspiring public fascination. They produced five cubs, but none survived past a few days. Ling-Ling died in 1992 from heart failure at 23, and Hsing-Hsing was euthanized in 1999 at 28 due to kidney disease.
After a brief period without pandas, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived in December 2000. Unlike the initial gift, these pandas were on loan, with the zoo contributing funds and expertise to conservation efforts in China.
This pair produced several cubs, including Tai Shan, the first surviving cub born at the National Zoo in 2005, and later Bao Bao, Bei Bei, and Xiao Qi Ji. Mei Xiang gave birth to Xiao Qi Ji at 22 in 2020, making her the oldest panda in the U.S. to do so. Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji returned to China in November 2023, marking the first time in 23 years that Washington D.C. was without pandas.
Planning Your Visit to See the Pandas
To see Bao Li and Qing Bao at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, visitors must reserve a free entry pass online in advance for zoo admission. This is the only place in the United States where you can view pandas for free. While passes allow entry at any time on the selected day, reserving them ahead is recommended, as same-day passes are limited.
Inside the zoo, no additional passes are required for the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, located along the Asia Trail. The habitat features both indoor and outdoor viewing areas, and the pandas decide whether to be inside or out. Giant pandas are most active in the morning, so an early visit may increase your chances of seeing them engaged in activities like eating bamboo or exploring their renovated climbing structures.
The zoo’s operating hours vary by season. During winter months, it is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last entry at 3 p.m. The panda house opens at 8 a.m., an hour before other indoor exhibits. For those unable to visit in person, the Giant Panda Cam provides a live broadcast of the pandas in their habitat daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time.