US: Giant pandas from China make public debut at Atlanta zoo

On Friday, two giant pandas from China made their first public appearance at the Atlanta Zoo, drawing a line of eager visitors. Ping Ping, the male panda, and Fu Shuang, the female, were observed relishing bamboo at the zoo. The six-year-old pandas arrived from China's Chengdu on September 27, traveling on a special flight nicknamed the "Panda Express."

The duo had spent several weeks adjusting to their new habitat. The pandas now reside in a panda enclosure that had been empty since 2024. This new chapter follows a 25-year-long partnership between Atlanta and China, which saw Atlanta host four pandas on loan from China since 1999. However, strained US-China relations led to the end of that arrangement.

A 10-year loan agreement has now been renewed following a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. China's ambassador to the US, Xie Feng, stated that the pandas' arrival symbolizes the renewal of a decade-long bond between China and Zoo Atlanta. Raymond King, the CEO of Zoo Atlanta, emphasized pandas' unique role in inspiring curiosity, passion, joy, and global unity.

The soft power wielded by pandas like Ping Ping and Fu Shuang remains unknown to them as they lounged about their new habitat on Friday. The zoo recently revamped its panda facilities and has ensured a steady supply of locally grown bamboo for their newest residents. Currently, three US zoos house these beloved black-and-white mammals.